Question

Introduction to the Problem:

As the world population continues to exponentially grow, synthetic plastics for holding, storing, and transporting resources such as hygienic products and other various goods follow in a similar trend (Blettler & Wantzen, 2019). The problem with the mass production of plastics that are intended to make human life easier and more efficient is that most of it becomes debris in the wild, specifically the ocean (Geyer, Jambeck, & Law, 2017). Many of these plastic products cause harm over an extended period to the wildlife that occupies the oceans due to them having a very slow degradation process. The discarded plastics pose a great threat to marine wildlife whether they sink to the ocean floor or remain on the surface, such as fishes, mammals, and many others (Chen & Yan, 2020). Also, aesthetic damages caused by plastic pollution comes at a financial cost and burden to those seeking to restore the world’s oceans. Although beneficial to the way society operates presently, the wide use and negligent care for plastics come at a massive environmental price (Devasahayam, Raju, & Hussain, 2019).

As a result of World War II, plastics have become widely produced. Now, plastic production greatly exceeds those of glass, metals, and papers combined (Laist, 1987). Plastics have even replaced many of the goods made from that material due to their safety, affordability, and physical characteristics. While their physical characteristics (ex: permanence) are ideal from a consumer standpoint, it is precisely the reason why we are seeing them accumulate at alarming rates, inevitably becoming a financial burden, and killing off the marine wildlife. Their durability and resistance to biodegradability are to blame for pollution and aesthetic damage. Also, their physical characteristics and chemical make-up are to blame for the death of marine life that ingest or become entangled in it (Laskar & Kumar, 2019). Recreational fishing boats, commercial transportation ships, and recreational vessels are the leading contributors of plastic debris to the world’s oceans (Vegter et al., 2014). The debris is categorized as either purposely discarded plastic articles such (ex: fishing nets) and indirectly discarded raw, almost non-visible plastic pellets and residue (Wilcox, Sebille, & Hardesty, 2015). In order to reduce the pollution problem, these concerns have been addressed by various agencies such as The United Nations and The U.S. Congress. Multiple treaties, laws, and conventions have been adopted to significantly reduce the number of plastics in the ocean (Chen et al., 2019). However, these efforts have to be executed and coordinated efficiently to properly address the problems with plastics and develop a solution to plastic pollution (Liubartseva, Coppini, Lecci, & Clementi, 2018).

The Data/The Research/The Facts:

As of 2005, a record 639,000 plastic containers and bags are dumped into the ocean daily by merchant ships. Also, an astonishing 23,000 tons of plastic packaging material is dumped into the ocean yearly by commercial fishing fleets (Vishnuradhan, Eldho, & David, 2019). Across the 57-mile-long coastline of the Padre Island National Seashore, there is a reported 140 tons per year of plastic waste in the form of plastic sheeting, liquid containers, and computer rings (Chae & An, 2018). After monitoring the debris from Mustang Island, Texas, it is evident that 75% to 95% of plastic trash originates from offshore locations (Haward, 2018). The plastic pollution crisis is certainly making its way to the shores and is harming our beaches. Communities along the coast of Texas report yearly expenses that often exceed $14,000,000 in efforts to clean up beaches and through the loss of the tourism revenue (Erisken et al., 2014). The problem isn’t unique to Texas as an average of 900 tons of plastic debris is collected nationwide from September to November (Gregory & Andrady, 2004)! The shores of Antarctica even have slowly been occupying copious amounts of plastic debris. Also, reports from worldwide coastal communities have indicated that that plastic pollution is becoming an increasing threat to the aesthetics of beaches on a global level, causing those communities to have depleted funds and creating unnecessarily significant expenses (Kouloumpis, Pell, Correa-Cano, & Yan, 2020). The threat to the beach aesthetics and monetary funds is an easily apparent one as we see its effects on neighboring coastlines immediately (Ryberg, Hauschild, Wang, Averous-Monnery, & Laurent, 2020). However, a more substantial threat to life itself lies farther off the coast where these plastics are endangering and killing marine animals that are consuming or becoming entangled in them (North & Halden, 2013). It is these less obvious threats that must carefully be understood and addressed to preserve the oceans and the life that depends on it (Eriksen et al., 2014).

