Discussions about plastic, pollution and the population involve some hard truths. The only time someone will listen is on World Environment Day.

I am passionate about nature. Other than my family its Mother nature which brings out the Tigress in me.When I see people litter and pollute I see red. My hubby has the difficult task of restraining me when I want to give random strangers gyaan about waste disposal. For peace of mind, we avoid confrontations. But for how long?

Till we choke on our own plastics?Is this what the beautiful world deserves.

The more populated areas have even more plastic pollution. Urban overcrowding is directly correlated with plastic pollution.This year India is the Global Host for #WorldEnvironmentDay on June 5^th. Maybe thats why we are making the right noises, but we need to walk the talk.

Man is a part of nature.When we pollute, destroy and disrespect nature,  we are behaving suicidally. How can we survive without oxygen? How can we live without drinking water ? What happens if the air we breathe the water we drink and the food we eat is polluted?

Mankind gets affected by lifestyle diseases. The food loses its healing property.Water cant hydrate and the air chokes. Was the World Thanos describes in Avengers Infinity coming close? Are we reaching the breaking point?

I feel we still have time.The environment is our biggest treasure. It’s precious.

What can we do as a long term goal?

• Avoid buying plastic and using plastic now. That means no plastic cups straws or bottles and anything which has an immediate alternative available.
• Make diapers and sanitary pads with biodegradable and eco-friendly options which are long-term sustainable as a change.
• Recycling, Reusing, Upcycling of plastic waste and others.
• Plant more trees.
• Replantation.
• Save water.
• Vertical forests.
• Community refrigerators to avoid waste.
• Community kitchen gardens for making food and health inclusive with more control over the nutrition aspect.
• Population Control to balance the resources with consumers. Tough times need simple solutions and this one we can all help with.

If it was so dangerous, why did Plastic became popular?

• It was cheap.
• It was sturdy.
• Low maintenance and affordable.

What  plastic does to Mother nature

It chokes Mother Nature, inside out, one plastic bag at a time. It also pollutes everything you consume .

Did you know,our plastic waste ends up in our body, through the food grown in the soil polluted with plastic? #Plasticpollution #WorldEnvironmentDay

If you don’t have your own organic farm, growing everything you eat, you have no way of knowing the truth or false of it.

Why is burning plastic bad for the environment?

When plastic containing PVC is burned, harmful quantities of dioxins, are releases. Dioxins are potent toxic agents .harmful for all living organisms even at minute doses. As these substances persist in the environment, their concentration builds up in the food chain. Every member of the human population is globally exposed to this through the food they eat and mothers mils too! If we don’t take strict action this is a large-scale long-term public health risk.

What plastic bags do to the environment?

They poison every living thing and all natural resources. Soil water and when burnt air. It’s a serious man-made problem which can destroy life if not dealt with strictly. Plastic bag you throw away gets into the soil or water and leaches harmful chemicals slowly into the environment. Plastic pollution has the potential to poison animals, which can then adversely affect human food supplies.

• Poisons the crops and fishes
• Gets into your daily diet.
• Affects humans and wildlife and sea life.
• It also causes hormonal changes in humans. Dioxins have an effect on reproduction, development, immune system function, and potential carcinogens.
• The poison you throw away comes back.

[bctt tweet=” It takes one thousand years to fully degrade one plastic bag! #Plasticpollution #WorldEnvironmentDay #Healthwealthbridge” username=”misra_amrita”]

Scary Facts

The Marine Conservancy predicted decomposition rates of plastic products.

• Foam plastic cup takes 50 years.
• A disposable nappy 450 years,

Human population in certain areas also plays a large role in this. By 2050 if we don’t take care, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by weight. A 2017 study found that 83% of tap water samples taken around the world contained plastic pollutants.

How can you help prevent Plastic pollution today?

• Carry your own water bottles.
• Don’t buy any more plastic containers, bottles bags,. Stop getting plastic in your homes.
• Carry your own cool foldable shopping bag. Keep the earth clean for our children.
• Let’s make our seas and rivers cleaner No dumping waste in them. Organize community help to clean water bodies and green zones around your homes.
• Plant a tree in your community garden. Start an indoor, balcony garden.

Let’s create wealth from waste. Recycle up-cycle reuse.

Dont’s of recycling

• Don’t use it to store snacks food grains or pet food.
• Don’t plant edible plants in plastic planters. You can use for ornamental plants though. In your kitchen salad garden use burnt brick or earthenware pots. They are the best.
• Drink your roadside tea in an earthen bhar! It’s cool and biodegradable.
• Use plastic bottles as recycled material for craft storage, storing buttons clips rubber bands etc.
• Decorate plastic containers and use as stationary storage

What Government can do(humble suggestions)

Make companies help you make prevention of plastic pollution a special CSR project. You can think of giving them special tax benefits or any other rebate. Involve everyone.

Make cities have a lower tax bracket when they go plastic free.

Encourage schools and colleges to ensure awareness about Plastic pollution.

Invest in research, which helps you find ways of recycling upcycling reusing and destroying plastic.

Make plastic alternatives and promote them.

Avoid cutting down trees.

Use recycled wood. Use wrought iron, other metals, and bamboo furniture.

Think out of the box. Your life depends on it.

Takeaway:

You need to take action, now, today immediately, otherwise there will be no tomorrow.

References:

https://dengarden.com/landscaping/How-to-Build-a-Greenhouse-Made-From-Plastic-Bottles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution

Lytle, Claire Le Guern. “Plastic Pollution”. Coastal Care. Retrieved 19 February 2015.