Peeping Into the Global Lens of Plastic Waste Problems
L.A county has a large plastic waste problem, and the county itself creates about 28 million tons of solid waste each year. Less than 10% of all single-use plastics are recycled which means most non-degradable plastics will take up space in landfills for millions of years and damage L.A’s oceans and environment. Not only do taxpayers have to pay lots of money towards litter prevention and pollution, but plastic waste also contributes to climate change, as plastic production accounts for 20% of fossil fuel consumption.
Other countries around the world handle the single-use plastic waste problem differently. In 2016, France banned free distribution of thin single-use plastic bags that are often given out at grocery stores. The bans attempt to reduce 5 million plastic grocery bags as well as 12 billion produce bags. Some countries like Canada place restrictions on the thickness of the bag. For example, Montreal placed a ban of single-use plastic bags that are thicker than 50 microns since January of 2018. Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008 and were disposed of by incineration. Using plastic bags is considered illegal and results in fines or jail time. Although this seems harsh, it has had positive impacts on the environment such as reduced flooding and reduced erosion. The government of Luxembourg has taken a unique approach and replaced the country’s single-use plastic bags eco-sac reusable bags known as Oko-Tut. With 85 retailers using this new sacs, there was an 85 percent drop in plastic consumption within 9 years of using Oko-Tut’s(Rosemont). The European Union adopted the first-ever European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. This plan paves a way to eliminate plastic pollution and change the way plastics are used and made. This plan also aims to create jobs, invest in innovation, and to increase the benefits of recycling(European Strategy). Throughout looking at various approaches by different countries, it appears that many other countries take the problem of using single-use plastic bags more seriously.
The European Union’s approach of creating a committee to not only focus on reducing plastic waste but to also create a better job economy and increase the benefits of recycling is a great way to approach the issue of plastic bags. This approach gives insight into how the problem should be solved collectively and how it should be taken seriously. This approach also aims to find more solutions than simply reducing the harmful effects that single-use plastic bags have on the environment. The U.S could benefit from an approach similar to the European Union’s.
