It is no surprise to see ocean and land choked with plastic. The use of plastic is going up every day without much thought given to its alarming effect on the environment. The quest for convenience has landed us in a deep hole filled with plastic that is harmful to every living being on this earth including us.
There is an urgent need for plastic waste management to reverse this cycle and save the planet from this man-made disaster. Corrective steps are required at all levels of society including households, governments, and businesses to combat this issue. The plastic waste generated comes from mainly two sources of consumption that are domestic plastic waste and commercial plastic waste.
Let’s have a look at the plastic pollution solutions that can be implemented at both of these sources of consumption.
Domestic Plastic Waste Dometic plastic waste is generated from household consumption such as single-use plastics, product packaging, containers, toys, and other plastic items that are discarded on an everyday basis. An average Indian consumer discards 11kg of plastic waste on average, every year. This amount of plastic stays on earth forever and never goes out of the system. If we continue to live as carelessly as we are, we will have to find another planet for our survival.
Commercial Plastic Waste Commercial plastic waste is generated from the operations and manufacturing process of businesses such as raw material waste, packaging waste, and manufacturing waste. Companies are trying to reduce their carbon footprint by adopting the eco-friendly approach in their supply chain.
Solution to Plastic Waste Management
Eco-friendly Alternative Luckily, we have many alternatives for plastic. Simply switch from plastic bottles to metal ones, plastic containers to glass ones, and plastic toys to stuffed, fluffy toys. The options are quite diverse, and you can choose as per your liking and convenience. It’s not only better for the planet but also for your pocket. Most of these materials such as steel, glass, and cloths are long-lasting and a one-time investment for a sustainable and eco-friendly life.
Single-Use Plastic Heard of it before? You must have. That plastic straw for your morning juice and plastic disposables at the office are examples of single-use plastic. Using a glass straw and carrying your coffee mug is an easy solution to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics. It may not be as convenient as plastic, but your planet will thank you for making a change.
Corporate places and hotels are not behind in replacing single-use, mini toiletry bottles, plastic cups with eco-friendly alternatives such as metal soap dispensers, shampoo dispensers, and paper cups.
- Buy in Bulk Buying grocery in bulk quantity help to reduce packaging waste. It also saves a lot of money.
- Composting Composting kitchen waste instead of putting it into the trash bag is a great way to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. You can use compost as fertilizer in your home garden and enjoy the sight of lush green plants. Five-star hotels and commercial buildings use composting to reduce the amount of waste generated by in-house processes.
- Plastic Neutrality This solution is best suited for brands and workplaces. Plastic neutrality means removing as much plastic as your business generates in its process. This is a very straightforward activity to combat the issue of increasing plastic waste in the environment. Individuals can also participate in community clean-up and beach clean-up campaigns to lead a sustainable lifestyle and reduce plastic pollution.