About 25% more plastic garbage is produced by Americans during the holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, than throughout the rest of the year, according to Stanford researchers.
A man with a long white beard, a red hat, and a red suit with white trim was welcoming guests to the recent United Nations climate change summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. What was unexpected was not Santa Claus but “SustainaClaus.”He is an environmental campaigner, and his true name is Philip McMaster.
He told the attendees of the climate change conference that we must take immediate action since the globe is warming.
According to the Santa of Sustainability, “we will make better decisions if we focus on childhood and on generations to come.”
Plastic waste is one significant obstacle. Creating a global agreement to eradicate plastic pollution was the aim of another UN meeting that took place in Busan, South Korea. There was no consensus at the end.
The issue of plastic pollution is frustrating and dangerous.
Professor Kate O’Neill of UC Berkeley said, “The problem of plastic waste is enormous and has only gotten worse.”
O’Neill does research at Cal’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management and is an authority on plastic trash.
She described the startling volume of plastic waste produced in the US. According to one report, the annual amount is approximately 97 billion pounds.
Fossil fuels are the primary source of plastic trash. However, less than 9 percent of plastics are recycled.
“Even with the plastics that are recyclable, it’s very rare that they can be recycled more than once without downgrading them into something that is unusable,” O’Neill said.
Most single-use plastics cannot be recycled in the United States and will end up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment.
According to a recent CBS News investigation, there are issues even with a large corporation that supports recycling and sustainability.
CBS journalists across the country dropped plastic cups with trackers into 36 recycling bins at Starbucks locations. Fourteen trackers last pinged at landfills, another 13 went to waste transfer stations, five ended up at incinerators, and only four pinged at locations that accept recycling.
Another concern is what’s in some recycled black plastic.
“Regulation is really lacking now,” explained researcher Megan Liu. Liu is the science and policy manager of the non-profit research and advocacyorganization Toxic-Free Future.
Liu was the lead researcher ina new study on e-waste and some black plasticsfound in our homes. The study was published in the peer-reviewedscientific journal Chemosphere. Chemosphere publishes original research on chemicals in the environment.
In the study, researchers found certain kitchen utensils and food trays made from recycled black plastic contained toxic chemicals. These chemicalsare known flame retardantsused in electronic gear.
You can’t tell by just looking at the object made out of black plastic. Lui explained that you would have to test it. She cautioned against using black plastic kitchen utensils while cooking food. If they are made from recycled e-waste, then they may contain flame retardants that are associated with human health concerns.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Services detailed how some adverse health affects may include endocrine and thyroid disruption, immunotoxicity, cancer, and adverse effects on fetal and children development, as well as neurobehavioral function.
“There are studies that show how flame retardants can actually leach out of contaminated kitchen utensils to the food that we’re cooking. And so, something that people can do here is replace their black plastic kitchen utensils with safer options like wood or stainless steel,” advised Liu.
Another great holiday gift: a reusable cup. For other sustainable holiday ideas, theWorld Wide Fund for Natureis a great place to start. And for some great ideas onplastic-free holiday gifts,check out Beyond Plastics.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.