Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste

Plastic waste has become a pressing environmental issue with significant impacts on our oceans, wildlife, and human health. Despite growing awareness of the problem, plastic waste continues to rise at an exponential rate. Our paper underscores the vital role of the humanities in addressing this global challenge, and offers practical recommendations for businesses and policymakers to reduce plastic waste and move towards a more sustainable future.

Plastics are made through the combination of two chemicals ethane and propane, usually obtained from oil or natural gas. The chemicals are heated and mixed with a catalyst alongside other additives. These additives give different types of plastic their specific characteristics. The resulting mixture is then cooled and transformed into small pellets. These pellets can then be melted and molded into the vast array of plastic products that are ubiquitous in our daily lives.

During World War Two, production of plastics skyrocketed, increasing over 300%. These plastics were valuable because of the wide array of military uses they could be adapted for. Following the war, the massive factories shifted their production towards making consumer goods.

The 1970's brought along a massive increase in environmental activism, brought on by the Cuyahoga River in Ohio catching fire. One part of this movement was regulating pollutants-mainly chemicals the likes of which led to the fire, but also including plastic.

The 1970's brought along a massive increase in environmental activism, brought on by the Cuyahoga River in Ohio catching fire. One part of this movement was regulating pollutants-mainly chemicals the likes of which led to the fire, but also including plastic.

The pushback against pollution resulted in three major changes in the plastics industry. The first, was the creation and investment into recycling. This major invest occurred despite early research showing recycling would not be a cure to the problem. Recycling, even now, cannot reverse many of the chemical bonds holding plastic together. Furthermore, contamination of plastic with organic matter and mixing of different plastics together create sorting issues. Despite these issues, investment continued. Furthermore, advertising campaigns were launched aimed at pushing the responsibility on consumers for not disposing of their trash properly. These include many famous ads such as "The Crying Indian."

These campaigns coincided with a shift in the types of products being produced with plastic. Instead of durable consumer goods, more and more single use plastics were created. This shift reverberated to the present, where packaging remains as the most common use of plastic, as seen below.

Plastics can be dealt with in four main ways-discarded (polluted), landfilled, incinerated, or recycled. The graphs below display the fate of plastics. The graph on the left displays the global yearly ratio between recycled, incinerated and discarded. The graph on the right displays the fate of global plastic production from the last 70 years. As can be seen in both graphs, the vast majority of plastic has become pollution.

Incineration, also known as waste to energy (WTE), is the process of burning trash (including plastic), to produce steam which powers turbines and becomes energy. Questions surround this method due to the toxic fumes released by burning plastic and other detritis. While WTE facilities capture the vast majority of toxins, the level of safety is questioned by critics. Recycling, as mentioned earlier, faces the dual problem of technological and educational hurdles. For one, many types of plastic can not have their chemical bonds easily reversed. Furthermore, plastic contaminated with organic matter can ruin the recycling process. Even a handful of contaminated items can ruin entire truckfuls of otherwise recyclable materials. For that reason, education is a massive hurdle for recycling. One misplaced or dirty item, can ruin an entire recycling bin.

When it comes to combating plastic pollution, policy and government have a significant impact at various levels. However, the degree of political will and emphasis on this issue has not been uniform.

At the broader level, the fight against plastic pollution is mainly concentrated at the international level, but very little has been accomplished so far. Despite a few positive developments, most of the significant deals and plans aimed at curbing plastic pollution have faced opposition and failed to reach a consensus.

Moving down the ladder is the US federal level. Similar to the international level, there has been very little overall movement towards fighting plastic pollution. Only a handful of policies have actually been put in place and these policies and their enforcement have seen drastic swings in enforcement between presidencies.

At the state and local level, policies addressing plastic pollution have been more prevalent and targeted. This level also tends to have more consistent stances and better enforcement of laws. However, the issue is still complex as different states and localities have varying rules and regulations, which may be conflicting or contradictory to one another.

At the local level, the lack of effective solutions at both international and national levels has created a situation where cities like Davie, Florida, are left with minimal resources and recycling solutions. Despite being aware of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, the political will to act on this issue has not been consistent. As a result, cities and communities are forced to bear the brunt of this problem, leading to poor waste management, pollution of natural habitats, and other negative consequences.

In the case of Davie, they were forced to alter their processing of recycling materials after there was low, and in some cases, no demand in the global marketplace for materials such as glass and plastics. All residential trash and recycling materials collected from single-family residences, both garbage and recycling, are sent to the Wheelabrator South Broward Waste-to-Energy plant. While not ideal, the town was left with no other option

When it comes to plastic pollution, policy and government have played a dual role, both as a hindrance and a potential solution. However, due to insufficient action from the international and federal levels, and a lack of uniform policies across different states and localities, the task of developing a comprehensive and universally accepted strategy to combat plastic pollution has become exceedingly challenging.

An often overlooked component in the fight against plastic waste is culture. Cultural attitudes towards waste, the environment, and plastic use may have significant impacts on widespread behaviors that result in plastic pollution. Because single-use plastics are the heaviest contributors to plastic pollution, the everyday consumption and disposal habits of individuals is a major target for reform. To combat pollution at its roots, two major issues can be identified:

1. Limited knowledge of how to reduce one’s impact on the environment. Limited knowledge is linked to the complexity of environmental sustainability.

