In the shocking facts that have come forward, the National Library of Medicine has hinted at the post-pandemic era being the worst hit about the use of single-use plastic. Moreover, for a country like India, other reasons, like the rising population, rapid urbanization, and changes in consumption patterns, further trigger plastic pollution.
You will be shocked to know that plastic pollution is the dominant reason behind ocean pollution, with 80% of plastic from the land making its way into the oceans. If not controlled, plastic pollution will damage the environment in unbelievable ways. As such, the need of the hour is to work on strategies to gain control over the rising issue of plastic pollution. So, in this blog today, we at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, are sharing some practical strategies to fight plastic pollution. Read on.
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Say NO to Single-Use Plastics:
Your fight against plastic pollution begins with the choices you make. These choices should be in the interest of the environment, the present, and the future generations.
We recommend saying NO to single-use plastics and also practice the same at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences. From cutlery, straws, and plates to single-use plastic bags, we encourage conscious efforts to curb the use of these items.
We believe the smart way out is to look for meaningful replacements in the form of reusable and sustainable bags, plates, and cutlery. Do you know there’s a West-based brand that has found a breakthrough in edible cutlery. With these, you can eat the food and the cutlery too. Doesn’t this unique experience make it easier for people to go against the use of single-use plastics?
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Opt for Reusable Menstruation Wear:
We have heart-breaking news coming your way concerning the use of single-use plastics. This is closely related to women’s menstruation, dominated by single-use pads loaded with 90% plastic.
What is worse is that these items take about 500 to 800 years to decompose, further breaking down into harmful microplastics that contaminate the air.
Once again, it helps women to be mindful of their sanitary choices and turn to reusable alternatives such as period panties and reusable pads. You can easily find brands that boast the use of organic cotton in these panties and pads.
From this, we can derive that changing how we tackle menstruation can help eliminate the problem of plastic pollution.
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Nod Your Head to Plastic Recycling:
Recycling plastic becomes possible when the plastic gradient is recycle-friendly. Hence, it is vital that in cases where the use of single-use plastic is unavoidable, the plastic variant be suitable for recycling.
We at the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences recommend educating oneself about the centers where recycling of single-use plastic can be performed. Such centers make it possible for laymen to participate in plastic recycling.
It is not enough for one individual to take proactive steps. The entire community must come forward and join hands. In different parts of the world, such individuals even receive applause and, under certain circumstances, awards, too, in the form of incentives for taking action towards the reduction of plastic pollution by supporting recycling.
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Engage in Bulk Buying:
For those unversed, one of the pivotal reasons behind plastic pollution is the excessive use of single-use plastic that forms part of product packaging. This means when you engage in frequent visits to buy daily-use items, you end up using that much more plastic.
The suitable decision to make is to opt for bulk buying. Here, instead of heading to the grocery mart every two days, you make a single visit and buy items of need in bulk.
This leads to you using only one round of plastic. Needless to say, these actions benefit the entire supply chain, with manufacturers and producers welcoming bulk packaging, leading to excessive plastic use being curbed right from the start.
Summing Up:
At the Tribhuvan College of Environment and Developmental Sciences, one of the most well-known environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, we have interacted with many individuals who think that it is the responsibility of the Government, NGOs, and other authorized bodies to fight plastic pollution.
Unfortunately, this mindset prevents the problem of plastic pollution from being resolved. The need of the hour is to take responsibility for plastic pollution while offering support to the environment.
We would want to be a little straight in the face and say that fighting plastic pollution is the responsibility of every individual residing on this planet. So far, if you did not know how to tackle plastic pollution, now is the time to explore the various strategies mentioned above.
In fact, simple habits like carrying a reusable bag when you go shopping and having a reusable container in your bag when you visit restaurants can make a significant difference to the bigger problem, too. Curative measures such as participating in ocean clean-up drives can also help make an impact. It’s high time we, as a community, stop procrastinating and pledge to begin fighting plastic pollution today onwards.