Disrupting Disposables The Drive to Banish Single-Use Plastics
by Yvette C. Hammett
U
niversities, sports There is momentum, petroleum, their production arenas, restaurants but it is challenging. also adds to greenhouse and other busigases that contribute to the nesses are taking up the call ~Eric DesRoberts climate crisis. to “disrupt disposables” as Two-pronged efforts part of a global effort to dramatically cut by businesses and individuals to divert down on single-use plastics. The environplastics from the waste system and replacmental problems caused by those ubiquiing them with Earth-friendly alternatives tous throwaways have become a mainstay will eventually pay off, experts say, but it of news reporting, and studies on how will be a long and slow process. However, best to reduce them through public policy momentum is building, spurred by conabound. A recent Canadian research paper sumer demand and a growing number of in the Marine Pollution Bulletin explores enterprising businesses, organizations and strategies such as bans, tax levies and academic institutions. education. Experts agree that it is not just At Penn State University, agriculture a litter problem, but a sobering matter of and biological engineering professor Judd human and planetary health. Michael is working with sports facilities to As these plastics wind up in the lower both plastics use and littering; the oceans and landfills worldwide, they can initiative is working so well that their aplanguish virtually intact for up to 1,000 proaches may be taken up by other schools years, entangling and choking marine across the nation. “One of my projects is mammals and terrestrial wildlife. Or, they with NASCAR’s Pocono Raceway [also break into toxic microplastics that enter in Pennsylvania], where the owners of drinking water supplies, eventually ingested the track wanted to continue to make the by humans. Because plastics are made from venue more green,” he says. “There is zero
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