Single-Use Plastics

What are They?

Plastic and the lack of effective disposal methods has become an existential threat to the living world, as less than 10% of global plastics produced are recycled[1]. Single-use plastics are synthetic products that are designed to be disposed of after a one time use. Plastics are synthesized from petroleum, also known as crude oil, a nonrenewable fossil fuel[2]. These materials consist of polymers, or long, repeating chains of smaller molecules which are also referred to as monomers[3].The bonds that hold these polymer molecules together are known as covalent bonds, which are some of the strongest in the chemical world, and is one of the reasons why plastics take centuries to break down[4]. The plastics we know today are synthetic polymers, which is what gives plastic its flexible, durable, and lightweight characteristics[5]. The most common plastic used today is polyethylene, which is a synthetic resin[6]. Because these synthetic polymers are foreign to bacteria in nature, they cannot be broken down by naturally occurring organisms. This is another reason why plastics are reluctant to fully degrade, and are not considered biodegradable as they never truly decompose[7]. Furthermore, plastics break down into smaller pieces near the end of their life cycle. These smaller, broken down pieces of plastic are known as microplastics and can measure to be less than 5 millimeters in length. The lifetime of plastic products is very short-lived e.g., the average plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes, even though it can take up to 1,000 years to break down[8].

Collecting litter at an Adopt-a-Highway litter sweep

Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered single-use plastic waste found in our environment[9]. This item contains tiny plastic fibers, also known as nano-plastics, which are detrimental to the environment because microscopic pieces of plastic can easily penetrate the tissues of living organisms, thus harming the ecosystem as a whole[10]. Stirrers, food wrappers, grocery bags, straws, bottles, and bottle caps are the next six most commonly found trash items in our environment, respectively [11]. 

Environmental and health issues surrounding plastic products arose in the mid-1800’s when synthetic polymers were first introduced. This new product was created as a solution to conserve natural resources like wood (for manufacturing paper), as well as creating an alternative that could be mass-produced, inexpensively[12]...little did these innovators foresee the detrimental effects plastics would have on our planet.

Dangers to the Environment

Littered plastic water bottle buried in the sand

Studies have shown that roughly 9% of the total 8 billion metric tons of plastic waste generated globally, has been recycled[13]. This entails that the other 91% either ends up in landfills or is incinerated. The incineration process is meant to decrease the volume of plastic waste sent to landfills or used to create energy at waste-to-energy facilities[14].

When plastics are en-route to the landfill, their light weight can cause them to be blown out of garbage trucks. From there, these pieces of plastic can end up in our waterways, and eventually, our oceans. Although, the most common reason for plastic accumulation in oceans is a result of first world countries sending plastic waste to developing nations who don’t have the infrastructure to properly manage or recycle such materials. Consequently,  these plastics are stripped of labels and melted down into uniform pellets through a process that threatens both workers and the surrounding environment. Toxic waste that is produced in this process is dumped into open-pit holes, where chemicals can leach into the watershed contaminating drinking sources. Most of the plastic waste that is sent overseas overloads small rural communities recycling infrastructure and is discarded into streams and rivers, eventually making its way to the ocean. This is one of the main reasons why China stopped accepting trash in January of 2019.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, situated between California and Hawaii, is a prime example of plastic waste accumulation in our oceans. Copious amounts of plastic waste in oceans poses a threat to marine life as certain sea creatures can become physically entangled in items such as plastic bags or plastic six-pack rings. This entanglement can prohibit marine animals from escaping predators or catching prey, leading to an increase in aquatic mortality rates. Marine life can also mistake plastic particles for food. Research suggests that 52% of the world’s sea turtles have ingested plastic waste by mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish[15]. This ingestion of plastic can not only cause marine life to choke, but can also cause gastrointestinal issues or starvation as a result of sea creatures having the sensation of being full. 

Starbuck’s lid found near the beach access

As for the incineration process of plastic by waste-to-energy facilities, the heat produced from burning plastic creates steam, which is then converted into mechanical energy to spin a turbine, thus generating power. However, as a result of plastic being petroleum based, burning it is like burning fossil fuels, contributing to GHG emission that lead to climate change. This process also contributes to air pollution due to the fact that the incineration process releases toxic chemicals such as mercury, dioxins, and BCPs into the atmosphere which pose a threat to living organisms as carcinogens and endocrine disruptors[16]. These chemicals can also be captured through technologies such as electrostatic precipitators, where said chemicals can be concentrated and sent to toxic waste landfills. 

