Ban plastics now!

Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s latest Facebook post asked readers their views about a plastic straw ban. To replace plastics, bamboo, steel or paper, for fast food establishments are suggested. Mayor Tom wrote, “We can expand the ban to other plastic products later on, but any meaningful change has to be implemented in small but permanent steps, so we will start there.”

We agree, small but permanent steps are crucial for any meaningful change. And the steps have to be coordinated, synchronized, with everyone doing their part for change to take place.

Plastics are among the most problematic among the waste items today. How long the plastic decomposes depend on its type. According to this website: https://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/107380.aspx, there are seven types of plastic.

First, there is PET or PETE - Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is the easiest plastic to recycle. These materials are relatively cheap and are used for soda bottles, water bottles, clamshell packaging, potato chip bags, produce bags and several other grocery-type packaging. Actual breakdown time for this type of plastic under perfect conditions can range from 5 to 10 years.

Then there is HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene, used for detergent bottles, bleach bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, motor oil and many other non-food items. These plastics will degrade in just under 100 years depending on the thickness of the plastic used.

Third, there is PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride, used in items such as pipes to children’s toys. PVC does not readily degrade and when it does, it gives off a number of toxic materials. This is the single worst plastic according to several health organizations. Greenpeace has been lobbying to stop the use of PVC because of the dioxin produced during its manufacture.

Fourth, there is LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene, what our current plastic grocery bags are made of. If exposed to ultraviolet light, these bags have been estimated to break down in as little as 500 years with a conservative average time of 1,000 years. If there is no exposure to a light source, say at the bottom of a landfill, the plastic may remain intact indefinitely.

Fifth, there is PP - Polypropylene, found in rope, clothing, and shower kits. It is highly resistant to photo degradation and will not decay for millennia.

Sixth is PS – Polystyrene, used in Styrofoam packaging peanuts, cups, coolers, and many other lightweight applications. This type of plastic will break down in under 50 years. The surface area exposed to sunlight will determine the exact rate as the more surface area will mean more photons reaching the plastic and a quicker photo degradation process.

The seventh type includes other types of plastic which covers anything not in the earlier mentioned six types. Most plastics in this type do not break down and are considered permanently, chemically bonded.

Depending on the type, plastics may take five to 10 years to decompose at the shortest but others may take 100 or 500 years. Other plastic types may not break down at all!

Why then use plastics that are toxic to humans and to the rest of the earth? Remember the photos of whales killed by plastics in their stomachs? While convenient, plastics bring more pollution, more adverse consequences than benefits.

Time for us to junk plastics please! There are now alternative options to replace plastics. Mayor Tom, ban plastics now, please. With Ms. Nida Cabrera back in CCENRO, together let us take those small but steady steps to protect our people and our environment from harmful plastics.

For now, ban plastics. Next, other types of waste! Padayon!