When MICRO meets PLASTICS – Cleannovate

The ban on single use plastic paper baggage in Kenya was a superb transfer.

However was it sufficient to deal with the plastic menace?

Definitely not. We nonetheless use non-recyclable plastics on a regular basis of our lives.

NON-RECYCLABLE PLASTICS

Non-recyclable plastics can’t be recycled simply.

Infact majority can’t be recycled in any respect.

Don’t get me fallacious…they might be remodelled into totally different merchandise after crushing them into small-sized items.

Take for example an previous plastic bottle might be damaged down into small items which might be fused collectively to make a plastic container.

That’s nonetheless a type of recycling however is it sustainable in the long term?

MICRO PLASTICS

When plastics are reused over time, they find yourself breaking into smaller, minute particles known as microplastics, which simply discover their manner into our water, meals, and air.

As a result of the manufacture of plastics is a chemically intensive course of, microplastics expose us to a concoction of drugs whose mixed well being results are nonetheless a thriller.

Repeated recycling of plastics subsequently will increase the probability of those plastics changing to microplastics.

So what recourse to we have now in mitigating this drawback?

STOP PLASTIC MANUFACTURE

Sure, I do know in all probability I would in all probability get some flack for this, however it’s one of many viable choices.

The extra the plastics in our society the extra doubtless we’ll see a rise in microplastic air pollution over time.

That being mentioned, what choices do we have now for different employment?

That’s the rationale for our second level.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

A lot of analysis is happening in the entire sphere of biodegradable plastics – these are plastics that may be damaged down by the surroundings and even microorganisms.

Take into consideration cellulose.

That is essentially the most plentiful polymer (plastic kind of fabric) on earth.

So what if we’re to get inspiration from nature and style plastics from cellulose?

However cellulose isn’t the one possibility on the market.

Starch from potato and cassava meals waste and chitosan from sea crustaceans are nature-based polymers that might encourage plastics of the longer term.

However analysis wants not be restricted to plastic manufacture.

Plastic-eating bugs and microorganisms are another choice.

PLASTIC-EATING WORMS

I as soon as stumbled upon an article that highlighted the usage of meal worms to devour styrofoam – a non-recyclable plastic contributing immensely to the strong waste menace.

The video of those minute creatures devouring into the stacks of styrofoam in all probability painted an image of hope.

However these will not be the one critters related to the breakdown of non-recyclable plastics.

Others (incuding micro organism) have additionally been found, and extra analysis is happening on this entrance.

IN CONCLUSION

The plastic air pollution menace is a novel one as a result of plastics are simple to make, pleasant to the pocket however laborious to dispose.

Alternatives exist for researchers and innovators to search for methods to make bio-degradable plastics or reveal bugs/ micro organism that might break them down.

Printed by John Mmbaga