Tag: #plasticpollution

Did you know that Malta is one of the most polluted countries in Europe ? We will see in this article the reasons that make the island very polluted also where is the ecological situation of the island.  

Air Pollution:  

Air pollution is one of the major problems that the country is facing. Malta is the second-most country in Europe with the worst air quality.  

This is particularly due to the many vehicles circulating on the island, but also to the cruise ships that are much more polluting than cars. Every year, about 80 such boats pass through Malta and circulate sulphur in the air. So it does not help the airquality.   

 The largest contributors to Malta’s air pollution are road transport, agriculture, power plants, industries and household appliances. 

The Production of plastic waste : 

 In Malta, plastic is now one of the major environmental problems.   
According to OhMyUp “In 2016, plastic production was 8,714 tons, with 10% recycled and 90% landfilled. And what’s more, these landfills are soon full.”   
Every year, for example, the population of Malta use around 800,000 plastic toothbrushes. This is now equivalent to a total of 20 tons of plastic (all cumulated year after year).   
 “In 2017, the Let’s Do It Foundation organized a national cleanup during which they found 1862 garbage bags. 465 of these bags contained plastic bottles.” 

THE SOLUTIONS PUT IN PLACE TO IMPROVE THE CURRENT SITUATION : 
Here are the different possible solutions put in place to improve Malta’s current ecological situation :  

• Protection of the mediterranean against pollution : 

Malta was one of the first countries in 1976 to accept the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean against Pollution.     

“The Protocol on Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping Operations from Ships and Aircraft (Dumping Protocol) was adopted in 1976 and entered into force in 1978. Its objective is to take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce and eliminate, as far as possible, pollution of the Mediterranean Sea resulting from dumping operations of waste and other matter.” (unep.org) 

• Elimination of single-use plastic products :  

In May 2019, the Maltese authorities introduced a strategy to eliminate single-use plastic products in order to stop plastic pollution. The aim is to publish a law banning all disposable plastic products; such as straws, cutlery, plates and cotton swabs.  
This law was passed in January 2021. Therefore, it is prohibited to market these types of products in Malta, in order to improve plastic pollution.  

Consumers can help by reducing the amounts of useless, single and temporary-use plastics that are purchased such as for example food packaging and plastic (or now “bio-plastic”) bags 

CONCLUSION : 

The country still needs to improve and make more effort to be able to see concrete results on the environment and the use of plastic in everyday life, which is very present ink. However, it can be seen that the Maltese Government has put in place some actions in recent years aimed at contributing to a better environment. 

In only a few decades, the introduction of synthetic plastic and plastic pollution has created an unbelievable impact on our environment and ecosystem. Humanity created this problem, and humanity still can do everything in its power to reverse or at least slow down these devastating impacts. 

As consumers, we need to consider and measure the impact that plastic has on the environment. We’ve all seen the headlines about the huge environmental problems caused by single-use plastics. Big brands, supermarkets and the government have the power to make the big changes that are needed. But we can be powerful too and have an impact, as consumers. It’s also a massive pollution problem. Wildlife becomes ensnared in discarded plastic and microplastics are eaten by ocean creatures. 
Unfortunately, simply recycling plastic is not enough. The fact of also recycling plastic does not regulate and does not justify the fact of consuming it at home. We, the citizens and consumers, must then act individually, with simple everyday gestures in order to reduce the use of plastic before it is too late. 

But why should we reduce the use of plastic and what are the actual outcomes ?  

Here is why you should reduce plastic in your daily life. 

When scientists discovered plastic, it was praised for his convenience, usability in the long term and low cost. 
Years later after its discovery, opinion has greatly changed. This material, hailed to make our lives easier and nowadays, has been used too much and that reaches its limits in particular by degrading our environmental spectrum by its wide consumption, professionally and individually.  

Reducing the use of plastic is essential because plastic production requires an enormous amount of energy and resources. This causes carbon emissions and contributes to global warming. 
“Recent figures suggest that 8 million pieces of plastic are entering oceans around the world every day. This is directly linked to the deaths of 1 million seabirds every year.” (ecoandbeyond.co) 

The durability of plastic is both a blessing and a curse. A plastic water bottle holds our drink without leaks or making it too heavy to carry. Plastic is cheap so that keeps the costs of our drinks down too. [Saut de retour à la ligne]But that same water bottle will take hundreds of years to break down. During this time, it will break down into smaller and smaller pieces. Until it becomes microplastics, which are now [Saut de retour à la ligne]thought to be entering the food chain and even our bodies. 

What Will Happen If We Don’t Act Now ?  

It’s fair to say that we couldn’t live without certain plastic products. But as consumers, we must now adopt responsible behavior to reduce its use, particularly with bottles, packaging, coffee cups, straws and cutlery (knives,spoon,fork). And fast. 

The view of plastic pollution in 50 years. Currently, the role plastic has played in the destruction of our environment is bleak enough. But when we zoom out to project 50 years into the future, the forecast is even more dismaying. 

“As plastic continues to grow in distribution, so will the hormonal and chemical effects onto our bodies, water systems, and air. By 2050, researchers believe that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean as the rate of plastic production and plastic pollution continues to compound with each coming year. Further, the creation of plastics heavily utilizes fossil fuels, which has been inextricably linked to the quickening of climate change.” (blog.gopurepod.com) 

How Does Recycling Help Reduce Pollution ?  

Recycling is the key to helping the environment and our health improve and is undoubtedly a way to reduce pollution. 

1. It protects ecosystems 

Recycling reduces the need to grow, harvest and extract raw materials from the earth for additional products. It means fewer forests will be cut down, wild animals will be less harmed or displaced, no more diversion of rivers and as such, less pollution of the soil, water and air. Also if more plastics are recycled, less of them will find their way into the ocean waters, damaging marine life.  

2. It saves energy 

Making products from recycled materials requires less energy as compared to making them using raw materials. The huge difference in energy means less pollution. Saving on energy means fewer strains on the power grid, which means less carbon is emitted at the power plant as a result of drawing too much energy. 

3. It conserves natural resources 

The point of avoiding pollution is to preserve natural resources. Recycling is a wonderful tool that will make new products, and at the same time avoid pollution, by conserving natural resources. For instance, recycling paper and wood saves trees and forests. 
Recycling plastic means creating less new plastic which is beneficial for the environment, especially because plastics are made from hydrocarbons, which terribly pollute the environment.  

The solution is in our hands – reducing (as much as we can) the use of plastics to preserve animals, the environment and our own planet & health.