LETTER TO THE SCHENECTADY GAZETTE; GOV'T MUST REGULATE PACKAGING INDUSTRY TO REDUCE POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Our country is one of the biggest polluters. Every year we dump 8 million tons of plastic trash in the ocean. Almost 80% of our plastic trash; plastic bottles/bags, coffee cups, lids, straws and much more, flow to the ocean through garbage dumps that are located near bodies of water (lakes, and rivers).
This is a very serious threat because the oceans of the world are littered with too much plastic. This plastic brakes down into micro plastic (tiny piece of plastic) it is ingested by marine animals (whales and fish), and it is now in the food web; in our seafood. In addition whales and millions of sea birds have died because they too eat this trash.
So, what can we do? We should follow the 4Rs; recycle, reduce, reuse and refuse. In other words, reduce our carbon foot print, basically using less energy and less products that create more waste. But we should also do what the German government is doing- we should recycle more plastic (so far only 8% is recycled in the USA) and regulate the food packaging industry, so that we save our environment and make a profit from recycling plastic, which is turned into new products.
In fact, on May 12, 2017, the German government approved a new food packaging law, which aims to improve their existing ordinance on packaging. This new legislation, or law, focuses on recycling and the prevention of packaging waste. The German recycling targets for the different packaging materials will be increased, reaching 63% for plastic and 90% for metal, glass, and paper and cardboard by 2022. In addition, the German government, will provide incentives for packaging producers to incorporate recyclability considerations in packaging design. Therefore, reusable packaging will be promoted, aiming to reach a target of 70% reusable beverage packaging.
According to the German Minister for the Environment, Barbara Hendricks, the new packaging law is an important step in the further development of the circular economy. The law will enter into force on January 1, 2019.
We, as concerned citizens should write our local, state and national political leaders and urge them to follow Germany's example. They must come up/propose and then vote for similar legislation in our country. This would greatly help in preventing/reducing further damage to our planet. However, I think it is also essential that we teach environmental etiquette/education in our schools. To teach our students how to protect the environment should be required- part of the school's curriculum. Because saving our planet from pollution will require everyone's cooperation; citizens, government and business.
We have no choice, but to work together now in reducing waste/pollution of the environment if we want to insure a healthy planet. Marine biologist estimate, that unless we change, reduce our rate of pollution, the ocean will collapse within two generations. The sustains life on earth, and we will not be able to survive unless they are healthy. The time to act is now.... before it is too late. It's our duty and moral responsibility to do so. Our children deserve a clean, healthy and safe planet.
For more info, on this latest German legislation log on to: http://www.foodpackagingforum.org/…/new-german-packaging-law
For more info. please see the following videos on YouTube;
To find out how our plastic trash is killing millions of sea birds, visit; http://plasticfreetuesday.com/2016/05/24/midway/
To find out how plastic kills marine mammals, visit; http://www.onegreenplanet.org/…/marine-animals-are-dying-b…/
I also suggest that you watch two films: A Plastic Ocean. This is an adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations over the past 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. TO SEE THIS FILM GO TO http://aplasticocean.film/
The 2nd film is: “PLASTIC PARADISE - The Great Ocean Garbage Patch".
Our country is one of the biggest polluters. Every year we dump 8 million tons of plastic trash in the ocean. Almost 80% of our plastic trash; plastic bottles/bags, coffee cups, lids, straws and much more, flow to the ocean through garbage dumps that are located near bodies of water (lakes, and rivers).
This is a very serious threat because the oceans of the world are littered with too much plastic. This plastic brakes down into micro plastic (tiny piece of plastic) it is ingested by marine animals (whales and fish), and it is now in the food web; in our seafood. In addition whales and millions of sea birds have died because they too eat this trash.
So, what can we do? We should follow the 4Rs; recycle, reduce, reuse and refuse. In other words, reduce our carbon foot print, basically using less energy and less products that create more waste. But we should also do what the German government is doing- we should recycle more plastic (so far only 8% is recycled in the USA) and regulate the food packaging industry, so that we save our environment and make a profit from recycling plastic, which is turned into new products.
In fact, on May 12, 2017, the German government approved a new food packaging law, which aims to improve their existing ordinance on packaging. This new legislation, or law, focuses on recycling and the prevention of packaging waste. The German recycling targets for the different packaging materials will be increased, reaching 63% for plastic and 90% for metal, glass, and paper and cardboard by 2022. In addition, the German government, will provide incentives for packaging producers to incorporate recyclability considerations in packaging design. Therefore, reusable packaging will be promoted, aiming to reach a target of 70% reusable beverage packaging.
According to the German Minister for the Environment, Barbara Hendricks, the new packaging law is an important step in the further development of the circular economy. The law will enter into force on January 1, 2019.
We, as concerned citizens should write our local, state and national political leaders and urge them to follow Germany's example. They must come up/propose and then vote for similar legislation in our country. This would greatly help in preventing/reducing further damage to our planet. However, I think it is also essential that we teach environmental etiquette/education in our schools. To teach our students how to protect the environment should be required- part of the school's curriculum. Because saving our planet from pollution will require everyone's cooperation; citizens, government and business.
We have no choice, but to work together now in reducing waste/pollution of the environment if we want to insure a healthy planet. Marine biologist estimate, that unless we change, reduce our rate of pollution, the ocean will collapse within two generations. The sustains life on earth, and we will not be able to survive unless they are healthy. The time to act is now.... before it is too late. It's our duty and moral responsibility to do so. Our children deserve a clean, healthy and safe planet.
For more info, on this latest German legislation log on to: http://www.foodpackagingforum.org/…/new-german-packaging-law
For more info. please see the following videos on YouTube;
To find out how our plastic trash is killing millions of sea birds, visit; http://plasticfreetuesday.com/2016/05/24/midway/
To find out how plastic kills marine mammals, visit; http://www.onegreenplanet.org/…/marine-animals-are-dying-b…/
I also suggest that you watch two films: A Plastic Ocean. This is an adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations over the past 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. TO SEE THIS FILM GO TO http://aplasticocean.film/
The 2nd film is: “PLASTIC PARADISE - The Great Ocean Garbage Patch".
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