Is
plastic
waste
all
bad
?
There
is
currently
a
rush
to
ban
plastic
packaging
in
an
effort
to
restrict
environmental
damage
,
but
are
we
in
danger
of
throwing
out
the
baby
with
the
bathwater
?
Let's
be
absolutely
clear
about
one
thing
right
at
the
start
?
there
is
no
question
about
it
,
plastic
is
the
new
bad
boy
on
the
block
.
From
plastic
water
bottles
to
plastic
bags
,
and
now
to
plastic
straws
;
environmentally
conscious
protectors
of
humanity
are
falling
over
themselves
to
get
on
the
bandwagon
and
ban
this
of
doom
.
And
we
,
as
responsible
twenty
-
first
century
citizens
,
have
to
support
them
,
right
?
Well
,
not
without
some
consideration
of
the
counter
arguments
,
no
.
You
see
,
whilst
it
is
true
that
plastic
waste
is
causing
harm
in
some
of
the
world's
most
sensitive
environments
,
it
is
also
true
that
plastic
has
proved
to
be
one
of
the
most
important
and
valuable
materials
that
man
has
invented
.
Plastic
litter
pollutes
the
planet
from
the
mountains
of
the
Himalayas
to
the
deepest
of
the
Pacific
Ocean
.
However
,
to
blame
plastic
for
this
tragedy
is
to
ignore
the
:
you
and
me
.
It
was
always
,
and
still
is
,
far
easier
to
throw
away
the
plastic
wrapper
,
the
plastic
bottle
or
the
plastic
toy
,
than
it
ever
was
to
recycle
it
.
Even
after
all
the
publicity
and
efforts
of
environmental
agencies
and
governments
,
the
world
recycles
only
a
tiny
of
the
plastic
that
is
manufactured
.
So
,
attention
has
been
shifted
in
recent
years
to
the
manufacturers
and
retailers
with
new
regulations
being
proposed
to
compel
the
use
of
alternative
,
recyclable
materials
.
The
is
,
of
course
,
that
this
will
cost
money
,
so
you
can
expect
to
pay
more
for
products
like
soft
drinks
as
these
measures
take
effect
.
Many
experts
believe
that
,
without
the
right
approach
and
leadership
from
the
government
,
higher
costs
will
inevitably
be
passed
on
to
consumers
in
the
form
of
higher
prices
.
There
is
a
simple
reason
why
plastic
became
such
a
dominant
form
of
packaging
?
it
is
cheap
,
much
cheaper
than
glass
if
you
factor
in
transport
costs
for
example
.
It
is
also
lighter
in
weight
,
easier
to
into
shape
,
and
more
adaptable
and
hygienic
.
Let's
examine
the
transport
question
a
little
closer
.
A
330
ml
plastic
soft
drink
bottle
contains
around
18
grams
of
material
while
a
glass
bottle
can
weigh
as
much
as
250
grams
.
Transporting
drinks
in
heavier
containers
requires
40%
more
energy
,
producing
more
polluting
gases
.
The
environmental
equation
,
too
,
is
not
as
simple
as
it
first
appears
.
A
report
by
the
American
Chemistry
Council
and
environmental
accounting
firm
Trucost
estimates
that
if
the
soft
drinks
industry
switched
to
alternative
packaging
like
aluminum
or
glass
,
the
pollution
value
could
be
five
times
higher
than
at
present
.
Like
you
,
I
tend
to
distrust
figures
,
particularly
those
used
by
organizations
with
a
in
the
outcome
.
But
consider
this
,
many
experts
warn
of
far
more
serious
consequences
if
we
abandon
the
use
of
plastic
packaging
altogether
?
a
cost
in
terms
of
food
waste
.
Plastic
seals
and
particularly
has
revolutionized
fresh
food
consumption
,
increasing
shelf
life
and
enabling
intercontinental
transportation
.
Committed
environmentalists
might
want
to
return
to
100%
locally
produced
,
seasonal
food
,
but
with
your
busy
work
life
,
do
you
?
Contrary
to
the
view
by
some
that
plastic
packaging
has
increased
waste
,
many
argue
that
by
extending
shelf
life
,
the
opposite
is
the
case
.
Whatever
your
opinion
,
I
hope
this
article
has
given
you
food
for
thought
.
Issues
are
seldom
black
or
white
,
and
it
is
only
by
considering
and
listening
to
both
sides
of
an
argument
that
you
can
arrive
at
a
rational
view
.
Let's
check
your
understanding
!
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