Why We Should All Stop Using Plastic Bags, Straws, and Bottles

Do you know where your single-use water bottle or candy wrapper or juice box goes when you throw it out? Hello, my name is Deo and today I will tell you why we should all stop using plastic bags, straws, and bottles. Did you know that plastic never and I mean never completely breaks down? Also, plastics are made from non-renewable resources and then contribute to climate change. Lastly, I think the worst is that plastic pollution kills about 100,000 Marine mammals every year. Let’s begin.

First of all, let’s start with the basics: where does plastic come from and what exactly is plastic? ‘In 1862 Alexander Parkes introduced the world’s first-ever man-made plastic. Plastic was first mass-produced after World War 2. Nearly half of the plastics ever made were manufactured in the last 15 years. Most plastics are strong, long-lasting, and lightweight. There are about 50 main types of plastics. One type of plastic you use every day is plastic number 2 which is used for yogurt containers, shampoo bottles or nerf guns. Did you know that we make 300 million tons of plastic which are about the weight of 50 million African elephants every year. The sad part is that plastic never actually breaks down because it is not organic like food, wood, plants, animals, etc. Please consider that it takes over 400 years for plastic to dissolve meaning all plastic that was ever made is still here in some shape or form.

Next, we will move on to how plastic contributes to climate change. The more plastic we make, the more fossil fuels we need to burn to create it. To make plastic, factories emit harmful and toxic gasses. Gasses like black carbon or mercury harm the ozone layer and increase temperatures all over the world. Higher temperatures melt glaciers leading to higher levels of water in the oceans until it floods cities and islands. Islands like Fiji or Maldives might disappear in the next 80 years. Did you know that to reduce greenhouse gasses we need to reduce the production of plastic, especially of the single-use variety, and ramp up recycling? Let’s remember that each plastic bag is typically used for ONLY 12 minutes before being disposed of. Are 12 minutes worth the destruction of our environment? Make a mental note to always bring a reusable shopping bag. 

Lastly, 30% of plastic garbage ends up in the ocean, more than 8 million tons annually. There are entire islands of plastic floating around the oceans that are slowly killing ecosystems. Did you know that on November 21st, 2018 a dead whale washed ashore with its stomach filled with 60 pounds of plastic waste? In 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Turtles and other marine life mistake plastic for food. They eat it and then suffocate. When mom or dad birds go to find food they collect plastic and when they give it to their babies, the baby will not live for long because of the plastic in its body. Is it worth using plastic? 

In conclusion, there is no doubt that everyone should stop using plastic bags, straws, and bottles. Now you know that plastic never breaks down, it causes climate change and it kills wildlife and marine life. Now, friends, I know what you’re thinking. How can I help? Well, you should try not to bring plastic bags for your lunch, or don’t use straws for your juice box, and get reusable water bottles instead. Be the change! Start Today! Thank you for listening to my presentation.

Author: Deo Rewkowski, 10 years old, 2022