Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Plastic is an increasingly problematic issue around the world because it is destroying our environment. Its most common uses are for the bottles we drink out of every day and the bags we carry out our groceries in. Since plastic has been around for decades, it begs the question of why action has not been taken to aid in this epidemic. Advances have been made in the past with reusable bags, and currently, there are bans being put in place to stop plastic usage altogether. These efforts can only move so quickly. Until more laws and restrictions are put into place, our planet’s future continues to degrade because of the amount of plastic still being produced. The discoveries in new technology and advances in policy reform around plastic have not been accessible at a consumer level. Right now, the few ways to help reduce plastic usage are by recycling or buying alternative products. When plastic items are recycled responsibly curbside, only a small percentage of those items are actually recycled while the remaining sits in landfills - and often takes over five hundred years to decompose. In order for change to happen at a rapid pace, there needs to be more involvement at a community level. This may include educational participatory programs as well as low-cost micro recycling centers. This study explores the troubling issues and both of these options, which would allow everyone to learn more about the negative effects of plastic and move toward sustainable alternatives.