Water is recognized as a life catalyst in our society. It forms the bedrock for the survival of a variety of lifecycles within the aquatic sphere. Organisms depend on the sea bed, lakes, rivers, and oceans, among others, for their survival. However, the accumulation of plastics within the aquatic ecosystem endangers these marine organisms. This situation highlights the need to mitigate the effect of plastic pollution as a step toward promoting environmental sustainability.
Understanding the Plastic Pollution Crisis
Plastics are used in everyday life ranging from the production of electronic equipment to infrastructural development and food packaging. The durability of these plastics guarantees their existence years after disposal. In most cases, non-recyclable plastic waste such as sauce sachets, end up in the aquatic environment. Consequently, in a year, thousands of marine animals, plants, and microorganisms die from plastic consumption or entanglement.
Effect of Plastic pollution on the Aquatic Ecosystem
When in contact with waterbodies, it becomes difficult to retrieve plastic waste. This poses a risk to marine organisms because the ingestion of plastics can cause starvation, and diseases and increase the chances of death and extinction. The effect of plastic pollution extends to human life considering the increased scarcity of clean drinking water.
Is There a Solution to the Plastic Crisis?
Environmental sustainability is a broad spectrum that requires the effort of every individual on the planet. It begins with the reduced use of single-use plastics in your daily life. The recycling of plastic, where possible, is also of great benefit to promoting a safer environment. You can also contribute to campaigns, and policy changes and volunteer to clean up the rivers and beaches.
Disposal of Non-recyclable Plastics
In promoting a safer environment, some organizations collect non-recyclable plastics for safe processing. One such organization is CleanHub, whose priority is intercepting plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.
CleanHub also finances projects to retrieve plastics in rivers. The energy in the non-recyclable plastics is recovered through co-processing and used as a fuel source for other purposes, including cement manufacturing. The use of plastic as a fuel source reduces carbon emissions and serves as a clean process for plastic disposal.
Conclusion
There is a collective responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. In achieving this, CleanHub’s track and trace technology empower individuals and communities to work together to ensure the safe disposal and treatment of plastic waste.
