Who on earth doesn't know plastic?
Well, except for those people who live far far away from civilization and forbid themselves to any kind of (you know, development and stuff like that), everyone knows what plastic is.
Taken from wikipedia.com,
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organicamorphous solids[citation needed] used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce costs. Monomers of plastic are either natural or synthetic organic compounds.Basically, there are two types of plastic.
First, is thermoplastic. This kind of plastic is unstable to hot condition. I wouldn't say it would go away if there is enough heat, but it would melt. But still, it needs time to be recycled in our lovely world.
Second, is thermosetting plastic. I would say that this one is the dangerous one. Why? Because once it's solidified, it couldn't be melted or even re-shaped by heat again. Means that, it couldn't be recycled at all. But, we still could find this kind of plastic as a door in our car or integrated circuit or your plasticware at home or those billiard balls. Don't you realise you've helped this world to become a mass dump of your plastic? (It's me, actually, who have to answer this hehe)
Have you understood enough? I hope not :p
So, you've known a bit that thermosetting plastic is a dangerous one, but how about the thermoplastic? It still could be remelted and reshaped as your wish (but using some methods or even some machine, I think :p) But still, we could use it as plastic bags, food container (styrene foam or usually called styrofoam), nylon (I hope you know nylon haha) and many many many more (thanks to those inventor :p).
But, don't you dare forget this. Even though thermoplastic is degradable, it still takes a very very very loooooooooong time to degrade. And there is a major problem. Different plastic should be recycled differently, but how could you sort them out? You'll have to see the resin identification in order to group them and it takes ages to finish. Besides, it has to be a qualified workers do it. Conclusion? It requires more time, more money and more qualified workers to just sort plastics out.
Oh yeah, maybe you would think of burning them to ashes just like any other trashes. But, even if you burn those, the particles will release toxic fumes. When you burn PVC (polyvinil chloride), it creates dioxin (an environmental pollutant and suspected as carcinogen). The manufacturing process also creates a great number of chemical pollutant. Oh God, couldn't you see it? It's threatening our beloved mother earth.
Enough talking that, I'm scared, by the way :(
I don't think I should write about the advantages of plastics. You've known that for sure. For me, I see plastics everywhere, everytime, and everyday. It's like plastic has dominated my life, haha. Even though you think you couldn't get rid of that, you could still save the world by decrease a number of plastics you use everyday.
Well, here some tips for you who wants to contribute small things to earth :)
1. Refuse to use plastic bags when you buy something.
You could put your stuff in your bag or gather everything in only one plastic bags. Do not use too much plastic bags. Remember, when you refuse to use one, you make example to other people. After that, other people will do the same way as you too. When many people intend to not use plastic bags, it means you decrease the demand of plastic bags. When the demand of plastic bags decreased, it means the supply will decrease too. When the supply decrease, company will no longer want to produce it. When company doesn't want to produce it, that means no more plastics! and no more plastic means no more undegradable things! and no more undegradable things means saving the world! (whew, such a long elaboration hehe)
2. Use the plastic wisely.
If you have things made of plastics, please use it wisely. I mean, do not ever throw away your stuff easily. For example, if you have a doll (ever wonder there is a doll made of plastic? haha) and you don't want to play it anymore, don't put that in the trash bin right away. Give it to your little cousins, or kids right next to your house or just give it to the charity. You'll gain more credit, won't you? In fact that you will save the time and energy of the world to degrade those plastics and also you've done a good thing for other persons. Easy, eh? :)
3. When you have a factory later, do not ever produce something made of plastics.
You know the consequences already, yet you could still produce somthing made of something else :p
Well, that's it. I've made my point. But still, criticism is needed. Badly. So please leave a comment below, thanks :)
Save the earth! Save a place where you live at! :D
