One of the most alarming problems facing the planet today is the chokehold of plastic, particularly the use of single-use plastics.
ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 06th Jun, 2018) One of the most alarming problems facing the planet today is the chokehold of plastic, particularly the use of single-use plastics. "It’s a rampant menace that has been condemned for long and yet continues, but now, finally, there is light at the end of this tunnel in the UAE, as the country gears up to move away from its use," said Gulf news in an editorial today.
The paper noted that a host of entities, private and government, as well as social enterprises helping ramp up the campaign against plastic, are becoming more conscientious about single-use plastic waste.
"In Dubai alone, the statistics of plastic usage are staggering of the 3.6 million tonnes of domestic waste generated in 2017, 30 percent was plastic waste. Dubai produced one million tonnes of plastic waste in 2017. There was a 25 percent increase of plastic bags in Dubai from 2013 to 2017 rising from 2.9 million pieces to around 3.6 million pieces," it said.
It continued, "Add to this a daily conflux of global reports that highlight the devastating impact of plastic waste on flora and fauna from irreparable damage to coral reefs in Australia to multiple species of aquatic creatures killed by plastic jetsam every day and it is clear that there is no time to be lost."
The editorial went on to say that while governments and corporates have a role to play in this battle against single-use plastic, what will truly, actually, and visibly help us win is when every individual begins to say no to single-use plastic and finds alternatives, of which there are plenty.
"What we need to remember is, there was life before single-use plastic. But if we don’t stop this self-perpetuated crime, there’s no saying how our future will be," it concluded.