            Aside from the monetary problems, it also proves to be a very life-threatening problem to the marine wildlife that ingests it (Roychand & Pramanik, 2020). When plastic is ingested by animals, it can cause severe internal damage through physical obstruction and the release of synthetic chemicals that give plastic its desired physical attributes (Donaldson, 2015). Animals such as seabirds will mistakenly identify plastic debris and pellets as the prey they naturally feed on and cause a blockage to their digestive tract, which eventually leads to an untimely death. 79 dead seabirds were dissected in an attempt to identify plastics within their digestive system (Iñiguez, Conesa, & Fullana, 2018). The process yielded an average of 11.96 pieces of plastic found in the sample of dead seabirds, with a high of as much as 96 pieces (Azzarello & Vleet, 1987). Mammals and other reptiles are subject to plastic ingestion (Sofi, Manzoor, Bhat, & Munvar, 2020). Even large mammals such as beached whales have been found to have around four dozen plastic bags in their stomachs when inspected (Weldon, 2020). Also, the ingestion of plastic causes severe harm through the toxins they secrete. While the plastics themselves seem to be relatively inert in biological organisms, the additives they possess to achieve desired physical characteristics such as color and flexibility are proven to be extremely detrimental to the life and preservation of animals (Dutta, 2018). These secreted toxins have been found to cause a wide range of sickness and death and tangential problems across marine life species (Hatti-Kaul, Nilsson, Zhang, Rehnberg, & Lundmark, 2020). Many of these plastics secrete polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which is a group of highly toxic organic compounds that are soluble in lipids and become heavily concentrated in the adipose tissue of animals that ingest it. As we follow the food chain, it is evident that the consumers are adding those same PCBs into our bodies that marine life was previously subjected to when we eat them. Thus, it is easily argued that the ingested plastic debris is not only affecting the health of marine wildlife that consumes it but also that of the people who rely on marine life as a consistent source of nutrition.

            When plastics are not being ingested by marine life, they are acting a physical nuisance and hazard for those that become entangled in it (Henderson & Green, 2020). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association reports that approximately 139,000 metric tons of miscellaneous fishing gear and plastics are purposely dumped in the ocean for convenience when foreign fishing boats try to avoid charges on illegally fishing in foreign waters (Thompson & Pahl, 2018). It's the precise mass of plastic nets, and sheets that act as a death curtain which entangles and suffocates birds and reptiles (Rhodes, 2018). A total of 100,000 marine mammals and 1,000,000 sea birds are approximated to be killed by these drifting plastics every year (Letcher, 2020). Also, government officials attribute entanglement to the death of 50,000 northern fur seals every year (Forrest et al., 2019). Plastic trash in the instance proves to be detrimental simply by occupying the same space as the marine wildlife.

Discussion:

After analyzing and calculating the expenses of having beaches and coastal communities polluted with plastic debris, one can conclude that the trend in pollution needs to stop to experience local economic growth and sustainability. Compliance from multiple parties must be achieved to improve the conditions of the coastlines around the globe. Individual efforts to reduce plastic pollution can be as simple as avoiding the use of personal care products that contain plastic microbeads or implementing reusable cloth bags over traditional plastic ones in commercial stores. Also, properly disposing of plastics appropriately can be the solution to the abundance of plastic production. If we simply discarded our different plastics into their respective disposal containers, there would be no need to manufacture many plastic goods to replace those lost and dumped into the ocean. There are various ways to address the pollution problem on an individual and communal level. Also, a strong individual commitment must be made with an idea passed to promote cleaner beaches and oceans to achieve change.

