Imagine a garbage truck full of plastic driving up to the seashore and dumping all its contents into the ocean. A minute later, the next one arrives and does the same, and this continues every minute, 24/7/365, for decades, and you know we have a problem to solve.
Plastic is surely the worst invention of our time. It’s ubiquitous!
We can’t get away from it. It invades every aspect of our lives.
When I look around, I see it everywhere even though I am environmentally aware and avoid it as much as possible.
What a pity that such an insidious thing has stealthily overtaken us.
As with almost every issue of pressing concern, we must have mindful leadership to combat this crisis. But with so many crises at once, where will this one fit in?
we have a few worst inventions in competition for that title (nuclear weapons lists pretty high too), but I guess with plastics nobody expected this scale of pollution, and how permanent that change will be. Another sad chapter in our destruction of this beautiful planet.
So pleased to hear Kenya has not succumbed to the plastic fetish. In the 80’s there was very little plastic and every scrap was used, reused and repurposed. The kids made the most amazing toys cars from plastic, bottle caps & scraps of wire. And their soccer balls were constructed out of the bits of plastic they could find. I love Kenya and the wonderful resourceful Kenyans.💙from one of the Watu Wa Amani 81-83.
It shows what is possible, although the up to four years in prison for breaking that law is pretty tough compared to how much real estate fraud, paying of hush money, and trying a coup d'stat is needed in the US to (maybe someday) get in prison.
Thank you for talking plastic again. Such an important issue that impacts us all.
The main thing I do is my podcast where I raise awareness and call out everybody who says recycling is THE way out. It just isn’t. We’re told so many lies it’s infuriating. Of course if you pretend that recycling is the way out then the blame is firmly put on the consumer – “if you recycled, we wouldn’t be in this mess”. Not a lot of people talk about that only 21% of plastics are even recyclable; that those fancy things your clothes are made of are plastics – your rain jacket might be 100% plastic, but it won’t say that on the label; that paper cups are lined with a plastic film that makes it impossible to recycle; that aluminum cans are lined with plastic; that cigarette butts are made of plastic; and don’t get me started on chemicals. Once people caught on that BPA was bad BPA-free became a selling point. That’s not the end of it though, because they might just use BPB etc. instead. And even if we go circular as PET beverage bottle recycling has in Switzerland, that’s still a lot of energy that’s used. Using less, producing less and reusing what we have is a better option. Most of the plastic that ends up in the ocean is there due to mismanagement. That’s a place to start. Also, did you know that the biggest contributor to microplastic pollution is car tires?
I’m glad these talks are happening. They are urgently necessary for all the reasons you listed. But even with all the knowledge I’ve gathered myself I find it difficult to avoid plastic in my daily life. Most of the time there isn’t an alternative. Especially if you want to buy something to drink – it’s PET bottles all the way. Sitting down for lunch at a restaurant every day is not feasible and in Zurich – unaffordable.
I experience the same problem. I really try to avoid plastic, pay more for a glass bottle if the same product is available, etc. Still, since we separate waste in the Neterherlands in about seven categories, plastic waste is still most of my waste. It seems we are all adicted to it and government isn't pushing industry hard enough to reduce.
Evelyne, you are my partner in despising plastics; I really want to write and call attention to the FIBERS AND FABRICS in our lives that are in fact plastic but labeled in misleading ways. Circular Fashion Sustainability has been addressed by the UN already but how many of us consider our wardrobes and bedding in the plastics disaster, along with the human rights abuses of tiny fingers making clothing in poor countries leaving pieces cut out on the floor to go to waste bins. Reading one day about the disasters in this part of plastic pollution, I looked down at my then comfy fleece like blanket to check the label; of course, since inexpensive it is 💯 % polyester the ABSOLUTE WORST OFFENDER. I’m sleeping under the equivalent of a plastic shower curtain. I make another promise to you that I will resume work on this project asap (diverting my efforts from salvaging Democracy for America and dumping Trump; it’s been very disconcerting to try as if I could make a difference in the outcome of that clusterfuck, yes, great descriptor, so old, sick and tired, don’t care if my language offends) I’ll let the politicians and advocates take on that one there are so many. It’s makes me physically ill to have learned that organizations like Good Will who collect donations and clothing in particular DISCARD 80% as unusable and send it in huge bales to countries like Ghana for “recycling” where again 80% of it lies on the beaches and in the oceans. One picture is worth a thousand words but sadly you will have to imagine. PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE is the enemy here convincing the unaware that they must change their “style” every year or risk being out of touch, abnormal, or uncaring about appearance. The fact is an excellent wardrobe of a few sustainable fabrics can last decades with care, mix and match, and courage to fight back the fashion critics. I loved a great small wardrobe with wools, cotton, silks that I mixed in different ways creating alternate looks in my younger professional life as sophistication and respect was my goal. And I was unaware of the plastic problem, so just lucky in my taste and love of putting my best look forward. Promise once again to get back to work on this. Must remember to include my grandmother’s teaching me to sew clothes for my dolls at age six on a machine that was a mini, she was a teacher always and of course I learned to make my own clothes gratefully; and the other grandmother who taught me to use older clothes as pieces to make by hand quilts for warmth using cotton batting between the colorful pieced of whatever used garments could be salvaged for such. The secret is to go back in time and look at what we did right and teach it to young generations unaware. Sorry, Alex, to take up so much space on your letter. I’m burning to do these but just got my new glasses today after cataract surgery slowed me down for several months.
