Can we stop using Plastics? Costa Rica thinks so!
Plastics is one of the most versatile, robust and durable materials created in the modern era, which at the same time makes it the worst thing ever made.
Plastics; The worst environmental issue of our time.
The durability of plastic items makes it very hard to break down in nature. Plastic is making life in the oceans for marine life even worse. While it may seem like plastic breaks down in the oceans, it does not. Items erode and break down into smaller and smaller particles, called Microplastics.
Every creature in the sea will end up with some plastic in them; some even end up with so much plastic that they will be unable to decent again. There have been cases where turtles have been found, with so many plastic items in their stomach that they can't swim naturally anymore.
In the end, the humans are the one that eats food with plastics!
Health Impact
The plastics have been observed to have health impacts on us as humans as well. Even using a normal, fresh, plastic bottle from the store will release small micro plastics during usage. It will end up in the body, causing bad health.
What can we do?
Be smart, think ahead
We can think another time before we go out, and bring tap water with us instead of buying that plastic bottle on the trip. Purchase a metal can for your water, tea or coffee needs. We can try to use as little plastic as possible, something that can be challenging and even shocking when you look around. You may not have realized how much is plastics that just gets trashed.
See the infogram on the left for more tips.
Country wide ban
Costa Rica has set a countrywide ban on single-use plastics by 2021, in just four years! Their goal is to be the first country in the world to have a country-wide strategy to eliminate single-use plastics.
They have already achieved their goal to be 100% renewable energy powered, another of their goals to become carbon neutral.
“Single-use plastics are a problem not only for Costa Rica but also for the whole world. It is estimated that if the current consumption pattern continues, by 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish—measured by weight. For this reason, we began our journey to turn Costa Rica into a single-use plastic-free zone. It’s a win-win for all: Costa Rica, the people, and the planet.”
A joint statement from Environment and Energy Minister Edgar Gutiérrez, Health Minister María Esther Anchía, and UNDP Costa Rica resident representative Alice Shackelford
Go out, do good, be smart and use less plastic
Plastic is part of our life, but we can use less. Put pressure on producers!
Be smart, use alternatives and think ahead when you buy or travel.
Documentary; A Plastic Ocean
I can highly recommend the documentary A Plastic Ocean.
This documentary takes us on a highly emotional journey to an ocean full of life, and plastics. The struggle of the ones that work with this every day and see how animal suffer from the lack of care from humans.
We visit one scientist that work with documenting the amounts of plastic in the stomachs of dead birds, something that can make anyone weep.
Highly recommended, and available to any Netflix subscriber.
This Article is Part of My “Donate Together” Series
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I pretty sure you can use hemp to make plastics, it still plastic but bio-safe plastic. Earlier this week i saw a study that plastics are in tap water too. We only get one earth! There's gotta be some way around this issue, great post btw!
I think this idea looks very nice on paper. I live in Costa Rica and we promote our country as a natural paradise but the reality is that we live in a place that is filled with garbage and filthy rivers/streets and many companies -even hotels- contribute with pollution so I think a general garbage policy is better.
I assumed as much. It's one thing to set a goal and one to actually be able to live up to one. There is no doubt that we need to reduce the usage of plastic though.
EU made a silly rule to force stores to charge for plastic bags that you pack your groceries or cloths in, but they neglected the big thief in the whole game... the thin fruit bag that everyone use and just dispose in the garbage.
Plastic is here, but we should all try to use less of it and use alternatives when we can. Not always possible, but one step at the time and we can go a long way.
I think fines would work too.Give someone an $100 fine once, and you won't catch him/her leaving waste behind twice.
Trump Stops Ban on Plastic Bottles
As on command, I read today (from a month old article) that the US with President Trump stops a ban for national parks to sell bottled water in plastic bottles.
The law has been in effect since 2011 and has been removed after pressure from The International Bottled Water Association.
This law was a win-win for everyone, except maybe companies selling bottled water in plastic. There are so many other ways better than plastic.
Could this be because the new internal affairs minister, David Bernhardt, was once a lobbyist for the bottled water industry?
Plastic can't be avoided. Is here to stay but all we have to do is to
Post of the week.i resteem it.i hope it will be a tending post.best of luck
Plastics are estrogenic especially when we heat them, for example, some coffee in a plastic cup.
I do want to get rid of plastics and replace it with other materials simply because they aren't even good for our bodies!
No. Glass is the worst environmental issue of our time.