Example of a Convoluted Sustainability Concern: Single-use Plastic Bag Alternatives:

• Conclusion:
  • Cotton may seem more sustainable, but reusable plastic totes are a better option. The sustainable solution, clearly, can be counterintuitive and complex, and mitigating limited knowledge requires intensive education and awareness efforts.

2. Limited motivation to make sustainable choices.

• Motivation is a function of an individuals attitudes, societal expectations, and individuals' belief in their ability to make a difference.
• The motivations that influence recycling and environmentally-conscious behaviors can be better understood through the psychological framework known as the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Ultimately, it is crucial to consider the cultural attitudes toward plastic waste, as policy change can only go so far without a popular base that supports and understands environmental sustainability.

Below is an image of US recycling rates compared to other rich nations. In addition to more extensive policy for plastic waste reduction initiatives, these countries also often have high public awareness and regard for recycling:

1. While younger generations prioritize climate change and plastic waste reduction, they are less likely to recycle than older generations.
2. Younger people may be more likely to be influenced by social media, which can amplify the appearance of sustainability but may not necessarily translate into practical action.
3. Mass consumerism has fostered a culture of overconsumption that emphasizes material possessions as indicators of success and happiness, leading to waste and environmental deterioration.
4. The disposable culture propagated by mass consumerism encourages the disposal of items after using them once or twice, leading to increased single-use packaging and reducing the amount of materials available for recycling.
5. The interplay between politics and business practices affects young people's attitudes towards plastic waste and recycling.

With plastic waste already a major problem worldwide, this trend among younger generations is concerning, as it suggests that future efforts to address the issue will be hindered by a lack of engagement and participation from those who will soon be responsible for managing the waste stream. This highlights the need for increased education and awareness campaigns targeted specifically at younger demographics to encourage a culture of recycling and sustainability.

Mass consumerism and a linear economy that promotes disposability and convenience over repair and reuse is another cultural phenomenon that has become increasingly prominent in America.

A good place for local governments, specifically Davie to start would be to bring back residential recycling. Davie could use Fort Lauderdale's Mix It. Curb It. program as an example and can add onto it to partner with private companies as well.

4-stage communication process to reduce contamination

1.) "Uh-Oh" notice to remind resident of recycling guidelines 2.) Notice placed on cart handle. Cart won't be processed for the day and must be resorted 3.) Same as second stage and a representative of the Office of Sustainability will contact you to provide additional instruction 4.) Blue recycling cart will be removed from the property

1. Conduct a comprehensive waste audit on selected dorms to capture both visible and hidden waste
2. Determine the feasibility and effectiveness of recycling different materials.
3. Develop a targeted recycling program that focuses on the most important materials, with clearly marked recycling bins and clear instructions on what can and cannot be recycled.
4. Integrate the initiative with an education and outreach program on the importance of recycling and proper recycling practices.
5. Develop a sustainable oversight plan to ensure proper recycling practices are being followed, incentivizing proper recycling practices with rewards for dorm rooms that demonstrate high levels of recycling success.
6. Implement a year-round system for cardboard recycling, with large cardboard recycling bins in each hallway or floor and regular emptying.
7. Conduct regular evaluations to determine effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, using gathered information to make necessary adjustments and expand the program to other parts of the NSU campus.

A.) Canvas Course Outline:

1. The course on sustainability aims to provide a comprehensive education on sustainability and recycling.
2. The course will explore the three pillars of sustainability, which are environmental, social, and economic. It will also discuss recycling practices anyone can do at home and on campus.
3. The module will utilize presentations, interactive exercises, and group conversations. The course content will be delivered through various components such as readings, videos, and diagrams.
4. The course will be delivered via Canvas, and it will be discussed how the content of the course relates to on-campus recycling efforts.
5. The course will also cover recycling, its types, materials that can be recycled, benefits of recycling, and best practices for recycling.

B.) Education Workshops: Plastic Waste Reduction for College Students

1. The workshop aims to partner with local community organizations and businesses to educate NSU students and the general public on the impact of plastic waste on the environment and human health, provide practical ways of reducing plastic waste and encourage sustainable habits, and educate them on proper recycling practices.
2. Participants will receive a handout summarizing the content and may be incentivized through extra credit opportunities, prizes, and certificates of completion.
3. The content covers an introduction to plastic waste, strategies for reducing plastic waste, sustainable habits, an action planning activity, and group discussion.
4. Pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop.

One way that young people have become more involved in sustainability efforts is through community-based organizations such as the Youth Environmental Alliance and the Marine Environmental Education Center. Such organizations promote beach cleanups, education events, and provides information for children and younger citizens that promotes environmental awareness and sustainability. In the education workshop, students will be introduced to and encouraged to participate in such organizations.

Though international and national policies are necessary for creating comprehensive and effective solutions, local policies and programs can make a significant difference and play a critical role in reducing plastic consumption and waste. In particular, educating individuals about the importance of recycling efforts and investing in local education programs can help people understand concrete steps they can take to reduce plastic waste. It is essential to recognize the interconnectedness of global and local efforts to address this issue and for institutions to work together to create a more sustainable future.