The issue of plastic waste makes me insane. I'm the woman running down the street after a grocery bag. I once removed a damn grocery bag from the horns of an angry goat. I yelled across the street at city workers who pulled their trash truck up to the totes at the park and emptied the trash bin AND the recycle bin into the truck. They shrugged at me. Like oil production, plastic production needs to stop. The only plastic that enters my home are bottles of water to be chilled before going to my homeless neighbors. I hate plastic. Nothing makes me more incensed than the thought of a beautiful animal ingesting or caught in plastic. The answer? I wish I knew.
Rena, I am in total agreement with you as well as Evelyne on plastics. The posts I get from animal advocates are so very sad and that balloons or those six pack holders have injured or killed another animal are so heartbreaking, I literally cry my eyes out sharing on Facebook where many rescue friends hang out. Plastics bags are so easily replaced, why have we not been more successful in eliminating them? Wildlife are at terrible risk as are domestic outdoor pets. But then posts appear appealing to make beds for feral cats using plastic bins with holes cut out, lined with styrofoam and straw for warmth for those unlucky enough to be simply TNR and left in an area where volunteers feed. I completely understand your rage 😡. Bellies undergoing surgery to remove plastics with pleas for funding. Our area is completely reprehensible in treating animals as disposable since our shelters are overwhelmed as people have come out of lockdown, decided to relocate, or simply travel, leaving their pet families behind. We organize and send batches by plane to the NE but it doesn’t dent the numbers needing homes. 💔💔💔
Try not to worry about the feral babies. Many of us care for sweet, angry kitties. I had a colony for 8 years. Spayed, neutered, vaccinated, well fed morning and evening, left my garage door open to escape predators and inclement weather, heater in the winter and a number of shelters you refer to for the temporary visitors 🙂 They live out their lives healthy, happy, no fighting, no kittens and no killing birds or other creatures. So there is actually one good use of plastic 🙂 My sweet Sarah is from that colony.
You can buy Alex a cup of coffee in a ceramic cup here. Thank you, Alex for bringing us the information on the global plastic treaty. Did I mention I hate plastic?
Plastic is surely the worst invention of our time. It’s ubiquitous!
We can’t get away from it. It invades every aspect of our lives.
When I look around, I see it everywhere even though I am environmentally aware and avoid it as much as possible.
What a pity that such an insidious thing has stealthily overtaken us.
As with almost every issue of pressing concern, we must have mindful leadership to combat this crisis. But with so many crises at once, where will this one fit in?
we have a few worst inventions in competition for that title (nuclear weapons lists pretty high too), but I guess with plastics nobody expected this scale of pollution, and how permanent that change will be. Another sad chapter in our destruction of this beautiful planet.
Touché, nuclear weapons! 👍
So pleased to hear Kenya has not succumbed to the plastic fetish. In the 80’s there was very little plastic and every scrap was used, reused and repurposed. The kids made the most amazing toys cars from plastic, bottle caps & scraps of wire. And their soccer balls were constructed out of the bits of plastic they could find. I love Kenya and the wonderful resourceful Kenyans.💙from one of the Watu Wa Amani 81-83.
It shows what is possible, although the up to four years in prison for breaking that law is pretty tough compared to how much real estate fraud, paying of hush money, and trying a coup d'stat is needed in the US to (maybe someday) get in prison.
Thank you for talking plastic again. Such an important issue that impacts us all.
The main thing I do is my podcast where I raise awareness and call out everybody who says recycling is THE way out. It just isn’t. We’re told so many lies it’s infuriating. Of course if you pretend that recycling is the way out then the blame is firmly put on the consumer – “if you recycled, we wouldn’t be in this mess”. Not a lot of people talk about that only 21% of plastics are even recyclable; that those fancy things your clothes are made of are plastics – your rain jacket might be 100% plastic, but it won’t say that on the label; that paper cups are lined with a plastic film that makes it impossible to recycle; that aluminum cans are lined with plastic; that cigarette butts are made of plastic; and don’t get me started on chemicals. Once people caught on that BPA was bad BPA-free became a selling point. That’s not the end of it though, because they might just use BPB etc. instead. And even if we go circular as PET beverage bottle recycling has in Switzerland, that’s still a lot of energy that’s used. Using less, producing less and reusing what we have is a better option. Most of the plastic that ends up in the ocean is there due to mismanagement. That’s a place to start. Also, did you know that the biggest contributor to microplastic pollution is car tires?
I’m glad these talks are happening. They are urgently necessary for all the reasons you listed. But even with all the knowledge I’ve gathered myself I find it difficult to avoid plastic in my daily life. Most of the time there isn’t an alternative. Especially if you want to buy something to drink – it’s PET bottles all the way. Sitting down for lunch at a restaurant every day is not feasible and in Zurich – unaffordable.
