Plastic is a general waste that is generated everywhere by every people in this world. People are using the plastic products like straws, bags, and bottles. Even plastics are used in the body manufacturing of vehicles. Researches proved that plastic is the major producer of GHG, methane, and methane gases. These gases will make environmental and climatic changes. Even the dumping of plastics into landfills will cause global warming. Though there are many disadvantages, plastic is easy to carry and use and it is low cost. So, people love to use plastic products. It is not good so, plastic is not only dangerous to the environment but also for human health. This article is to create awareness about how does plastic contributes to climatic changes.

How does plastic affect the environment?

Plastics are affecting the environment with the high emission of GHG, methane, and ethylene. The effect of sunlight and heat makes the plastic react with the rays and thus producing danger-causing gases. The process of manufacturing, transporting, refining, extracting, and degradation are the stages of getting a plastic product. The plastic cannot be disposed of easily, it requires a minimum of 450 years to 1000 years to decompose itself. The only way is to burn them, but this is not an advisable one. Because the burning of plastics will produce a high smell and emits more and more amount of toxic gases. These gases will mix with the atmospheric air and it results in climatic changes.

How Plastic is born?

Currently, plastic production consumes up to 8% of the global oil consumption. This will be increased to 20% in 2050. The first stage of plastic is the extraction and transportation of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal. The transportation of the raw materials emits CO2 gas in the atmosphere. The extraction of Fossil fuels requires a large area which will result in the destruction of forests. After the extraction, the fuels should be transported through rails, and pipes which emit carbon more than any other chemicals.

After the extraction, plastic production requires petrochemicals, which are refined to build ethylene, butane, propylene, and other plastic products. Transportation and manufacturing require more amount energy. It is shown that over 60% of GHG is produced by the process of refining, transporting, and manufacturing plastics. This results in seasonal changes, climatic condition changes, global warming, and Tsunami, etc.

How to Overcome this?

It is difficult to eliminate the usage of plastics completely, and they cannot be destroyed too. So you can reduce the usage of plastics by using recyclable and reusable products. The products like metal straws, cloth bags, glass bottles, and metals cans are the best alternatives for plastic products. Though it costs higher than plastic, it can be used for years or months. But plastic products are single usage products and it is thrown off after the usage.

The common people do not how to dispose of plastic wastes properly. It is important to hire a professional rubbish removal service to dispose of the plastics properly. The experts will recycle the plastic products which are recyclable like plastic bottles. The products like straw and cups cannot be recycled so it is kept safe in a closed area. Reduce the usage of plastics to protect our environment and lead a safe and healthy life.