Author: Saba Ali Memon
Plastic: a miracle material that has made all of our lives easier with the disastrous after-effects of its use, often hidden behind the convenience and luxury it provides.
Plastic use is inculcated in our everyday lives from food storage in supermarkets to medicine packaging. We depend on plastic but are now drowning in it. 40 percent of plastic produced is packaging, used just once and then discarded, which then constitutes for the majority of waste found in households and on the streets. It may be a source of comfort for us but ends up being a floating menace for the environment and especially marine life. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals each year. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by it. Around 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year from coastal regions. A similar trend can be seen in Pakistan with its coastal regions bombarded with plastic waste ruining its natural beauty and appeal along with endangering all coastal organisms.
A few days ago, the Minister for Climate Change stated that 55 billion plastic shopping bags are being used each year in Pakistan highlighting the need for urgent action. Some of the disturbing impacts of this practice are: it disrupts the food chain, pollutes groundwater, land, and air. Hence, apart from the government devising strategies and adequate measures against this ecological threat, Pakistanis as a collective need to work towards protecting its beautiful shores and lands.
Alternatives to plastic can be used such as paper bags, glass bottles and metal straws with many restaurants and supermarkets across the nation, already adopting such practices. Recycling is another way to contribute towards the preservation of the environment and omitting wastage. Lastly, raising awareness among fellow citizens is perhaps the fundamental step towards eradicating plastic waste once and for all!
