At Terra Impex, we believe in fostering a sustainable and eco-friendly future. One of the pressing issues we are passionate about addressing is the global crisis of plastic waste. The pervasive use of plastic has led to environmental degradation, affecting our oceans, wildlife, and overall well-being. Here, we delve into the complexities of plastic waste, exploring its origins, consequences, and the innovative solutions we can embrace for a cleaner, healthier planet.
Plastic waste, or plastic pollution, is ‘the accumulation of plastic objects (e.g.: plastic bottles and much more) in the Earth’s environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.’ It also refers to the significant amount of plastic that isn’t recycled and ends up in landfill or, in the developing world, thrown into unregulated dump sites. In the UK, for example, over 5 million tonnes of plastic is consumed each year — and yet only 1 quarter of it is recycled. The three quarters that isn’t recycled enters our environment, polluting our oceans and causing damage to our ecosystem. In less developed countries, the majority of plastic waste eventually ends up in the ocean, meaning that marine animals are especially at risk. So much of what we consume is made of plastic (such as plastic bottles and food containers) because it’s inexpensive, yet durable. However, plastic is slow to degrade (taking over 400 years or more) due to its chemical structure, which presents a huge challenge. Reducing plastic consumption and raising awareness about plastic recycling is crucial if we are to overcome the problem of plastic waste and pollution on our planet.

Since the late 20th century, we have depended on plastic as an affordable, versatile and durable material. However, since the majority of plastic materials take centuries to degrade, all of the plastic that has been sent to landfills in the UK still exists — and yet we’re still producing and consuming more of it. That plastic has to go somewhere, and it’s frequently either dumped carelessly on land or in rivers in developing countries, before ending up in the ocean, where it threatens marine life. The fact is, we simply can’t cope with the amount of plastic on our planet — nor the amount that continues to be produced. For this reason, our attitudes and behaviours towards planet.
Plastic waste in our oceans is a global problem, but how does our rubbish enter the water in the first place? In many cases, specifically in more developed countries, plastic waste is disposed of responsibly and sent to facilities to be sorted, recycled or recovered. However, plastic waste generated in developing countries typically ends up in open unregulated dump sites, or is thrown into rivers and streams. Plastics from dump sites can be blown by winds into bodies of water, such as nearby rivers, before being carried out to sea. Another problem is the volume of plastic that is exported to developing nations from Europe, the US, and Japan. Recycling standards in developing countries do not compare to standards deployed in the developed world and, as such, releasing plastics into the environment is causing significant environmental damage.

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