By Rushan Ziatdinov
One of the prevalent concerns worldwide involves garbage disposal. The World Bank has declared that 2 billion tons of garbage is created annually around the global. In a 2021 article published in CNBC, it was predicted that in 2050, trash thrown out worldwide will amount to 3.4 billion tons. From a general perspective, waste is an evident global problem for different types of pollution such as that of the air, soil, and oceans.
The majority of the trash generated around the world is non-biodegradable, and not all of it is recyclable. Irresponsible waste management is one of the major causes of global warming and climate change.
Devastatingly, waste also ends up in water systems and the oceans, especially plastic waste. Based on an article from the International Union for Conservations of Nature, the amount of plastic waste found in the ocean amounts to 8 million tons annually. Plastic waste in the ocean is responsible for 80 percent of the total trash found in marine ecosystems. Based on recent statistics provided by National Geographic, there will be a 113 percent increase by 2040 in the amount of plastic waste in the ocean if no measures are taken towards its reduction.
By 2040, it is estimated that 30 million metric tons of plastic debris will have accumulated in the ocean. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the major location in the oceans where plastic waste accumulates, with an estimated 1.15 million to 2.41 million tons of waste as stated in an article in The Ocean Clean Up.
Plastic waste that ends up in the ocean comes from different places, all over the world. However, it has been found by the Environmental Protection Agency that the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Indonesia are among the top five countries that are the most responsible for greater than half of the totality of plastic waste found in the oceans annually. China, in particular, dumped 8.8 million metric tons of plastic waste in the oceans in 2010 as reported by Statista. Indonesia, on the other hand, emptied 3.2 million metric tons of plastic waste.
Yet, in 2016 statistics produced by Science Advances shows that the United States is actually the biggest plastic waste producer in the global scheme of things. The U.S. accounts for 42 million metric tons of plastic waste ― and ranked third in waste contribution and illegal dumping of junk in the oceans.
Plastic waste is harmful to the entire environment, not only to the oceans and waterways. Plastic takes thousands of years to decay. The chemicals responsible for the creation of plastic prove to be harmful to the environment and for life in the long run, especially when it is irresponsibly discarded, because it takes an arduously long time to decay.
Similarly, it is harmful to marine life. Plastic waste that ends up in the marine ecosystem poses danger to sea life that can consume and even choke on or become trapped in different kinds of waste. Plastic waste can also be a cause of infection and injuries to marine species.
The plastic waste found in the oceans consists of different types, including high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Drinking straws, plastic bags, and drinking containers are all made from HDPE. Admittedly, there is a variety of plastic waste found in the oceans. Some common plastic materials would include cigarette butts, different types of packaging and wrappers, Styrofoam containers, drinking containers, drinking straws, eating apparatus, bottle caps and non-biodegradable shopping bags.
Thankfully, technology has given us tools for plastic waste extraction and reduction in the ocean. Campaigns concerned with recycling and waste reduction are launched through social media like UNEP's #BeatPlasticPollution advocacy. Through the campaign, funds are being raised all over the world. At the same time, through the internet and social media, more people are being enlightened with growing awareness of the ever-worsening problem of plastic pollution.
More so, the power of technology allows the possibility for plastic waste in the ocean to be spotted via satellites. There is also Seabin V5, launched by the Seabin Project. This vacuum technology is made to pump water in its filter bag, which is then returned to the area, leaving the junk in the bag.
The Seabin V5, apart from collecting trash, also gathers toxic oils. Lastly, there is the Floating Robot Eliminating Debris (FRED), invented by different student interns from San Diego universities. This invention has the purpose of extracting toxic waste and debris from the oceans and is powered by renewable energy.
One way that people and companies can benefit is through recycling plastic. In a 2018 National Geographic article, the recycling initiative from Norway regarding plastic bottles was mentioned. The country has made this possible by trading 32 cents for bottles deposited through machines found in a majority of their supermarkets. Still, recycling is by far a solution that is a long-shot in the reduction and eradication of plastic waste.
Other than that, a lot of countries worldwide are advocating for the "zero waste" campaign, such as France. Over the last decade, the production of goods made from recycled materials have garnered popularity. Some of these items include shampoo bottles, traffic cones, trash bags, packaging materials, kitchenware, and countertops.
A lot of innovation has come across starting from centuries back. Many inventions have contributed to the advancement of the present world, such as plastic. Yet, it also comes with a lot of drawbacks. It has greatly contributed to many global problems such as pollution and climate change.
The call for change and action grows louder and louder as the damage slowly becomes irreversible. As it has repeatedly been said, this planet is the only one we have, and it will not be the one who will weep when it's lost ― it will be us humans who weep.
