The Problem With Plastic Waste

At one time plastics were the material of the future. It was cost effective and could be formed into anything. The material emerged at the perfect time as we darted towards the age of convenience. Our world still remains technology driven to bring greater efficiency to human life, however, our methods to arrive at convenience is damaging civilization.

Plastic, which can be found in almost everything we use, is filling our world with a gargantuan heap of garbage. Plastic is a huge problem. But is it really?

Plastic is just like any other material. It has various strengths and weaknesses which determine how and when it can be utilized. Ability to biodegrade aside, plastic is no different than steel, concrete, glass, or wood. Each material that I named can have a detrimental effect on the environment. The problem is not solely the problem, it is the people.

Humans are filthy creatures devoid of the discipline to live in harmony with the earth. We lean on our supposed superiority and take our earth for granted. Humans see ourselves as the dominant species but to what end? Are we only capable of curating our own destruction?

I love life and I love the positive aspects of the world that we have created, but our direction as a species shows that we are not as intelligent as we think. Being smart is not always about crafting the newest means to further humanity, being smart is also about knowing when to hold back or avoid problems that are blatantly clear.

I should note that I am not an expert on this issue. My writing is just a flood of thoughts derived from browsing a headline or hearing a newscast. I am sure there are all sorts of political, economic, and social issues that revolve around the issues of plastics and their environmental effects.

With that said, I believe a fraction of the problem is the stupidity of humans. To address the plastics issue we simply need to begin with solving the problem of littering. In a civilized country such as the United States, I see people throw their trash on the ground. Littering is one of the lowest elements of life. It is a sort of micro crime against humanity that goes unchecked, unpunished, and unresolved. Littering as a civic concern is worse than spitting, throwing gum on the sidewalk, and yes, graffiti.

Unlike littering, those items listed cannot flow downstream into our waterways. Litter cannot be diluted or dissolve in solution.

One day, an old friend gave me a ride from Los Angeles to San Diego. He was a Mexican national and was driving to visit his family in Tijuana, a bustling city along the international border. During the drive we are talking about the dynamics of cities and somehow we got to the topic of garbage. Even back then, I understood the littering problem we have here in the states, but I wanted to know how it is addressed south of the border.

I asked him gently why Mexico had a problem with trash in neighborhoods and on the streets. I was direct with my questioning but reiterated my understanding and respect for his culture.

Fortunately he was not offended and actually took to the question with great enthusiasm. His reply was simple: there are not any (or many) laws regarding littering. These are things that are taught, or are not taught, at the familial level. Educating people about littering was a parental responsibility. We both agreed that Mexico is a beautiful place with beautiful people, but like any large country, it faces many challenges.

It was an interesting answer and I was grateful for the candor. I realized that we have laws for littering in the states but they are difficult to enforce.

The main problem is the public disregard and respect. I have witnessed many people litter. It is an issue that breaks all ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, color and gender barriers. I remember watching a woman dump a full cake and plastic container out of the car window. That event was completely emotionless without any regard for the surroundings and herself.

Littering is something so simple, an issue that we should not have. The problem is not the material, the problem is the people. And with most challenges regarding people, the real problem is education. Unfortunately, we have a sizable portion of our society that is lazy and uneducated. We have many things that are not valued which should be.

In Tokyo, Japan, there are no trash bin in public. Since they had the poisonous gas attack in the Tokyo subway, they removed all trash bins out of the city; ALL OF THEM.

No city is perfect, but the last time I visited Tokyo, the streets were clean. You are not even allowed to walk down the street smoking a cigarette. There are specified zones for smoking now. It is interesting to note that Japan is a country where many people still smoke cigarettes. Yet, the society there seems to be one where value is given to good social order and following basic rules.

I love the U.S., but I believe that our ills dwell at the most basic levels. I believe that we can instill in our younger generations new values that do not include resistance and protest. We can teach our younger generations basic courtesy and respect for our surroundings.

Believe me, I am an expert. I was once a rebellious teenager treading through the shallow waters of pettiness and frivolous means. Thankfully, I outgrew all those things and have elevated myself to a new stratosphere. In addition to professional perspectives, I am still able to see how things work and conditions of deterioration at the neighborhood scale.