Plastic bags, plastic bottles and plastic packaging are bad for the environment. What damage does plastic do to the environment? What can be done by governments and individuals to solve this problem? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Humans and other living beings on the planet can thrive when provided with a safe and healthy environment.

Plastic

was introduced as an economical and easy-to-use solution in the 19th century, to enable convenience, but has been proven to be causing more harm than good. In

this

essay, I will share my thoughts on

plastic

pollution, and what the authorities and citizens can do to help the situation. In today's modern society, plastics are found everywhere. The chemical combination of

plastic

material makes it hard to decompose into the soil after use.

As a result

, tonnes of

plastic

are sent to landfills. When mixed with other food waste, polyethene releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. Plastics find their way into the stomachs of grazing animals and cause life-threatening diseases. Governments and citizens must collectively work towards a solution to address

this

plaguing issue. State authorities have the power to create strong legislation against

plastic

and provide guidelines to produce, use and safely discard

this

harmful material. Heads of the countries must incentivise reusable solutions and create more markets for

plastic

alternatives. Creating education programs to raise awareness of the ill effects of

plastic

can

also

prove beneficial. Individuals must switch to reusable materials and recycle their non-decomposable waste to make sure they are not contributing to the growing problem. Every citizen of the planet should make a conscious effort to avoid plastics.

For instance

, there are several activists who made a vow to zero-

plastic

living and are able to reduce their usage significantly by making a few changes to their life. While we wait for technological advancement to create environment-friendly alternatives to

plastic

, we must actively participate in amending our behaviours to minimise the usage of

this

harmful chemical.