Plastic Bottles: The Biggest Nemesis of the Environment

by Neha Sharma Digital marketing head

A day without plastic is unthinkable. No matter which part of the globe one travels, there is plastic everywhere. In today’s world, everything people use are mostly made of plastic. A single use of plastic bottle can cause devastating environmental damage. It is difficult to imagine that a few decades ago plastic didn’t exist. And now it is the part of everything and anything in one’s life.

Here are some of the biggest reasons for plastic pollution:

· Out of all water bottles produced only 30% is recycled.

· More than 20,000 plastic bottles are bought every second.

· More than 80% of plastic bottles end up in landfills.

· A single plastic bottle needs more than 1000 years to decompose.

Plastic Bottles and Humans

Talking of plastic water bottle pollution, there are no rewards for guessing that humans are the biggest contributors. Over the last 70 years, humans have produced more than 8.3 billions of plastic waste. Plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and going by the waste produced us, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fathom with every passing day. Every year, plastic bottles, cups, and utensils covering miles of sea water kill millions of aquatic species.

Plastic wastes block the drainage system. As a result, the cases of flood registered in various parts of the world are at its all-time high. Not just floods, plastic wastes are a big reason behind a number of natural disasters.

According to studies conducted by the University of California, 79% of the total plastic bottle produce ends up as landfills. Going by the records, by 2050, humans would produce more than 12 billion tonnes of plastic wastes.

Countries such as China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Indonesia top the list when it comes to mismanagement of plastic wastes. Mismanagement is one of the biggest reasons why plastics end up in the ocean water.

Plastic being a non-biodegradable product is certainly one of the biggest nemeses of the nature. The devastating effects of plastic bottles on the environment affect humans too. The harmful chemical components of plastic products can cause various diseases in humans. Antimony tri-oxide acts as a catalyst during the manufacture of plastic bottles. The traces of antimony when exposed to water create a poisonous substance which can even cause cancers. The harmful presence of plastics can also cause plenty of respiratory and skin diseases in humans.

So, it is high-time that we reject plastic in any form. Plastic bottles should be immediately abolished. Some countries have already taken some giant leap against the use of plastic goodies by creating several awareness programmes and alternative products.

So, join hands and create a plastic-free world.