Essay On Plastics

Trash pollutes and impacts both our lives, as well as the lives the dwell within and around sources of water, and one of the biggest, and longest-lasting polluters within waters are plastics. Plastic, in its original form, was invented by Alexander Parkes in the mid 1800’s as an alternative to ivory. It was a durable, practical, and inexpensive material with a never-ending range of possible uses. Plastic became a staple during World War II, with the United States Army producing items such as “combs … mortar fuses, parachutes, aircraft components, antenna housing, bazooka barrels, enclosures for gun turrets, helmet liners” and others [CITE 1]. In 1939, at the start of World War II, worldwide production of plastic was at 213 million pounds, and

Of the trash composing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch “…it is estimated that plastic comprises 60-80% of marine debris in the world’s oceans.” [CITE 2]. The impacts that trash, such as plastic, has in our oceans and rivers is vast. It affects living creatures within water, life around water, as well as human life. Wildlife risk being caught in lost or left behind fishing nets (this is known as “ghostfishing”), of strangulation from ropes or plastic six-pack rings, ingestion of trash that can result in the loss of nutrition, internal injury, starvation, and death. These adversaries pose even further risks to wildlife that are already listed as being endangered, or threatened, such as Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Blue Whales, and the Northern Royal Albatross. The impact of trash effects human life in a number of different ways, one such way is damage to boats, such as when trash clogs intake valves, or when nets and/or ropes become entangled around propellers. It is estimated by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation that the damage to the fishing industry via trash is $364 million per year [Cite 3]. Another way that trash impacts human life is through the loss of industry in connection with tourism. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation estimates that $622 million per year is lost due to littered beaches [Cite

2) Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, 1972- Gave authority to both the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Coast Guard to regulate dumping within US ocean waters.

3) Coastal Zone Management Act, 1972- Authorized the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration to fund programs within state to protect environmental resources and regulate pollution.

4) Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, 1987- Implemented the provisions of MARPOL’s Annex V into US law, making it illegal to throw plastic into waters within 200 miles of the US coastline, as well as outlawing dumping garbage within three miles of the shore.

5) Shore Protection Act, 1994- Created regulations for waste transport vessels, such as trash barges. The aim was to prevent accidental spills of dangerous waste into the water.

6) Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, 2000- Amended the Clean Water Act, requiring water testing and public notification of unsafe water