Molecular plastic is now found at the bottom of the food chain in the oceans. What can we do to fix this?

Question

Plastic materials do not breakdown and decay. They are made of inorganic materials which increases their ecological persistence tremendously. The plague of non-disposed plastic materials is being felt worldwide with wind blown litter from plastic shopping bags being the most widespread - every country in the world is familiar with this problem. And because of their thinness, these bags break down quickly but only to the molecular level and no further. And this is where the real problem starts - when these inorganic molecules build up in the sea, they affect the planetary food chain. In some places, including off the coast of California, the level of inorganic plastic molecular material has been measured at up to 6 times the level of plankton in the same test area. That is incredible, and unacceptable. We need to take immediate action to reduce the use of plastic bags world wide. You can start by reusing your plastic bags more than once and teaching your children to do the same.

Answer 1

Maybe if we're lucky in a few years we can catch fish that will seal in their own freshness! (Just kidding)

I remember as a boy (Christ I'm only 33 and I'm talking like an old fart), anyways I remember trading in pop bottles for deposit money and the same for glass milk jugs. We can start again with that, I never had a problem with it. There is a place for plastics in this world, but you're right, we definitely have to tone it down some.

Answer 2

It's ironic that the first two sentences of the second paragraph of your question is the reason plastics are widely used in the first place.

That being said, it seems that plastic should only be used for durable goods and not disposable items. This is counter to the current trend of lightweight - cheap to ship - non breakable plastic food containers.

The govt. would have to place surcharges on the use of these materials to offset the cost savings of their usage and force people to go back to glass or paper.

Answer 3

Stiffer fines for littering and the police have to enforce this law every single time they can prove it has been broken. Almost every county in America has littering laws but they are very very seldom enforced.