Effects of Plastic Waste on the Environment - Essay Example

Effects of Plastic Waste in the Environment Economic development and the rapid change in consumption and production have resulted in the rapid increase in the generation of waste plastic in the world. Plastic waste is a major concern in cities and towns. Municipals and local authorities are overwhelmed in the management of this waste. Hence, most of the plastic waste is neither collected nor disposed off properly, therefore, having a negative impact on the environment and public health (European Commission DG ENV, 2011). Plastics are synthetic organic materials produced by polymerization. They comprise of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances aside from polymers to enhance performance and/or reduce costs (European Commission DG ENV, 2011). These polymers can then be molded or extruded into the desired shapes. There are two main types of plastics, namely thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastics, when enough heat is repeatedly applied and hardened on cooling new plastic products, are made for example polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene etc. Conversely, thermosets can only melt and take shape once. Plastics are responsible for the many facets of modern life we enjoy ranging from health, nutrition, shelter, transportation, safety and security, communication, sports, leisure activities and the creation of various products by industries (Myllymaa, 2010). Plastics delivers plenty of uses to the world. In the United States, the plastics industry accounts for more than $374 billion dollars in annual shipments and directly employs 1.1 million people. Nevertheless, plastics actually save energy. Yes, they actually save energy more than what people think. The raw materials that go into the production of plastics account for only 1.5 percent of total U.S. energy consumption (Myllymaa, 2010). It takes less energy to manufacture plastics from raw materials into a finished product in comparison to products made from other materials. However, on the flipside, plastics can be a menace; they trash our environment if not properly managed (European Commission DG ENV, 2011). More often than not, our environment is littered with plastics be it polythenes, plastic bottles etc. The problem that plastics pose is that they are not biodegradable. In an effort to keep the environment sanitary, some have turned into recycling (Myllymaa, 2010). Now we note that recycling entails turning materials that would otherwise be wastage, into valuable resources. Recycling is not a new concept it, it dates back to 400 BC or even earlier. Recycling is notably good in regions where rapid industrialization and economic development is putting a lot of strain on natural resources (Myllymaa, 2010). The act of collecting used bottle, cans, newspapers, etc. is among some of the steps towards making many gains financially, environmentally and socially. Recycling bears plenty of benefits such as protecting and expansion in US manufacturing jobs and increases US competitiveness, saving on energy, reducing the need for land filling and incineration (Myllymaa, 2010). Moreover, natural resources such as timber water and minerals are conserved, pollution caused by the manufacturing of virgin materials is prevented, and most importantly, the environment is sustained for future generations. Recycling covers a wide range such as recycling of paper, plastic, Styrofoam and metals. Let us shift our focus on eco-fencing. This new trend is catching on and, in the process, helps save the environment by getting rid of plastic trash and conserving timber. Our forests are in serious decline. Demand for timber has soared due to the rapidly growing housing market. Deforestation will cause soil erosion; desertification and poor rainfall turn out. If we stop cutting down trees and look for other alternatives sources than timber we will save our environment. Hence, eco posts becomes the solution, which results from the utilization of waste plastic as a resource to manufacture aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly fencing posts (SEP, 2011). These posts do not rot in comparison to timber, and they have a longer lifespan, are termite resistant the topical regions are more prone to termite attacks, outlast timber in application and can be cut, drilled and nailed as easily as timber. They are also cost effective because it reduces the aspect of maintenance and replacement when compared to timber (SEP, 2011). Upon setting them up they are a beauty to behold mainly because they can be shaped to obtain a smooth finish. These posts are environmentally friendly as they are produced from 100% recyclable materials. In countries where there are bans on tree logging, eco posts come in handy. Finally yet importantly, they cannot be stolen and be used as firewood in regions where they use timber as a source of firewood. These posts serve various functions like industrial, where they are used for flooring, pallets, truck flooring. The posts are also used for agricultural purposes like fences, gates and animal stalls. Other used include making recreational park benches, picnic tables, playground equipment and decking. Transportation also uses posts for signposts, guard rail offset blocks, car stops, bollards. Other uses include gardening fences, flooring walks and construction of roofing trusses. There is need for more sensitization and awareness of eco fencing to encourage many people to make use of these products. There are a number of companies carrying out this activity such as eco fencing a company located in Atkinson and Eco post, a company located Kenya among many others. Another solution to the challenge posed by the plastic menace is the conversion of plastic waste into solid, liquid and gaseous fuels as well as the direct combustion of waste plastics for specific applications (SEP, 2011). Waste plastics should be noted to be one of the most promising resources for fuel production due to its high combustion and increasing availability. The major quality concerns when converting waste plastics into fuel resources are the smooth feeding to conversion equipment (SEP, 2011). Before converting waste plastics to fuel, they undergo various pretreatment methods to facilitate smooth and efficient during the subsequent conversion. The other quality concern is that of effective conversion into fuel whereby the type of plastic being used determines the processing rate as well as the product yield (SEP, 2011). The last quality concern is matching the fuel type and its quality to the burner in order to improve heat recovery efficiency (SEP, 2011). Conclusion Plastics when turned into waste can be a total disappointment and bring harm to the environment and our health, and safety as well. Nevertheless, from the above discussion it has been vividly highlighted that waste plastic is very useful in terms of energy efficiency and the creation of other products through recycling. In this harsh economic times through such innovative uses of waste plastics, jobs have been created. Through such timely intervention, the world become a better place to live in and is eco-friendly. Municipal authorities and local governments should by large come up with stringent measures that will curb the menace of waste plastic such as banning the use of polyethylene in packaging of goods. This is largely a problem in developing countries. References European Commission DG ENV. (2011). Plastic Waste in the Environment. Institute of European Environmental Policy. Myllymaa, T. (2010). Environmental Impacts of Plastic Waste Recovery. Finnish Environmental Institute. Science for Environmental Policy (SEP). (2011). Plastic Waste: Redesign and Biodegradability. Future Briefs, Vol. 1(1). Pp. 1-8. Read More