Asking
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

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!
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
caesar7 · 61-69, M
It's too bad that humanity is not responsible with respect to plastic. It is so useful. If only we treated it differently and know how to treat it. If only underdeveloped countries would know the value of recycling etc... then our oceans would be free of plastic pollutants and we could reuse the product for the benefit of mankind and beyond.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@caesar7 I fear the worst polluters are in the "developed" nations because it is they - we - who use the most plastics. We also know how to "recycle" those plastics that can be, and indeed do; but we also harbour so many who just dump their rubbish anywhere with no excuse for doing so.

Many plastics can not be salvaged for re-use, at least not in the same chemical form, and what we do with those appears a problem few address; perhaps because it is too difficult. You can melt the thermoplastics (mainly polyethylene and PVC), and re-mould them, but you can't do that with the thermo-setting plastics; and I am not sure if you can recover the synthetic rubbers to any great extent.

Among the biggest and most obvious examples are the composites used for making pleasure-boat hulls, wind-turbine blades and electronic circuit-boards. Those are relatively rare in the "underdeveloped countries", but what do we do with the vast tonnages of these our "developed" countries produce and use up? Just how do you scrap a ferry-sized "private yacht" or a stack of 80-metre span wind-turbine rotors, when they become worn out?

Sometimes I wonder which set of nations ought be trying to teach the other!
caesar7 · 61-69, M
@ArishMell Very valid points..thank you.