Local Experts to Highlight Dangers of Single-Use Plastic (Case Study Sample)

Local Experts to Highlight Dangers of Single-Use Plastic Name Institution Abstract The article “Local Experts to Highlight Dangers of Single-Use Plastic” by Victoria Parsons illustrates the dangers of plastic debris on aquatic life in Tampa Bay and around the world. Volunteers have come up with educational campaigns - Rise Above Plastic (RAP), to sensitize the public about the need to reduce the use of single-use plastic. Despite the efforts of local governments to ban plastic and Styrofoam, the state of Florida preempted them from the ban and challenged the existing laws through an appeal in court. Amidst all these battles, individual effort is required to make a difference to reduce the impact on the environment through enumerated tips. Local Experts to Highlight Dangers of Single-Use Plastic Tampa Bay is facing a severe issue with the plastic debris. Single-Use plastic has posed a significant threat to fish, shellfish, and turtles. The local governments took the initiative to ban plastic but faced preemption by the state of Florida from banning plastic bags. Therefore, “it’s a very grassroots effort to make people aware of the damage caused by plastic debris” (Parsons, 2018). This individual effort would help reduce the use of plastic because only a small fraction is recycled while the rest find its way in the oceans affecting aquatic life. It is an urgent issue that should be addressed to reduce, especially the death of turtles. Firstly, every person should have a right to clean environment and a sense of protecting aquatic life. Public participation in the Rise Above Plastic (RAP) campaign would be necessary because they would desist from the use of straws and grocery bags, which cannot be recycled. The concern of the public would help both local and state governments speed up on laws that ban the use of single-use plastics. Moreover, “with more of our local governments exploring the issue, we can share that information with multiple people at the same time, and perhaps extend an umbrella effect for local governments” (Parsons, 2018). Restaurants also have a chance of producing ocean-friendly waste. Certification is necessary to ensure that the restaurants comply and even the wait staff educate customers on the real cost of plastic. On the other hand, the article shows that all is not lost because every person can make a difference, although regulation is an uphill task. Although the state of Florida is continuously fighting the move by local governments to impose a ban on plastic and Styrofoam, “everyone can work harder to minimize their impact on the environment” (Parsons, 2018). The article enumerates the measures we can take to make a difference. Most importantly, plastic should be separately collected because when disposed of together with regular recyclables, they jam the conveyor belts during separation. Other tips are namely: using recycled bags for groceries; avoiding bottled water; stop the use of plastic straws; using boxes instead of bottles for detergents; purchasing food in reusable containers; using reusable containers for left-overs instead of Styrofoam. It is also necessary to avoid plastic cutlery and c...