The Plastic Pollution Crisis: Understanding Causes and Impact
With 11 million metric tons of plastic waste entering our oceans each year, and even more polluting land-based ecosystems, the scale of the plastic pollution problem is hard to comprehend. From plastic-choked waterways to recent reports of microplastics being found in human bodies¹, the impact is visible, profound and far-reaching.
At the heart of the issue is the ongoing production and use of single-use plastics, and the lack of effective waste management infrastructure.
Rapid urbanization, development, and changing consumption patterns are driving record plastic production. The affordability, utility, and versatility of plastic — along with a persisting culture that prioritizes disposable conveniences over sustainability — means that record amounts of plastic are being manufactured and wasted. And where does all of that plastic come from? Fossil fuel extraction and refinement — another process known to negatively impact the planet.
Meanwhile, collection and recycling infrastructure isn’t able to keep up with the waste being produced, and there are approximately 2 billion people globally who live without waste collection services.
What drives plastic pollution?
Understanding the root causes of the plastic pollution crisis is essential to developing effective solutions.
Even though awareness is increasing, global plastic production is predicted to quadruple by 2050 — and much of that waste will be attributed to unnecessary single-use plastics like grocery bags, water bottles, and other household items. Since plastics can take up to 1,000 years to break down, the waste we create today will likely impact the planet for many generations.
At the same time, nearly all countries lack the resources and capacity to properly collect, sort, and recycle (or appropriately dispose of) plastic waste.
These broken systems lead to widespread littering and pollution as well as issues with waste being exported and imported rather than dealt with at the source. Reports project that for the years between now and 2040, there will be a $40 billion gap in funding for global waste infrastructure.
In some developing countries as much as 90% of plastic waste is ‘mismanaged’ which means it’s uncollected or inadequately disposed of. Lack of collection infrastructure, in particular, means that household plastic waste is often burned or dumped into the environment. This, along with the forces of wind and rain, leads to accumulation in oceans and natural habitats, posing a significant threat to marine life and other ecosystems.
Impact on the environment
Marine ecosystems are perhaps most associated with plastic pollution. Plastic debris is rapidly accumulating in oceans, meaning that plastic from all over the world is being washed up in coastal areas, including shores of remote islands. As ocean plastic fragments into microplastics, it infiltrates food chains, posing additional risks to marine life and entering the human food chain.
Approximately 1 million marine animals are killed from marine plastic pollution every year, primarily from ingestion and suffocation, as well as entanglement in discarded plastic fishing nets.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean, also serves as a stark reminder of the scale of the problem.
But while the ocean fills up with plastic, there are three times as much plastic waste leaking into land-based ecosystems. Around the world, plastic is filling vulnerable natural habitats in forests and wetlands, as well as causing health risks in urban spaces and to communities living and working near unregulated dumpsites and landfills.
Improper disposal practices, such as open burning of plastic waste, can release toxic pollutants and greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, exacerbating air quality issues and contributing to global warming.
Impact on humans and community
Plastic pollution exacts a heavy toll on human health and well-being.
The waste management industry in parts of the Global South is often exploitative. Waste pickers — who are typically marginalized and economically disadvantaged individuals — bear the burden of sorting through and disposing of plastic waste. And while some nonprofits have emerged to help legitimize this work, many waste pickers working in the informal sector face stigma, work in hazardous conditions, and receive less than $1 per day. There is also evidence that a gender pay gap exists in the sector, with women earning less than men.
Waste pickers often work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, especially those working on illegal or poorly-managed waste dump sites which can be affected by landslides and explosions. Those living near waste dumps are at higher risk of injuries, respiratory diseases, and skin conditions. For example, the life expectancy of inhabitants of the Deonar landfill site in Mumbai, India, is just 39.²
While the health risks associated with plastic pollution falls most obviously on those in the Global South living in and around waste, there is no escape from plastic wherever in the world you live.
Even in western countries, plastic pollution disproportionately affects people of color and people in lower socio-economic groups — like those living in so-called ‘Cancer Alley’ in the United States. Cancer Alley is an 85 mile stretch of road that runs along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Approximately 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical plants are within this radius, and cancer rates in the area are unusually high. Forty percent of the residents in cancer alley are Black (compared to a twelve percent Black population in the US nationwide).
Microplastics are everywhere. By some estimations, the average human being consumes up to a credit card’s worth of plastic every week, and recent research has found microplastics and nanoplastics (fragments of microplastics) in alarming quantities in bottled water.
Solving the plastic problem
As we confront the human impact of plastic pollution, we must recognize the interconnectedness of environmental and social justice issues. As we look to address the root causes of plastic pollution, we need to take a holistic approach. One that considers both the environmental damage being caused, but also the well-being of all individuals, particularly those most exposed to the adverse effects of our waste.
Solving the plastic pollution crisis requires a multifaceted approach; an approach that encompasses reduction strategies, enhanced waste management infrastructure, and international cooperation.
And on a smaller scale? Individuals can make an impact by supporting brands and initiatives that reduce single-use plastic consumption. In fact, in the past five years, movements like Plastic Free July have motivated households to avoid billions of pounds of plastic waste by changing their shopping habits.³ You can also embrace shopping second-hand, repair items rather than throw them away, and advocate for change within your household and neighborhood.
By encouraging ways to cut down on plastic use, switching to single-use plastic alternatives, and embracing circular economy ideas, we can start reducing plastic at its source. At the same time, investing in recycling and recovery systems is key to making sure plastic waste — whether from yesterday, today, or tomorrow — is handled responsibly and efficiently.
rePurpose Global is proud to partner with Grove, supporting their goals to move Beyond Plastic™️. Through their initiatives, Grove has funded the recovery of over 25 million pounds of plastic waste from vulnerable ecosystems. In doing so, Grove has contributed to the improvement of the livelihoods of over 2,000 waste workers and helped provide hundreds of thousands of households with improved waste management services, some for the very first time.
This is an abridged version of an article published by rePurpose Global. You can read the full version here
To learn more about how rePurpose Global is helping to solve the plastic waste crisis, visit www.repurpose.global
Sources:
1 Balch, B. Microplastics are inside us all. What does that mean for our health?. AAMC News. https://www.aamc.org/news/microplastics-are-inside-us-all-what-does-mean-our-health
2 Varshney, A. People in this Mumbai slum barely make it to age 40. Mongabay. https://india.mongabay.com/2019/04/people-in-this-mumbai-slum-barely-make-it-to-age-40/
3 Clean the World Sustainability. Embracing Plastic-Free July: Goals and Impact. Clean the World. https://cleantheworld.org/blog/embracing-plastic-free-july-goals-and-impact/
