Plastic pollution has always been an immense problem in our society for the past few decades. This problem has only seemed to increase amid a global pandemic. Ideally, the news focuses on the improvement in air and water during COVID - 19 but fails to focus on the constant and arising PLASTIC pollution. Most people would think otherwise, because of how the vast majority seems to be quarantined inside of their homes. However, due to the increase of necessity in masks and gloves, is resulting in more littering around the area. People seem to be discarding their gloves and masks on the streets and sidewalks, after leaving essential stores.
The huge abundance in plastic over the last four months has been concerning. During this pandemic, the restrictions and limitations determined create an inability to recycle and reduce the usages of plastics. Many argue that the increase in plastic used products will help prevent the spread of the virus. While that is true to an extent, experiments show that plastic is also more susceptible than any other material. It is proven that paper bags might be a much healthier and environmentally friendlier approach.
All of the years focused on banning the use of plastic bags have proven to fall apart in a matter of months due to the virus. Many states including California and Massachusetts, have lifted their ban on single-use plastic grocery bags for the current situation. This allows for an added increase to all necessary plastic medical equipment and the precautions taken using plastic products. Not only this, but this new year was supposed to bring in plans to reduce plastics; although, those ideas have now been put on halt.
A good solution for all of these problems would be to use clothed masks and gloves, or paper bags when going to the grocery store. An abundance of plastic in our society is not needed, and there are several more environmentally friendly ways to go about it.