            Ingestion of plastics is hazardous for not only the marine wildlife that consumes it but also the people who consume those marine animals. By raw numbers alone, millions of animals native to the oceans suffer one way or another from consuming the trash we dump. This reduces the aquatic biodiversity and endangers creatures such as sea turtles, fishes, and whales that all contribute to the homeostasis and balance for the ocean floor ecosystems (Welden, 2020). One concerning issue in countries like Japan, the U.S. which heavily depends on seafood is the steady rise of PCBs in breast milk. Since the 1980s, the concentration of PCB in the breast milk of nurturing mothers has continuously increased in response to the consumption of marine life that has ingested plastic toxins (Sawhney & Hankin, 1985). Thus, PCB stockpiling in the adipose tissue of infants form from a very early stage in life. Accumulation of PCB is known to lead to physical and cognitive development issues (Gorbarev, Vlasov, Chulkov, Bludenko, & Ponomarev, 2019). It is at the point that the ingestion of toxic plastics becomes a concern for the future and preservation of animals/humans alike. Similarly to the problem with aesthetic damage to coastal communities and beaches, the solution lies within our governments and individuals to implement regulations and comply with those accords to completely revolutionize how we dispose of, reuse, and repurpose the troublesome plastic waste that plagues our oceans and future generation.

MY QUESTION: SO, WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO IS ADD A PAGE TO MY ESSAY. THE PROFESSOR SAYS MY ESSAY IS GOOD BUT I NEED YOU TO ADD A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. YOU CAN ADD WHEREVER IN THE ESSAY.

Answer 1

SOLUTION FOR PLASTIC WASTE POLLUTION

we dispose of, reuse, and repurpose the troublesome plastic waste that plagues our oceans.

This consistent flood (the likeness 136 billion milk containers every year, assesses an examination distributed in the diary Science) represents a genuine threat to marine life. Creatures can get messed up in this junk or ingest it—either in light of the fact that they botch it as prey or on the grounds that the plastic has been separated into minuscule particles via seawater.

Plastic, obviously, is remarkably dangerous on the grounds that it's nonbiodegradable and consequently stays for much more (like as long as 1,000 years longer) than different types of garbage. Furthermore, we're not simply discussing individuals dumping their trash over the edge. Around 80 percent of marine litter really starts ashore—either cleared in from the coastline or conveyed to streams from the roads during overwhelming precipitation through tempest channels and sewer floods.

So the best thing we can do to ensure our conduits is attempt to keep however much plastic as could reasonably be expected out of the waste stream in any case. The uplifting news? There are numerous little ways you can have a major effect.

1. Become acclimated to Not Using Disposable Plastics

Around 90% of the plastic items utilized each day are utilized once and afterward tossed: cling wrap, basic food item packs, straws, expendable cutlery, espresso mug tops among others. Consider how you frequently rely upon these things and change to reusable renditions.

This is the most evident and least demanding approach to take out the utilization of plastic later on. Strangely, countries like Kenya and France are eliminating single-utilize plastic pack by restricting its items. Infractions with these items are vigorously punished and could send you to imprison.

2. Cremation

More than 60 percent of utilized or squandered plastic clinical hardware is singed instead of dumped in a landfill as a precaution measure to diminish the transmission of diseases. This has altogether diminished the amount of plastic waste from clinical gear.

3. Abstain from Using Bottled Water

Individuals are educated to drink a ton with respect to water, in any event 8-ounce glasses each day. Numerous who stay outside for the duration of the day keep themselves hydrated utilizing plastic water bottles, which are tossed to junk after use.

Thus, you are urged to convey a reusable jug with you, get a model with an implicit channel for your wellbeing. On the other hand, go to organizations that are selling reusable water containers to limiting plastic waste and jugs helpless against spillage.

4. Institutional Arrangements and Creation of Awareness

States can utilize their capacity and position to control plastic contamination by shaping different organizations that can oversee and secure the environments. For instance, the Canadian government built up an establishment to defend marine regions.

Furthermore, these organizations can give instruction to people and organizations about the options they can move to for sacking, putting away and bundling. Set forth plainly, individuals will know about the circumstances and end results of plastic contamination and how to forestall it.

