3.2

3.2
Plastics are everywhere. We use them in all sorts of things. But is this amazing material that we love so much now becoming a problem? Because plastic is so useful, we make a lot of it. Since 1950, humans have produced 9.2 billion tons of plastic. That’s the weight of nearly 1,600 pyramids! Much of this plastic becomes trash that never goes away. Single use plastics, like straws and plastic bags, are the most harmful. They make up about 40% of all plastic waste. They are often not recycled, and hurt the environment, animals, and communities around the world.

To fight plastic pollution, we have to change. A great way is to reduce the amount of single use plastics we use by choosing reusable alternatives. For plastics that already exist, we have to find other solutions. Some scientists are asking nature for help. Wax worms and meal worms eat plastics and break them down. Some microbes also help break down plastics more quickly, from hundreds of years to only a few days.

Manufacturers have to change, too. Some are already using new ingredients from plants to make biodegradable bio-plastics. These materials are just like plastic, but because they come from natural ingredients, they can biodegrade. Manufacturers can also use rubber tree latex instead of plastic. The tree’s latex is very useful. People use it to make many products, such as rubber gloves and tires.

To solve the world’s plastic problem, we have to look for more natural solutions… like the rubber tree.