Should plastic be banned?

I think it’s a good question. Nowadays, we shouldn't ban plastic because it’s really necessary for consuming all kinds of things, such as food, envelopes and different items. I don’t see that plastic could be replaced with another recycled material in a short period of time .
The main problem is how much plastic we recycle, and how much plastic waste is recollected, separated and recycled. It’s well known that there are tons of plastic waste floating in our oceans which is a big problem. The percentage of recycled plastic around the world is growing day after day. Although people have started to be conscious that separating their garbage is really important, This is not enough. Besides, What’s going on with years without any plastic recycling? Are governments interested in spending a lot of money hiring some companies which may collect the plastic in the ocean or in different spots around the world?
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the answer is NO. Furthermore, plastic waste will accumulate tons of garbage every day in a strange rhythm that little by little will have “eaten” our natural reserves of water and food. This will pollute our rivers, oceans and earth.
I appreciate your own opinion of this topic and add new ideas! Bye!

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YoMomma ·

I think they should charge plastic manufactures an environmental fee for all the plastics they make.. 😒 maybe they'd think twice about making things and find ways to be more environmentally friendly and efficient..

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@YoMomma All that would do is make everything more expensive; but anyway, what sort of charges paid how, on what types and forms of plastics?

The term "plastic" covers a huge variety of each of two basic classes of synthetic material, and they started to appear well over 100 years ago. A lot of plastics are used in vital ways such as electrical cable insulation and mains-water pipes.

There are probably two or three, maybe more, types of plastics, in both classes, in the instrument you are reading this one; and not all of those will be salvageable when the equipment is worn-out and you put it in the scrap electrical skip at your local Council waste yard.

I agree a lot is wasted, but how? With the notorious exception of micro-fibres and beads only recently identified; a huge part of the pollution is wilful, negligent or accidental losses by the users or those disposing of waste materials.

A lot of uses though are wasteful and meretricious - excessive packaging, toys (for grown-ups as well as children!), silly ornaments, and so on. Those are made because people obviously want them.

It's no good blaming the manufacturers - that's like blaming car makers for people driving at 40mph in 30mph limits.

Like it or not, "plastics" have become practically universal because for many of their applications they are far better than the natural materials they have largely replaced. Those materials are original or derivatives of, woods and other plant products, animal products, rock minerals and metals - and they all require a lot of processing from source.

So what alternatives to synthetic plastics, and to their related materials like synthetic adhesives and paints?

We need find them, and find them quickly; but they need be at least as effective, efficient and economical as the plastics in their production and use; and they need bring no serious, genuine environmental problems of their own in their production, use and disposal.

That is a vital question, one being largely ignored in all the rush to electrify everything; and like it or not, will be looming almost certainly within this century....

Pablok · 51-55, M

@YoMomma and besides, they have to pay a fine for the plastic they toss...

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Pablok Littering is an offence anyway, in the UK; but the problem is catching them. The litter throwers, that is, not the manufacturers or sellers, of course.

YoMomma ·

I think they should fingerprint trash and fine the people who litter and make them do community service (picking up trash) @Pablok

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@YoMomma I doubt finger-printing would work in practice, but also risks catching people who have handled the items perfectly innocently and were not the ones who discarded it.

Fly-tippers have occasionally been caught by tracing information on labels or documents etc. within the dumped rubbish.