5. Assortment of Plastic

This is done to restrain the dispersing of plastic waste in the earth. It tends to be done through the curbside assortment, where individuals place utilized plastics in an uncommon holder to be gathered by a private or open pulling organization.

Individuals can then again utilize drop-off reusing focuses, where they take their plastic squanders to a midway positioned office. When gathered, the squanders are taken to the manufacturing plant for reusing. In the United States, in excess of 80 percent approach these assortment places.

6. Arrangements

The Food and Drug Agency and the Environment Protection Agency are commanded to survey the wellbeing of any new compound before they are took into account use. After the assessment, arrangements are constantly set up to help lessen plastic contamination and its repercussions.

Government guidelines that boycott the utilization of certain synthetic substances in explicit plastic items have been executed in countries like the United States, European Union, and Canada.

Expenses can likewise be utilized as an approach to demoralize explicit methods of plastic administration. For instance, the making of landfill charge causes individuals to incline toward reusing plastics as opposed to landfilling them. Normalization of compostable plastics is likewise been utilized to hinder its creation.

7. Parasite That Eats Plastic

An incredible measure of plastic has been dropped into the earth throughout the years, and once there, numerous hundreds of years will go before it corrupts. Indeed, even as previously mentioned, stays of microplastic may keep on existing unnoticed.

Be that as it may, as of late, researchers found Aspergillus Tubingensis, a plastic eating organism that lives in the dirt. It secretes compounds which help to separate the polymer chains that hold plastic together.

The exploration is still on about the ideal condition for this creature to flourish in, after which, it will be acquainted with start the procedure of plastic eating.

8. Reuse of Plastic Waste

While the primary goal of the world is to thoroughly dispose of plastic things in nature, it is additionally important to guarantee that the current ones are overseen appropriately.

People can improve this by being careful the plastic sacks they use at once and return with them to the shop.

Organizations, then again, can support reuse by remembering a few stores for bundling, with the sum discounted upon return. This may compel organizations to change to reusable bundling that can be returned and reused.

9. Mushroom Packaging

Science is in every case great at recognizing an issue and giving an answer for it regardless of to what extent it takes. With this new disclosure, the fate of plastic bundling is in question. It acquaints the world with biodegradable bundling.

Mushroom bundling is heat proof and can be formed to any shape without any problem. It is made out of a broad association of string like roots called mycelium. Researchers have idealized this bundling and are at present making structures with it.

After use, it very well may be discarded where it normally decays.

10. Bundling Using Milk Products

In what may appear to be inconceivable, an agrarian research group in the United States has made a bundling thing got from milk proteins. In spite of the fact that it is generally costly, it jelly food and preserves the earth superior to plastic.

11. 3D-Printing Recycled Plastic

ReDeTec has built up a framework that can change over plastic squanders into a totally new fiber and afterward use it to print new items.

The printer known as ProtoCycler can be loaded up with an assortment of plastic things like dismissed 3D-printer models and containers where it grinds them into little pieces before liquefying and discharging spools of plastic fiber for use on the following venture.

12. Reusing Plastic into Oil

Maybe the most exceptional approach to annihilate plastic is to change over it back to the unrefined petroleum, a state it used to be, at that point use it once more.

As indicated by Akinori Ito, the Japanese designer of a family unit apparatus that changes over plastic into fuel, plastic is only a prepared raw petroleum, which can be changed back to its unique frame and be utilized as an elective fuel.

13. Utilizing Edible Cutlery

The least demanding approach to diminish squander from gatherings and picnics is to devour the instruments you've quite recently eaten with. The instruments are produced using rice, wheat, millet, and numerous different flavors. This feasting advancement was offered by an Indian creator and is before long hitting the entire world.

14. Blacklist microbeads.

Those little plastic scrubbers found in such a significant number of excellence items—facial scours, toothpaste, body washes—may look innocuous, yet their small size permits them to sneak past water-treatment plants. Shockingly, they additionally look simply like food to some marine creatures. Decide on items with characteristic exfoliants, similar to cereal or salt.

