6 Tips to Minimize Polythene and Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is a life-threatening issue on earth. It pollutes the land, water resources making it difficult to eradicate sooner.

Both plastic and polythene are made from some combination of hydrocarbon chemicals.

So they have similar properties like delayed decay, lightweight, durable, etc.

Unlike other waste, it has a more extended decay period like 40 years or more.

Hence there is a large quantity of polythene accumulated inside the sea and river beds.

It is said to be causing great havoc to the life of marine organisms and animals on the earth.

Once consumed by animals, the polythene is not digested in the gut.

So even large animals like whales die due to plastic consumption.

Plastic also pollutes the valuable soil available for agriculture.

This happens due to heavy usage and careless dumping of plastic wastes.

Some of the examples include covers (polythene bags), teacups, water bottles, healthcare utilities like saline bottles, syringes, etc.

They are used in large numbers and disposed of immediately after use.

But where are they disposed of? Only from our homes and hospitals but still, the waste stays on earth.

These disposables are regularly used so finding an alternative seems to be a sole measure.

Also, the use of plastic is said to cause diseases.

So an alternative could be aluminum foil tins or containers which can be recyclable.

Tips to Minimize Polythene Pollution

Avoidance of the use of plastic is the best way to minimize pollution. But since we have made it inevitable we need to follow other methods like

Steps to be taken from the public side:

1. Carrying cloth bags or other carry bags instead while going out for shopping. Avoid taking poly bags from stores. This can minimize the risk of polythene pollution to a large extent.

2. Carry water cans or bottles while going for office or travel. Don’t rely on mineral water bottles unless no other options exist. Also, try to use the bottles again and again instead of disposing of them after use.

This way we can minimize the wastage of plastic bottles and cause pollution.

3. Also, avoid burning these ploy bags and other plastic material. This causes an emission of harmful gases causing air pollution.

4. Try to reuse or recycle: Instead of throwing off the polythene bags, it is better to recycle and reuse them. This minimizes the need for use of more plastic covers.

Steps to be taken from the government side.

There are instances wherein the government deliberately allows for polythene pollution.

1. Restrict the production of plastic bags: Previously paper, jute, and other fiber bags were used for shopping and carry. Currently, plastic bags have replaced them.

This is because they are cheap, light, and durable. But cloth related bags also serve the purpose.

The government can encourage these bags b providing subsidy and restricting polythene bag usage. Also, rules to avoid production of thin plastic bags should be enforced.

2. Minimize the sale of plastic: Water bottles are sold in large numbers in the trains and bus stops. This is a marketing tactic to make revenue.

But governments can and encourage the supply of mineral water through plants so that passengers can avail the water into their own containers.

This will greatly minimize plastic pollution. Also, many liquid foods like tea, coffee, milk are sold in a plastic container which can be harmful to health.

3. Encourage recycling: For some items, the use of plastic and polythene is inevitable like for syringes, medical pouches, etc. Here the disposed of ones should be encouraged for safe recycling and then sterilized.

Also, there should be restrictions on producing new plastic for regular use. Because the production of new plastic is cheaper than recycling old. Many businesses tend to produce new instead of recycling the old.

5. Minimize the use of sachets: Small sachets are a part of the marketing tactics. Sachets of shampoo, pickles, etc. help the customer to try before buying in large quantities.

But companies focus on sachets as a way to increase sales. Because a pouch is affordable than a bottle of shampoo.

These are disposable containers for one-time use and significantly add to plastic pollution spread and distribution.

6. Enhance the tax for plastic usage and also generation.

7. Regulate the thickness of bags: Thick plastic bags take a longer time to decay than thin ones. But, they can be recycled and reused.

On the other hand, use thin ones is inexpensive to the retailer but are difficult to reuse and recycle.

Safe disposable plastic is another solution to minimize plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution depends on the extent of production, usage on the one hand, and the size of its distribution on the other.

The higher the distribution, the more the chances of soil and water contamination and vice-versa.

So governments should impose rules for safe disposal of polythene and plastics.

Disposal of plastic is done by degrading it under a specific set of microbes which can efficiently decompose it in 3 months or less.

But trying to avoid plastic, by all means, is good for a disease-free life.