Plastic could be considered as one of the most marvelous discoveries of our technological world. It has eased travel into space, revolutionized medicine, saved fuel by lightning every car and, most simply, has created the opportunity of delivering fresh water in disposable bottles (2). Plastic can do all of this for very cheap and that is why it has become one of the most commonly used man-made materials in human history. Unfortunately, having said this, there are also many downsides to this not so environmentally healthy product.
Did you know that all the plastic we irresponsibly use gets piled up in landfills and takes about 1,000 years to degrade? The plastic in the landfills pile up and eventually end up in the oceans. A research published in 2015 estimated that we empty a garbage truck of plastic into the oceans every minute. Every year, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed because of plastic (3). In addition, the plastic in oceans never disappears, but only gets broken down into tiny microscopic pieces. On some beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii, as much as 15% of the sand is actually grains of microplastic. Other experts say that there is more microplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way Galaxy (4). Not to mention that when we eat, plastic can be absorbed by the human body. 93% of Americans test positive for BPA (a plastic chemical). Some of the compounds found in plastic have been found to have harmful health effects (3).
In the Quran, Surah Ar-Rum states, “Corruption and disorder have appeared on land and in the sea because of what the hands of people have (done and) earned (of evil deeds). Thus (Allah) causes them to taste the consequence of some of what they have done, so that they may (take heed, repent and reform, and so) return (to the right way)” (Verse 41). One of the interpretations of the corruption and disorder, as referred to in the ayah, is our environmental problems, like plastic pollution. Pollution has interfered with the balance of both our land and sea. The ayah states that Allah (SWT) will have us taste our own corruption in order to help us find the right path. This is both figuratively and metaphorically true. Currently, what we eat and drink is contaminated with microplastic. Knowing this we should take responsibility to fix the problems we have created with our own hands.
Then the question we come down to is: don’t many people recycle? Actually, only 9% of our world’s plastic is recycled. This is not enough. What will become of our majestic earth, our only home in the solar system? Will it be all covered in plastic? The first step in improving something is addressing the issue. It appears that now we all have knowledge on plastic pollution and can take the next step. Believe it or not, the average American throws away 90,000 pounds of trash by the end of their lifetime. So, together we can all make seemingly small positive impacts that can add up to save our planet. Some ways you and your family could help are: reducing everyday plastics such as sandwich bags by replacing them with reusable lunch containers and choosing to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottles (3). Whenever we use plastic, don’t forget the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle, for the quality of life and a healthy environment.
Works Cited:
1. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/
2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/
3. https://www.ecowatch.com/22-facts-about-plastic-pollution-and-10-things-we-can-do-about-it-1881885971.html
4. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/9-facts-about-ocean-plastic/
