How environmentally effective the growing push to forgo plastic bags and straws is
Click HERE
If can't access above link, click HERE.
Spurred by appalling images of the harm plastics inflict on marine life, some Singaporeans' resolutions may involve a greater effort at recycling and reducing their reliance on single-use plastics.
A major problem with plastics is the harm they do when they enter water bodies and end up maiming or killing sea animals, such as turtles and whales who ingest them or get tangled up in the debris, or when they block out sunlight that sustains marine plant life, which in turn sustains the creatures that feed on them.
IMPORTANT FOR SINGAPORE CONTEXT: (It shows that in the Singapore context, using plastics will not lead to harm on marine life. Possible rebuttal is if u throw the plastics into the sea or river directly instead of into the bin)
Here, all household rubbish - plastics, paper and food - is incinerated after collection and then disposed of in the Pulau Semakau landfill. Furthermore, care is taken to minimise potential hazards posed by the landfill. For example, it is lined with a membrane to prevent leakage of harmful substances. A wastewater plant treats the water displaced by the ash, so that it can be discharged safely into the sea. Given how we manage waste disposal in Singapore, reducing the use of plastic bags, drinking straws and the like will have limited impact on marine life as the detritus is not likely to end up discharged in its original state into the sea.
That said, there is value in reducing plastic waste as overall waste reduction would extend the lifespan of the Pulau Semakau landfill.
Recyclers incur costs while processing waste material for sale as recycled products. Plastic is a poor candidate for recycling as it has a high recycling cost and low resale value.
Apart from the economics, plastic recycling also creates pollution problems. It is in response to both the poor economics and the environmental cost that the Chinese government banned the import of plastics for recycling last year.
For plastics, the focus should be on reducing its use.
If can't access above link, click HERE.
Spurred by appalling images of the harm plastics inflict on marine life, some Singaporeans' resolutions may involve a greater effort at recycling and reducing their reliance on single-use plastics.
A major problem with plastics is the harm they do when they enter water bodies and end up maiming or killing sea animals, such as turtles and whales who ingest them or get tangled up in the debris, or when they block out sunlight that sustains marine plant life, which in turn sustains the creatures that feed on them.
IMPORTANT FOR SINGAPORE CONTEXT: (It shows that in the Singapore context, using plastics will not lead to harm on marine life. Possible rebuttal is if u throw the plastics into the sea or river directly instead of into the bin)
Here, all household rubbish - plastics, paper and food - is incinerated after collection and then disposed of in the Pulau Semakau landfill. Furthermore, care is taken to minimise potential hazards posed by the landfill. For example, it is lined with a membrane to prevent leakage of harmful substances. A wastewater plant treats the water displaced by the ash, so that it can be discharged safely into the sea. Given how we manage waste disposal in Singapore, reducing the use of plastic bags, drinking straws and the like will have limited impact on marine life as the detritus is not likely to end up discharged in its original state into the sea.
That said, there is value in reducing plastic waste as overall waste reduction would extend the lifespan of the Pulau Semakau landfill.
Recyclers incur costs while processing waste material for sale as recycled products. Plastic is a poor candidate for recycling as it has a high recycling cost and low resale value.
Apart from the economics, plastic recycling also creates pollution problems. It is in response to both the poor economics and the environmental cost that the Chinese government banned the import of plastics for recycling last year.
For plastics, the focus should be on reducing its use.
posted by Dark Shadow | 8:20 PM
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