We’re lucky enough to live in a place where we can see just how beautiful our planet is without dark clouds of pollution covering the sky, and oil flooding our creeks and lakes. Lush green biking trails, clean streets, and public facilities help define what “home” in Marin looks like. Alternatively, it’s hard to imagine what life would really be like twenty years from now, if we don’t make a conscious effort to stop supporting businesses that willingly partake in plastic consumption.
So why are plastic products really that bad anyways? Plastic has totally changed the way that people go about their daily lives, and for some it has redefined “convenience.” Plastic products have become extremely convenient for those who need a quick grab and go on the way to work every morning, or for those who can’t afford the luxury of sit down meals, thus relying on takeout or fast food to feed themselves or their families. However, people have become so dependent on this throw-away culture, that it’s hard to want to find more sustainable packaging because of the fear of losing such convenience. Besides the overwhelming negative impact plastic has on our oceans, wildlife, and environment, it’s also taking quite a toll on public health, as plastic contains extremely toxic and dangerous chemicals. Plastics are derived from natural, organic materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt and, of course, crude oil. (How Plastics are Made - PlasticsEurope) That’s right, almost all of the plastic consumed today is made from one essential ingredient: crude oil. That means that people are directly ingesting harmful chemicals from the packaging and containers of their food, drinks, snacks, and nearly anything that can be found in a plastic product. Another toxic chemical found in plastic and styrofoam packaging in polystyrene, which has been described by the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the EPA as a likely human carcinogen. Polystyrene manufacturing is the fifth largest industrial producer of hazardous waste, and it’s one of the most abundant forms of global pollution. Burning polystyrene for energy can release emissions containing more than 90 different compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which may cause birth defects (The Perils of Polystyrene and why it should be banned - WorldCentric). Some of this information may seem overwhelming, but fortunately Marin already has a law regarding disposable food packaging, which prohibits restaurants, food vendors, and county facilities from using packaging made from polystyrene foam—commonly known as styrofoam—and required vendors to use “compostable disposable food packaging.(cite)” However, one of the most concerning aspects to this ban is that because of the lack of
Ava Podboy
Plastic Alternatives