The Problem of Plastic Waste and How We as a Society and as Individuals can Prevent the
Waste from Happening.
1. Global negotiations are taking place right now in Kenya to craft a treaty to end the plastic
pollution that, left unchecked, will be disastrous for our health, the planet, and the
climate. Most plastic is made from fossil fuels, so the development of the first international,
legally binding treaty on plastic pollution on land and at sea is being fought by the big petroleum industries in the U.S., China and Saudi Arabia that would rather focus on recycling and reusing plastic on a country-by-country basis. Led by the governments of Norway and Rwanda, along with environmental groups, an effort to end plastic pollution altogether by 2040 will require slashing production and limiting some of the chemicals used in making plastics. Humanity produces more than 430 million tons of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste. Minus a global treaty, plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with about half ending up in landfills, soon becoming toxic waste filling the oceans and often working their way into the human food chain.
2. Since 1950, more than 8.5 billion tons of plastic have been produced, and according to
BirdLife International, marine plastic could outweigh all the ocean's fish within decades
without action to contain its production and accumulation. Worldwide, seven million plastic
water bottles are produced every seven minutes, while half of all plastic produced is designed
to be used only once. Birdlife International and partner organizations have extensively studied
seabirds, finding that six of the 10 species with the highest plastic exposure suffer from
dangerous stomach scarring and altered blood chemistry. Studies show that the plastic chemicals leaching into our waterways are also affecting us - we could be ingesting about 5 grams of plastic a week in drinking water, about the weight of a nickel. Concerned countries and
organizations such as the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty are meeting now in
Kenya to not only help countries manage growing waste piles, but to actively prevent the waste
from happening in the first place.
3. Since the 1960s, global plastic production has skyrocketed about twentyfold with only 9% of
it recycled, alarming governments and their citizens around the world. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), plastic is the most complicated material to recycle
because each number (1-7) usually designates a different chemical makeup that requires different temperatures to recycle it for further use. A 2020 report from NPR and PBS Frontline found that since 1974, the plastic industry has spent millions on campaigns to convince the public that recycling would keep the environment clean. While glass and aluminum can be recycled endlessly, plastic degrades each time it is processed and made into polyester fabrics, building materials and more. Check out the Plastic Free Toolkit at greenamerica.org/plastic-free-
toolkit for dozens of tips on how to reduce the amount of plastic you add to your life.
4. An estimated 171 trillion particles of plastic now float on the sea surface, affecting seabirds
and other marine life, and eventually ending up in the human food chain. Plastic factories, often
located in low-income areas, pollute the air, and waste pickers around the world face toxic
exposure from imported U.S. recyclables. Debris washes up on shores of islands that produce little waste of their own, while chemicals leach into the ocean food chain that are consumed by
indigenous people who eat subsistence foods. Thousands of chemicals are used in making
plastics, such as BPA, which was banned by the FDA in 2013 but has been replaced by similar
chemicals with less regulation. Over 100 studies confirm significant effects from exposure even
to low doses of BPA (and similar chemicals), enough to cause hormone disruption or
cancer. Check out "Your Top 10 Plastics Questions, Answered" at greenamerica.org/10plasticsquestions for information about single-use plastics, how China
processes our recycling, and more.
5. Both policy and the choices we make for our own homes matter for the world. Similar to
other tiny particles (particle pollution from car exhaust, asbestos, etc.) that can build up and
cause serious damage, microplastics are produced whenever synthetic materials (polyester, clothing made from recycled plastic bottles, etc.) are laundered. Washing gently and
infrequently can help, says a study by the University of Newcastle Australia, which also found
that drinking bottled water exposes people to many more microplastics than those who drink
tap water. Even food-grade plastics leach chemicals into moist and warm foods stored in them,
and of special concern is vintageTupperware that has tested positive for lead, arsenic, mercury,
and cadmium. If plastics are scratched or cloudy, dispose of them, and never put plastic into the
microwave or dishwasher or store acidic or greasy foods in them. To protect yourself and the
planet, check out Plastic Free Toolkit at greenamerica.org/plastic-free-toolkit.

Laura Raedeke
EcoFaith Network NE MN Team
Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN
Northeastern Minnesota Synod