Rushan Ziatdinov (ziatdinov.rushan@gmail.com) is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University, Daegu.
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The majority of the trash generated around the world is non-biodegradable, and not all of it is recyclable. Irresponsible waste management is one of the major causes of global warming and climate change.
Devastatingly, waste also ends up in water systems and the oceans, especially plastic waste. Based on an article from the International Union for Conservations of Nature, the amount of plastic waste found in the ocean amounts to 8 million tons annually. Plastic waste in the ocean is responsible for 80 percent of the total trash found in marine ecosystems. Based on recent statistics provided by National Geographic, there will be a 113 percent increase by 2040 in the amount of plastic waste in the ocean if no measures are taken towards its reduction.
By 2040, it is estimated that 30 million metric tons of plastic debris will have accumulated in the ocean. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the major location in the oceans where plastic waste accumulates, with an estimated 1.15 million to 2.41 million tons of waste as stated in an article in The Ocean Clean Up.
Plastic waste that ends up in the ocean comes from different places, all over the world. However, it has been found by the Environmental Protection Agency that the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Indonesia are among the top five countries that are the most responsible for greater than half of the totality of plastic waste found in the oceans annually. China, in particular, dumped 8.8 million metric tons of plastic waste in the oceans in 2010 as reported by Statista. Indonesia, on the other hand, emptied 3.2 million metric tons of plastic waste.
Yet, in 2016 statistics produced by Science Advances shows that the United States is actually the biggest plastic waste producer in the global scheme of things. The U.S. accounts for 42 million metric tons of plastic waste ― and ranked third in waste contribution and illegal dumping of junk in the oceans.
Plastic waste is harmful to the entire environment, not only to the oceans and waterways. Plastic takes thousands of years to decay. The chemicals responsible for the creation of plastic prove to be harmful to the environment and for life in the long run, especially when it is irresponsibly discarded, because it takes an arduously long time to decay.
Similarly, it is harmful to marine life. Plastic waste that ends up in the marine ecosystem poses danger to sea life that can consume and even choke on or become trapped in different kinds of waste. Plastic waste can also be a cause of infection and injuries to marine species.
The plastic waste found in the oceans consists of different types, including high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and low density polyethylene (LDPE). Drinking straws, plastic bags, and drinking containers are all made from HDPE. Admittedly, there is a variety of plastic waste found in the oceans. Some common plastic materials would include cigarette butts, different types of packaging and wrappers, Styrofoam containers, drinking containers, drinking straws, eating apparatus, bottle caps and non-biodegradable shopping bags.
Thankfully, technology has given us tools for plastic waste extraction and reduction in the ocean. Campaigns concerned with recycling and waste reduction are launched through social media like UNEP's #BeatPlasticPollution advocacy. Through the campaign, funds are being raised all over the world. At the same time, through the internet and social media, more people are being enlightened with growing awareness of the ever-worsening problem of plastic pollution.
More so, the power of technology allows the possibility for plastic waste in the ocean to be spotted via satellites. There is also Seabin V5, launched by the Seabin Project. This vacuum technology is made to pump water in its filter bag, which is then returned to the area, leaving the junk in the bag.
The Seabin V5, apart from collecting trash, also gathers toxic oils. Lastly, there is the Floating Robot Eliminating Debris (FRED), invented by different student interns from San Diego universities. This invention has the purpose of extracting toxic waste and debris from the oceans and is powered by renewable energy.
One way that people and companies can benefit is through recycling plastic. In a 2018 National Geographic article, the recycling initiative from Norway regarding plastic bottles was mentioned. The country has made this possible by trading 32 cents for bottles deposited through machines found in a majority of their supermarkets. Still, recycling is by far a solution that is a long-shot in the reduction and eradication of plastic waste.
Other than that, a lot of countries worldwide are advocating for the "zero waste" campaign, such as France. Over the last decade, the production of goods made from recycled materials have garnered popularity. Some of these items include shampoo bottles, traffic cones, trash bags, packaging materials, kitchenware, and countertops.
A lot of innovation has come across starting from centuries back. Many inventions have contributed to the advancement of the present world, such as plastic. Yet, it also comes with a lot of drawbacks. It has greatly contributed to many global problems such as pollution and climate change.
The call for change and action grows louder and louder as the damage slowly becomes irreversible. As it has repeatedly been said, this planet is the only one we have, and it will not be the one who will weep when it's lost ― it will be us humans who weep.
Rushan Ziatdinov (ziatdinov.rushan@gmail.com) is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University, Daegu.
