Plastics-Rebecca Helppi

Rebecca Helppi

Environmental Issues

12/09/13

PLASTICS!

For this project we were asked to take two days to pay attention to what plastic products we were using on a daily basis and then we were also challenged to go for two days without using any disposable plastics. At first glance this may seem like an easy challenge until you actually to pay attention to all of the plastics that surround you on an everyday basis.

When I began to pay closer attention to what products I was using I realized that it is difficult to avoid plastics in this society. Some of the things that I use on a everyday basis (or close to it) include: plastic bags, plastic wrap, plastic utensils, Styrofoam cups and even pens. These are just a few of the plastics that pertain to me. Think of how much plastic is used in the world as a whole. Even our babies in the USA are exposed to plastics through their toys and bottles. People even use plastics to keep their homes warmer in the winter with plastic window coverings.

I never even thought about how plastics I use every day and now that I have taken a step back to think about it; the amount is astonishing. People everywhere use plastics every day most times oblivious to the amount they use and the amount that ends up in dumps and in oceans polluting our water and killing our animals. This project has definitely opened my eyes.

Things that I found that can help to replace these plastics in our everyday lives include: cloth (reusable) grocery bags, reusable water bottles, real utensils and real cups. It amazes me how just a few simple alterations can save so much plastic from being used and yet people continue to use plastics. I feel like if a person cared about their environment not just for them, but for future generations they would start to ban plastics from their daily lives as much as possible.

It has become socially acceptable to use and abuse plastics and I feel like that is a sorry fact. This may just be from sheer ignorance or it may just be that people are too set in their ways to make a few simple changes to cut back on their plastics usage. It is my opinion that everyone should take more interest in the environment and realize what it is becoming. I also think that more people should take a few days to complete this challenge and be forced to realize how much plastics they consume on an everyday basis because I am confident that it would open their eyes as much as it opened mine. Let’s pass this message on!

                                

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