I experience the same problem. I really try to avoid plastic, pay more for a glass bottle if the same product is available, etc. Still, since we separate waste in the Neterherlands in about seven categories, plastic waste is still most of my waste. It seems we are all adicted to it and government isn't pushing industry hard enough to reduce.
Evelyne, you are my partner in despising plastics; I really want to write and call attention to the FIBERS AND FABRICS in our lives that are in fact plastic but labeled in misleading ways. Circular Fashion Sustainability has been addressed by the UN already but how many of us consider our wardrobes and bedding in the plastics disaster, along with the human rights abuses of tiny fingers making clothing in poor countries leaving pieces cut out on the floor to go to waste bins. Reading one day about the disasters in this part of plastic pollution, I looked down at my then comfy fleece like blanket to check the label; of course, since inexpensive it is 💯 % polyester the ABSOLUTE WORST OFFENDER. I’m sleeping under the equivalent of a plastic shower curtain. I make another promise to you that I will resume work on this project asap (diverting my efforts from salvaging Democracy for America and dumping Trump; it’s been very disconcerting to try as if I could make a difference in the outcome of that clusterfuck, yes, great descriptor, so old, sick and tired, don’t care if my language offends) I’ll let the politicians and advocates take on that one there are so many. It’s makes me physically ill to have learned that organizations like Good Will who collect donations and clothing in particular DISCARD 80% as unusable and send it in huge bales to countries like Ghana for “recycling” where again 80% of it lies on the beaches and in the oceans. One picture is worth a thousand words but sadly you will have to imagine. PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE is the enemy here convincing the unaware that they must change their “style” every year or risk being out of touch, abnormal, or uncaring about appearance. The fact is an excellent wardrobe of a few sustainable fabrics can last decades with care, mix and match, and courage to fight back the fashion critics. I loved a great small wardrobe with wools, cotton, silks that I mixed in different ways creating alternate looks in my younger professional life as sophistication and respect was my goal. And I was unaware of the plastic problem, so just lucky in my taste and love of putting my best look forward. Promise once again to get back to work on this. Must remember to include my grandmother’s teaching me to sew clothes for my dolls at age six on a machine that was a mini, she was a teacher always and of course I learned to make my own clothes gratefully; and the other grandmother who taught me to use older clothes as pieces to make by hand quilts for warmth using cotton batting between the colorful pieced of whatever used garments could be salvaged for such. The secret is to go back in time and look at what we did right and teach it to young generations unaware. Sorry, Alex, to take up so much space on your letter. I’m burning to do these but just got my new glasses today after cataract surgery slowed me down for several months.
🌻💯🌻
The issue of plastic waste makes me insane. I'm the woman running down the street after a grocery bag. I once removed a damn grocery bag from the horns of an angry goat. I yelled across the street at city workers who pulled their trash truck up to the totes at the park and emptied the trash bin AND the recycle bin into the truck. They shrugged at me. Like oil production, plastic production needs to stop. The only plastic that enters my home are bottles of water to be chilled before going to my homeless neighbors. I hate plastic. Nothing makes me more incensed than the thought of a beautiful animal ingesting or caught in plastic. The answer? I wish I knew.
I would have loved to see that goat scene!
It was a bit comical. The goat and I remained friends for many years. ❤
Rena, I am in total agreement with you as well as Evelyne on plastics. The posts I get from animal advocates are so very sad and that balloons or those six pack holders have injured or killed another animal are so heartbreaking, I literally cry my eyes out sharing on Facebook where many rescue friends hang out. Plastics bags are so easily replaced, why have we not been more successful in eliminating them? Wildlife are at terrible risk as are domestic outdoor pets. But then posts appear appealing to make beds for feral cats using plastic bins with holes cut out, lined with styrofoam and straw for warmth for those unlucky enough to be simply TNR and left in an area where volunteers feed. I completely understand your rage 😡. Bellies undergoing surgery to remove plastics with pleas for funding. Our area is completely reprehensible in treating animals as disposable since our shelters are overwhelmed as people have come out of lockdown, decided to relocate, or simply travel, leaving their pet families behind. We organize and send batches by plane to the NE but it doesn’t dent the numbers needing homes. 💔💔💔
Try not to worry about the feral babies. Many of us care for sweet, angry kitties. I had a colony for 8 years. Spayed, neutered, vaccinated, well fed morning and evening, left my garage door open to escape predators and inclement weather, heater in the winter and a number of shelters you refer to for the temporary visitors 🙂 They live out their lives healthy, happy, no fighting, no kittens and no killing birds or other creatures. So there is actually one good use of plastic 🙂 My sweet Sarah is from that colony.
You can buy Alex a cup of coffee in a ceramic cup here. Thank you, Alex for bringing us the information on the global plastic treaty. Did I mention I hate plastic?
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/app/home
Thanks Rena for reminding everyone, and thanks for the coffees you bought for me :-)
Thank you for bringing a bit of hopeful news!
thanks, you're welcome Mischa :-)