Plastic pollution affects marine animals and us! 100,000 marine animals die each year due to plastic bags in our oceans. Not to mention, only 14% plastic wrappings go to recycling centers and 9% of that portion actually gets recycled. Sometimes these "recyled items" don't even go through the process of recycling. Instead, they get shipped out into oceans or rainforests! (Non Plastic Beach) Not to mention, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of single-use items including masks and gloves have been noticebly seen near large bodies of water by various communities in America thus indicating the increased plastic waste. (ABC News)
Microplastics are the smaller pieces of plastics and are divided into primary and secondary types. The primary microplastics are those found in personal care products, plastic pellets, and plastic fibres. The secondary microplastics are the pieces of plastics from a larger portion that was broken down by ultraviolet radiation,and other natural means such as the wind. Mircoplastics are nonbiodegradable and are usually less than .2 inches and thus are hard to get rid of. Despite their small size, they pose a harzardous harm to the environment. By 2018, microplastics were found in 114 marine specis and are also found in air pollution, especially alongside dust. (Britannica)
Yes! Microplastics have been found in people’s water, beer, and food especially seafood and salt. In addition, during the manufacturing process of plastics, some harmful chemicals are able to be released into the air and water.Few of them named phthalates, BPA, and PBDE are known to affect the endocrine system and have been found in people. These chemicals can also affect hormones in men, women, and children. Used to soften hard plastic, phthalates disrupts the male hormone while BPA, commonly found in packaging, affects the female hormone estrogen. (Britannica)
Push for government to pass acts pushing for increased recycling and funds for more recyling plants in communities. Reduce plastic use by replacing plastic items for safe eco friendly products. (Learn more at "Products") Educate yourself and others on plastic and plastic pollution. Recycle plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, certain metals, etc. (Learn more at EcoScraps)
Unplastic IT was orginally designed as a Girls Who Code's 2020 Virtual Summer Immersion Program (SIP) as part of an activist project. It was meant to be a website advocating for the reduction of plastic and the introduction of newer and better alternatives. Unplastic IT recognizes that replacing plastic items is a extortionate task considering Covid-19 has affected the global economy in copious amounts of ways. Therefore, in the future, Unplastic IT hopes to provides coupons for expensive eco friendly items in exchange for completion of our quizzes.