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The Plastic Problem.

Andreoni, Manuela. “The Plastic Problem.” The New York Times, 17 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/06/climate/plastics-climate-pollution.html.

 

Plastics are a jack of all trades used throughout our daily lives, from clothes to medicine. However, almost half of all plastics are single-use and end up in our landfills, oceans, and even in organisms, including humans. Negotiations are currently underway to decide what plastic management system should be in place worldwide. The two significant proposals are the “High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution,” which aims to set a binding target for the amount of plastic each country can produce. The other proposal is put forth by fossil fuel producers like the US and Saudi Arabia, which seek to focus on recycling plastic and have voluntary commitments rather than enforced goals like the Montreal proposal, which has shown success in preventing climate change. 

To fight climate change, goals must be set with punishments for those who fail to reach those goals. For too long has, the planet suffered at the expense of greedy nations like the United States, who seek to profit while destroying our planet. While recycling helps fight climate change, it could be more effective in making the significant change needed to slow it on a large scale. If the United States lowers its plastic production, we can focus on getting the current plastic out of the environment rather than stopping new plastic from entering the atmosphere. While turning to alternatives for plastic will be a hard endeavor due to our reliance on them in our daily lives, a sacrifice must be made to protect the environment. Plastics have had many beneficial uses like revolutionizing medicine, but there needs to be innovation in more eco-friendly ways to take the place of plastics in the United States.

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McDonald’s Is Testing a Change for Its Cups on Its ‘Journey Towards Good.’

Deb Kiner, dkiner@pennlive.com. “McDonald’s Is Testing a Change for Its Cups on Its ‘Journey Towards Good.’” Pennlive, 27 Jan. 2023, www.pennlive.com/food/2023/01/mcdonalds-is-testing-a-change-for-its-cups-on-its-journey-towards-good.html.

Mcdonald’s is getting rid of plastic straws in favor of new lids that don’t need straws. The new lids are part of Mcdonald’s journey to reduce plastic waste. Many praise Mcdonald’s for being innovative in reducing plastic waste by using these new kids on most of their drinks and using straws that make up a large portion of plastic waste from fast food restaurants. On the other hand, many people see the lids as virtue signaling because their cups are still pliable, and they only get rid of a small amount of overall plastic with their publicity stunt. Moreover, many restaurants still give straws with their cups making the movement redundant.

Mcdonald’s is on the right track regarding reducing plastic waste with the new lids. However, they are doing it in small steps that are seen as publicity stunts rather than attempts to decrease the amount of plastic waste they produce. If Mcdonald’s was serious about reducing plastic waste, they would eliminate the plastic cups alongside their straw and use more eco-friendly packaging. On top of that should focus on more major pollutants of plastic, such as shipping their food products that use cellophane plastics. All the food they receive comes with this plastic, and they should look for alternatives to reduce their waste. They also need to be more strict with their restaurants regarding reducing plastic, as only some restaurants follow the regulations, such as not giving straws, which defeats the purpose of their new lids. If Mcdonald’s wishes to significantly impact plastic waste in the United States, it must come up with more innovative solutions than sippy cup plastic lids.

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Advanced’ Recycling of Plastic Using High Heat and Chemicals Is Costly and Environmentally Problematic, a New Government Study Finds

Weisbrod, Katelyn. “‘Advanced’ Recycling of Plastic Using High Heat and Chemicals Is Costly and Environmentally Problematic, a New Government Study Finds.” Inside Climate News, 20 Jan. 2023, insideclimatenews.org/news/19012023/plastic-advanced-recycling-cost-environmental-impact.  

 

Many of the new plastic recycling methods, including gasification and pyrolysis, are found to be inefficient and highly polluting. In some chemical recycling methods, only 1 to 15 % of the plastic remains after being processed, meaning close to 90% of the plastic is still benignly released into the environment. Some other methods are more favorable, with an 80-95% success rate, but they still need to be more efficient in the fight for recycling plastics. The most efficient and economical method is mechanical recycling, which has been around for the most extended time; it has a lower emissions rate and is less polluting than other methods. Experts say that multiple methods must be used to fight against plastic waste. The purest plastics should go through mechanical recycling, while the impure plastics should be chemically recycled. 

While current recycling options are inefficient and expensive, there should still be a push for more innovative options for recycling. Many of the systems tested were in their early stages or prototypes. However, the most efficient approach is also the one that has been around the longest. If we continue to research to improve and create new methods, the quality of the methods and products should increase alongside them. There will never be one system that will eliminate all our plastic waste; however, with a combination of multiple different methods, the amount of waste recycled should significantly increase. However, the main problem with plastic is not recycling but manufacturing. Our current recycling systems cannot keep up with the amount of plastic being produced, so to make a dent in the plastic waste problem, we must attack it at the source and lower our plastic production. With lower plastic waste being put into our society, recycling will be able to finally create a dent in the amount already present in the environment.

