Creating Change Blog 1: Waste
This is the first Blog of a three-part series addressing the problems related to excessive plastic waste. I will provide necessary context of the issue and convey a clear necessity for change. By examining this issue, I plan to inform my audience and change their consumption behaviors related to plastics.
This problem relates to Goal 12 of the United Nation’s Sustainability Development which seeks to ensure global Responsible Consumption and Production.
According to Our World in Data, global plastic waste is disposed of in four main methods; stored in landfills, is mismanaged, gets incinerated, and recycled. Globally In 2019, 49.21% of plastic waste ended up in landfills and 22.7% was mismanaged by being burned in open pits or ended up as pollution. 18.08% of global plastic waste was properly incinerated, and 9.29% was recycled. These figures may be staggering for some and expected for others. Personally, I expected the recycling figure to be lower.
Using the same graph, we can see the United States' methods of dealing with plastic waste. In 2019, 72.88% of plastic waste ended up buried in landfills and only 5.92% was mismanaged. As for Incineration, 19.08% of U.S plastic waste was burned, and a measly 4.49% was recycled. It is clear as day that we are behind most of the world when it comes to recycling programs but are great at burying our problems.
I propose that this lack of response to excessive waste is due to a lack of awareness and critical thinking from the consumer populace. If there was more awareness and care for this issue, it would be considered more when creating policy. I seek to address this lack of awareness by informing the audience of the negative impacts of plastics.
References:
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9moThe biggest issue here is not being talked about, and unless that's addressed, your green graphics simply won't work. ATTITUDES have to change. CULTURE has to shift. PRIDE needs to be restored. I would walk miles to dispose of litter, many don't, most won't. There's your problem.