Dangers to Humans

It has been estimated that humans ingest about 5 grams of plastic every week [17]. The presence of plastics in humans and other animals is a result of biomagnification, or “trophic transfer”, where plastic that is ingested by smaller organisms moves up the food chain to apex predators, including humans. Additionally, the negative effects of air pollution from the plastic incineration process can lead to increased risk of heart disease, damages the nervous system, and aggravation of respiratory ailments such as emphysema and asthma in humans[18].

Moreover, the chemical ingredients in plastic alone can cause adverse human health consequences. One of the many toxins found in plastics is diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) which is a toxic carcinogen that can cause birth defects and reproductive harm as well as cancer when inhaled or ingested. [19]. Phthalates, which is the ingredient that gives plastic its flexibility and durability, has been linked to hinder brain development[20]. The toxic chemical composition of plastics and the incineration of plastic products can cause several adverse health effects for humans, such as cognitive growth interference and respiratory issues, among others.

Microplastics viewed through a monochrome florescent microscope. Samples observed are less than 100 micron wide (1x10⁻⁴ m).

Recycling

In the book Cradle to Cradle, William McDonough and Michael Braungart say, “recycling is an aspirin, alleviating a rather large collective hangover…overconsumption… the best way to reduce any environmental impact is not to recycle more, but to produce and dispose of less.” McDonough and Braungarts’s assertion to decrease the consumption of plastic products is a credible solution, given the fact that such a minute amount of plastics are actually recycled. Additionally, if a plastic’s composition is made up of toxic materials such as phthalates and DEHP, then recycling these plastics will inadvertently pass  toxic properties onto the recycled material. The product itself will also decrease in value and is still going to end up in the landfill, eventually, which is why recycling can be referred to as a method of glorified downcycling.

On That Note…

Proof that cigarette butts are the most commonly found item of single-use plastic waste in our environment

  Due to the fact that plastics are linked to environmental degradation and negative health effects on humans, it is essential to replace plastic products with reusable or compostable alternatives. Studies have shown that 20 companies are responsible for over half of global single-use plastic waste. ExxonMobil, a major company in the oil industry, is referred to as the biggest contributor of plastic waste with 5.9 million tons of plastic pollution generated in 2019[21]. Other major companies such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola are near the top of the list of plastic polluters. Industries like these are to blame for the plastic problem, as well as governments for allowing this lack of accountability from petroleum corporations. However, cutting back on plastic consumption is a great way to divest from fossil fuels and minimize plastic’s negative effects. Voting with your wallet by choosing to use reusable alternatives and decreasing reliance on oil industries can make a difference! Next time you are on the go, try swapping out that plastic bottle for a reusable water bottle or those plastic ziplock bags for reusable containers.

Single-use plastics are marketed as convenient, but in the end, are they really when costly externalities are factored in such as pollution and negative health effects? It is estimated that plastic pollution costs $13 billion in economic damage to marine ecosystems annually, stemming from losses in ecotourism and the fishing industry[22]. In 2013, the deaths of 7 million people from air pollution cost the global economy $225 billion in lost labor. These deaths and lost economic potential can be partly attributed to the 12% of total plastic waste incinerated globally[23].

A cleanup with one of the many chapters across the country of the Surfrider Foundation (Charleston, SC)

It’s essential to refuse plastic first, then reuse and recycle as a last resort. Recycling might take the guilt out of consumption, but it undermines efforts to reduce waste. Attending beach cleanups and litter sweeps is another great way to help prevent further plastic pollution. The Surfrider Foundation has chapters across the nation with each one holding cleanup events frequently. There has also been research and successful design prototypes for biodegradable plastics made from algae[24]! Investing in a zero waste future is another effective way to help truly make a difference. Being a part of the movement towards a circular economy via composting, using reusable alternatives, and buying second hand creates a growing community of environmental stewards and ultimately a green future!