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We Have a Waste Problem

 

Michelson, Joan. “We Have a Waste Problem – Will ESG and Government Funding Help?” Forbes, 29 Jan. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/joanmichelson2/2023/01/29/we-have-a-waste-problem–will-ESG-and-government-funding-help/?sh=56d785df4e22.

 

The Holiday season not only brings excellent cheer but also significant plastic waste. Plastic is part of our everyday lives, from wrapping paper on a present to packaging our food. The United States has a plastic waste problem that is going strong. Only 5% of the plastic put into recycling bins is recycled. Every hour 2.5 million plastic bottles are being thrown away. Many end up in landfills, our environment, and in the ecosystem. While there are thousands of recycling systems in the nation and many people are becoming more conscious of their plastic waste, there is still the growing problem of plastic waste. While there are still many problems with our plastic usage, companies, and bodies are creating change like Patagonia, who reduce plastic to make their apparel, others who are building biodegradable plastics, and those who are reducing their plastic packaging to make a difference. Regulations are being placed in certain areas that force plastic manufacturers to take accountability for the plastics they create from their creation until their disposal/recycling. Other programs are rapidly evolving with the current plastic epidemic, and only time will tell how effective they are.

It is disheartening to see that despite all our hard work, there is little impact on the amount of plastic pumped into the ecosystem by the United States and other countries. There needs to be more incredible innovation regarding methods that aim to reduce plastic waste on our planet. While we have thousands of recycling centers, little plastic is actually recycled. If we wish to reduce plastic waste, there must be a more significant push for effective recycling methods. There also needs to be a reduction in the amount of plastic being produced, as no matter how much plastic we take out of the environment, it won’t matter if we keep dumping more in than we take out. There needs to be set goals and regulations that manufacturers must follow to decrease the amount of plastic being made. Without their measures, the problem will continue to escalate, and our planet’s health will continue to deteriorate.

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Efforts to Regulate Plastic Pollution Likely to Increase in 2023.

Austin, Anne Idsal. “Efforts to Regulate Plastic Pollution Likely to Increase in 2023.” Waste Management – United States, 19 Jan. 2023, www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/waste-management/1272904/efforts-to-regulate-plastic-pollution-likely-to-increase-in-2023.

The biden administration have proposed environmental legislation that aims to increase the amount of plastic that is being recycled by the United States. It is likely that plastic waste will be a big vocal point for the biden administration and for congress. The United States government has recently started to implement more goals and legislators aimed at reducing plastic waste and fighting climate change. There has been more pressure put on the EPA to better reduce the plastic waste of the United States. Much of the effects of these new governmental actions are yet to be seen and will need time to see their impacts. 

I think that the government has to be more proactive in their fights against climate change and plastic waste. They keep setting up meaningless goals with no concrete plans put in action to reach those goals. Unless there is a big push and major change to our plastic usage those goal will stay out of reach. However I do think that the new legislation is a step in the right direction for the United step, it is one out of a thousand steps that must be taken to prevent further damage to our environment. The push for environmental policy must also extend past one term and shouldn’t be dismantled on the basis of political differences. In order to make change there must be a unified effort from all parties involved including the government and the people.

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Obamas visit to India on nuclear power

Liptak, Kevin. “On High-profile India Visit, Obama Says Progress Made on Nuclear Sticking Point.” CNN. Cable News Network, 25 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/24/politics/obama-india/index.html>.

In this article we read about a visit that president Obama made to india in order to talk to Indian leaders about their nuclear programs. The US government along with the indian government, have began a cooperative program which will allow for US firms to work with the indian government in developing their civilian nuclear plants. They have ran into many issues due to the lack of cooperation by the indian lawmakers but president obama and the indian prime minister stated that they had discussed the issue and had made a few steps toward setting up the plan for sure. The US hopes that the improvements that they are making here will help them in gaining improvement from the indians and balance the level of support between russia and the US.

I feel that is is good that were are traveling to other nations in order to help them in securing their plants while also providing them with state of the art equipment so that they can produce nuclear energy more efficiently and in a safer way. I also feel that we should help other countries with the development of nuclear power plants so that they can begin to change from dirty resources to something that if correctly regulated could be effective.

 

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US to Monitor Air Quality in India and Other Countries

Ramzy, A. (2015, February 19). U.S. to Monitor Air Quality in India and Other Countries. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/world/asia/us-to-monitor-air-quality-in-india-and-other-countries.html?ref=topics&_r=0

 

The United States will help monitor air-quality in other countries.  The goal is to increase awareness of the health risks of outdoor air pollution.  The program is intended to help US citizens abroad to reduce their exposure to pollution and develop other countries air-quality monitoring.  “We’re hoping that this tool can also expand international cooperation when it comes to curbing air pollution,” the Secretary of State said.

 

The fact that the goal of United Sates is to increase awareness of the health risks of outdoor air pollution and this will be a start to develop other countries air-quality is a good idea.  However, those countries that will be helped should be helping US as well for doing so.  Hopefully, there will be no misunderstandings between the countries because the United States is doing their best to keep the world alive.