SAMO #2: Our Plastic Pollution Problem

Pollution and big corporations are two topics that, honestly, I know very little about. So for my second SAMO I decided to take a deeper look into how pollution is created, and the effect that pollution has on our environment.

My SAMO journey began with a trip to the Des Plaines Trail Systems with my classmate Parvi and her friend Emma. We planned this trip during class blocks and over text for a few weeks. Since it was going to be cold outside that day, we prepared by wearing heavy coats and warm pants. We also brought trash bags and gloves so we could pick up the trash safely. On December 10, Parvi and Emma picked me up early in the afternoon and we drove approximately 30 minutes to the start of the Des Plaines Trail System. For a distance reference, we actually got a little lost on the drive home and ended up at O’Hare Airport! Upon arriving to the parking lot, I immediately noticed a large amount of trash. I was honestly surprised by the amount of different types of plastic we found, along with beer bottles, metal cans, and cigarette butts.

I was also surprised by the amount of deer that were surrounding the parking lot! They kept walking up to us, I guess that the people who visit the trails feed the deer often. There was this one stag who followed us for almost 10 minutes. It freaked us out a bit since we did not know if it was going to hurt us or not. The pictures seen on the right were taken during our trip! They were taken by me and Parvi.

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After about an hour we had filled three trash bags, and decided to go back since it was so cold. I really enjoyed this SAMO activity. It felt good to know that you were doing something to help the environment stay clean, and to prevent the wild animals there from eating all of the trash. 

One thing that really stuck with me from my SAMO experience was the large amount of plastic that we found all over the parking lot. There was everything from plastic streamers to water bottles to food packaging! As I began my research, I decided to search for the source of this problem and I immediately found that through their use of packaging, ranging from plastic bottles to bags, massive companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestlé are responsible for millions of tons of plastic waste each year. In fact, this NPR article shows that in a study done by Australia’s Minderoo Foundation in 2019, they found that there are 20 companies that are responsible for 55% of the world’s single use plastic waste. That’s a lot of waste produced by only 20 companies! The research also shows that nearly all of the single use plastics manufactured by these companies, around 98%, is made from fossil-fuel-based feedstocks versus more environmentally friendly recycled materials.

As many people know, plastic has terrible effects on the environment. In an article published by the UN Environment Programme, it’s stated that chlorinated plastic releases harmful chemicals into the soil, which then seeps into groundwater or other water sources in that area. Additionally, when plastic particles break down, they gain new physical and chemical properties. These new properties increase the risk of having a toxic effect on organisms.

“Additives such as phthalates and Bisphenol A (widely known as BPA) leach out of plastic particles. These additives are known for their hormonal effects and can disrupt the hormone system of vertebrates and invertebrates alike. In addition, nano-sized particles may cause inflammation, traverse cellular barriers, and even cross highly selective membranes such as the blood-brain barrier or the placenta. Within the cell, they can trigger changes in gene expression and biochemical reactions, among other things,”

UN Environment Programme

The way that plastics release chemicals into the water reminds me of a passage from the play An Enemy of the People, by Arthur Miller. Towards the end of the play, Dr. Stockmann learns where the bacteria that he discovered in the water of Kirsten Springs is coming from. The bacteria came down the river from Windmill Valley, where the tannery owned by Morten Kiil is located. The waste produced from the tannery was dumped into the river, polluting the town’s water source.

“Well, Morten, I never made a secret to you that the pollution was tannery waste,” (74).

Enemy of the People, by Arthur Miller

The similarities between the tannery waste and microplastics are extremely concerning. One of the many take-aways in An Enemy of the People was that pollution is extremely harmful to those who rely on the contaminated water sources. Personally, it found it surprising that people would be willing to sacrifice the quality of the water in order to avoid taking a more difficult path. In class we discussed how it is unethical to let pollution like that continue, though upon reflection, we were being hypocritical. Everyday we create more plastic pollution by taking the easy route, for example using a plastic bag at the grocery store instead of a reusable one. By allowing companies to continue to use ridiculous amounts of plastic in their products, we are just contributing to an ever growing issue. As someone who was previously unaware of the amount of plastic that ends up in our environment each year, I will try to be more conscious of my plastic consumption. This SAMO experience really opened my eyes to the danger of pollution, and how large of a problem it’s become.

TRY THESE PLASTIC REDUCING SOLUTIONS! 

1.  Avoid single-use plastics such as drinking straws, instead try a metal one!
2.  If you go shopping, remember to take a cloth bag. Some shops, such as Trader Joe’s, offer a cloth bag at the checkout! 
3.  Recycle chewing gum… it’s also made of plastic!
4. Buy more bulk food and fewer packaged products. 
5. Replace plastic Tupperware for glass or steel containers, like Mason Jars!
6. Pay attention and put your plastic waste in the correct recycling container.
7. Avoid using cosmetics that use micro-plastics.
8. Choose to reuse and give some of the packaging a new purpose, such as refilling your plastic bottles!