Green Ideas

           Using plastic bags has become a part of our lives. It is well-liked amongst retailers and consumers because it is cheap, durable and light in weight. It is also very handy to carry goods and food products. However, the dangers of plastic pollution are immense. We should give thought to the hazardous nature of plastics and think of ways how the pollution can be controlled, if not completely eradicated. The disposal of plastic is a big menace. Some of the ways in which plastic disposal is commonly causing pollution are:

• Plastic waste litters the land, rivers, beaches, parks, and streets.
• It kills animals, when animals mistake it for food and swallow it. Ingested plastic remains as it is even after the body of the dead animal is decomposed.
• It is non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic takes over 1000 years.
• When plastic is burnt, it releases toxic fumes which contribute to polluting the eco-system.
• Production of plastic requires chemicals which are highly toxic, such as Benzene and vinyl chloride that are known to cause cancer. These chemicals can also cause other maladies like birth defects, damage to the nervous system and the immune system, and also harmfully affect the blood and the kidneys.
• Many of these toxic substances are emitted during recycling of plastic, too. Therefore, plastic disposal –recycling, burning, or burial – is a big problem.
• Plastic bags dumped in the ground do not get decomposed, and so blocks the seepage of rain water getting into land. Instead it makes the rain water run on the surface of land causing soil erosion. This carries various pollutants to nearby water bodies resulting in pollution of water.
• Erosion of soil in hilly areas exposes tree roots, making them weak. Landslides occur, and further erosion of soil causes the soil to lose its natural nutrients.

        What can we do to solve these hazards caused by plastic? The government now and then bans the use of plastic bags. However, the debate of the pros and cons of plastic continues. I can suggest that we should use tote bags for holding shopping instead of plastic bags. Re-using plastic bags you already have is another good idea. These can come into use for various purposes, like holding your garbage, instead of purchasing new ones.