15 Plastic reusing process

Plastic reusing is separated into a couple of particular advances. For the most part these means continue as before for most sorts of reusing offices, yet certain means can be consolidated or overlooked in certain circumstances.

Stage 1: Collection

The initial phase in the reusing procedure is continually gathering the plastic material that will be reused.

This progression is totally dependent upon organizations, eateries, and people in general to discard their plastic waste in the right spot. In the event that plastic waste is discarded in typical refuse receptacles, it won't be reused, so it is critical to isolate normal waste and plastic waste.

Also, it is perfect for governments to have a reusing assortment framework that goes to individuals' homes or organizations to gather the plastic waste. On the off chance that this is beyond the realm of imagination, nearby assortment focuses for plastic ought to be simple for general society to get to. Making it simple and advantageous for individuals to effectively discard plastic waste is principal in advancing reusing [1].

Stage 2: Sorting

After plastics are gathered and shipped to a reusing office, the following stage is arranging.

Machines sort plastics into various zones dependent on a huge number of properties that are frequently reliant upon the reusing office or what last item is being created.

Plastics are typically arranged in a couple of regular ways, for example, the sort of plastic (material it is made with), shade of the plastic, or even how it was made. This is significant on the grounds that various kinds of plastics must be prepared in various manners and some reusing offices are just equipped for reusing one sort of plastic. On the off chance that an inappropriate sort of plastic is handled at the off base office it can decrease the productivity of the entire procedure and require the whole group to be sent back again for turning [1,2].

Stage 3: Washing

Much the same as with garments, natural products/vegetables, and numerous different things, plastics must be washed before they are additionally handled. The objective of this progression is to expel debasements and everything that isn't produced using plastic.

Most compartments and bundles have names, cement, or even food buildup that must be evacuated. This non-plastic waste can't be reused and can make the last item have poor auxiliary respectability [2].

Stage 4: Resizing

Resizing comprises of destroying or grinding the plastic waste into little particles. This expands the surface territory of the plastic, making it simpler to process, reshape, and transport if necessary.

Furthermore, it gives reusing offices one final chance to evacuate any non-plastic waste that has endured the initial 3 stages of preparing. This is regularly finished with metal finders or magnets that will help evacuate any extra metal in the blend [1].

Stage 5: Identification and division of plastics

The distinguishing proof and partition of plastics is the point at which the now little plastic particles are tried to decide their quality and class.

The primary quality tried is thickness. This is finished by coasting the particles in a huge tank of water. Particles less thick than water will buoy and progressively thick particles will sink.

Next their air characterization is resolved. Air characterization is an official term for how thick or flimsy a molecule is. This is finished by dropping the particles into a little air stream. The littler pieces will fly higher up the passage and greater ones will remain lower.

Two different highlights plastics are normally tried for are their dissolving point and shading. These are controlled by gathering and breaking down examples from each group of plastic particles [1,2,3].

Stage 6: Compounding

The last advance in the reusing procedure is frequently viewed as the most energizing since it is the point at which the plastic particles are made into reused materials usable for future creation. Intensifying is the point at which the little particles are crushed and softened together into plastic pellets. The pellets would then be able to be utilized in the creation of other plastic items [1].

All through this procedure the plastic might be moved to various plants that have practical experience in various strides of the procedure. It very well may be vitality serious and the better instructed we are about the procedure the more we can decrease the time and vitality it requires.

16 Reuse

It appears glaringly evident, yet we're not working admirably of it. For instance, under 14 percent of plastic bundling is reused. Befuddled about what can and can't go in the receptacle? Look at the number on the base of the holder. Most refreshment and fluid cleaner jugs will be #1 (PET), which is normally acknowledged by most curbside reusing organizations. Compartments stamped #2 (HDPE; regularly somewhat heavier-obligation bottles for milk, juice, and clothing cleanser) and #5 (PP; plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) are likewise recyclable in certain territories. For the points of interest on your territory, look at Earth911.org's reusing catalog.