By Jay Prakash Singh
“Nature never betrays the heart that loved her” – William Wordsworth
One of the biggest threats today is something we use daily, often without thinking—Plastic.
In the last 2 decades, plastic use has grown rapidly. It is everywhere—in packaging, household items, medicine, food, and more. While plastic has made life easier in many ways, it has also become a serious danger to nature, animals, and even human health.
Plastic does not break down/decompose easily. Once thrown away, it remains on the earth for hundreds of years comprising from centenary to quincentenary depending on the plastic polymer. If plastic waste keeps growing like this, the land we grow food on, the rivers we drink from, and the oceans that give life will suffer badly. Animals, especially in the wild, cannot tell if plastic is food or not. When they eat it, they often die a slow and painful death.
Tiny plastic particles are now being found in the water we drink and the food we eat. These small pieces—called microplastics—can harm our health in many ways, leading to serious diseases over time. But even after knowing all this, many people and companies keep using plastic without any care.
In many parts of India—especially in the less developed states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh & North Eastern India—plastic waste is not managed properly & is not equated substituted for new products. People throw it on the roads, in rivers, or burn it, which causes pollution and creates new diseases. There are very few systems in place to collect recycle & re-use plastic.
Plastic is also used a lot in villages for carrying countrymade alcohol and storing food in cheap, harmful plastic bags. Street vendors give food items packed in thin plastic bags that are dangerous for health. These plastics often release harmful chemicals, especially when used with hot food, the major reason is the micron content since in thin polythene bags the micron level is less which causes major environmental pollution / damage.
Even the medical industry uses a lot of plastic—for syringes, medicine packaging, and gloves. While some of it is necessary, much of it is thrown away carelessly, adding to the problem. Plastic items like slippers, containers, and toys also add to the growing waste.
If we continue like this, the future will be dark. The soil will lose its strength, the water will become unsafe, and our health will suffer. We will leave behind a sick and unsafe world for the next generation. So, to have sustainability & regenerative approach & not the conventional one for our future & upcoming generation & the question is?
What can we do?
We need to wake up and act now. People should be made aware, especially in villages and small towns, 2 tier cities & metros. Governments must make strong rules to stop careless plastic use. Factories should follow eco-friendly methods with recycled content of used plastics. Most importantly as responsible citizen each one of us must take small steps:
- Use cloth or jute bags
- Say no to single-use plastics
- Throw plastic waste only in the right place especially in the Plastic Trash bin which should be written
- Support shops and companies that care for the green planet
Plastic is useful, but it is also dangerous if used without accountability. It is truly a double-edged sword. It can either help us or destroy us—depending on how we use it.
This World Environment Day, let us promise to protect our earth. Let us use things that are kind to nature. Let us think before we throw. The planet is our home—and we must take care of it, not harm it for a better future & growth for upcoming generations.
(Views expressed are personal and the writer is the member of U.S.Green Building Council)
