But you ever use a plastic container to keep food fresh or take food home from a restaurant? They are extremely user baggage; Goal, plastic containers, but, the variety of harm done to the planet, and in other areas that can We as Human. This article provides insight on why using is problematic in the long term and which alternatives we can switch to that will benefit our eco-system and our selves.
Once we are done with a plastic food container, it becomes garbage that has to go somewhere. Regrettably, a large portion of these plastic boxes to find themselves in landfills, landlord where the waste is stored. Even worse, some make it into our oceans. The fact is, plastic containers can take a long time to decompose, so long in fact, that the time can be measured in hundreds of even thousands of years. What this means is they persist in the environment for long periods of time and can harm animals and plants while doing this.
Plastic waste that enters the ocean is harmful to marine life. These animals may confuse the plastic for food, perceiving it as something edible. Eating the plastic can make them sick or even kill them. This is very serious as it was not only the animals but rather the whole ecosystem. Even small pieces of plastic — known as microplastics — pollute our water and harm wildlife. These microplastics can contaminate the entire ocean and get ingested by fish and other aquatic animals, causing further damage.
Recycling your plastic containers is only a small part of achieving the larger solution of plastic pollution. Most plastic food containers cannot be recycled so they will still become trash. Even the plastic containers that are recyclable often take a lot of energy and resources to recycle. The process can be complex and expensive. That’s snowballing into a mountain of plastic, and not everyone is aftermarket recycling — which means many simply end up piling into landfills or washing up in our oceans. This is why simply recycling will not solve the plastic waste crisis.
Fortunately, there is a myriad of environmentally responsible alternatives that we can choose in lieu of single use plastic food containers. A better alternative is to use containers made from safe materials such as glass, stainless steel, or other reusable options. These containers can be reused, which reduces the waste we produce every single day. This is how we can drastically decrease the amount of plastic containers that reach the landfills and oceans with this single switch.
Some restaurants and business are also doing the right thing by switching to certain kinds of containers that come from materials like sugar cane or bamboo. Such containers are termed compostable or biodegradable. That gives them the ability to decompose naturally, as well as not to be detrimental to the environment as they are doing so. By selecting these eco-friendlier options, you are contributing to a healthier planet for all.
But even beyond the environmental damage, using disposable plastic food storage containers can cost you money in the long run. As people, and corporations keep purchasing these plastic products they, at times, end up spending more money than had they invested in reusable containers. This can total to be a considerable amount of money over time.