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https://plasticpollutionresearchspring2019.weebly.com/

Emilie Yang

Allie Matteucci

ENGL 130W

05 May 2019

Inquiry Research Paper

SIGNIFICANCE

Plastic pollution is a problem and it’s affecting the ocean. It’s affecting the ocean by

having marine animals mistake plastic as food or getting caught in fishing line or fishing net

causing them to die. The ocean and the marine animals are not the only one getting affected by

the plastic pollution, we as human are affected by it too. Plastic has been found in the food such

as salt and the marine animals that we eat such as fish or oyster. The social and cultural

discourse surrounding plastic pollution on social media like Facebook, shows videos that we

could watch and know more about the topic. A video that mention plastic pollution called ​Sea

Salt around the World is Contaminated by Plastic Fibers​ has over 53M views, over 40k likes

and over 1.7k comments to 46k shares. We get our salt from the ocean or the sea and by viewing

this video and many others out there shows that plastic pollution is a problem.

Some key terms related to this problem are microplastic, estrogenic, Bisphenol A, nurdle,

and pellet. Microplastics are “extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment

resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste” (Oxford

Living Dictionaries), found in the ocean and the food chain such as marine animals or salt. In the

documentary called ​A Plastic Ocean​, the director Craig Lesson mention estrogenic which are
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“chemical like Bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates laches from plastic and enters the body where it

mimics the hormone estrogen” (​Leeson​), that can be found in plastic. Bisphenol A or BPA is “an

artificial sex hormone used as a core building block”, is use in plastic because of its strength and

resiliency (​Leeson​). Nurdle is “a very small pellet that serves as a raw material in manufacture of

plastic products” (​Lesson​), are found with microplastics in the ocean. Pellet is “a small, rounded,

compressed mass of a substance” (Oxford Living Dictionaries), are manufacture of plastic

products. (​Leeson​).

Plastic pollution is affecting individuals by having single use plastic.

Plasticfreechallenge.org​ stated single plastic are are used only once before they are thrown away

or recycled. Example of single use plastic are plastic straws, plastic bags, food packaging, and

water bottles or soda bottles. It is also affecting the system by having plastic get to the ocean and

causing danger to the marine animals or the birds that live in the ocean.

In an article called ​Plastic Pollution​, by Jane Fullerton Lemon mention, plastic enter

oceans originates from China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka (​Lemon​).

These countries are closely near one another or they are just the next country over. According to

Hannah Leung stated, in China, 5.2 million plastic water bottles are use per day (​Leung​). One

reason why there is so much plastic that is coming in China. In Vietnam and Thailand, widely

food-delivery services throughout Asia, “eating is hardly a green affair when it comes to the

amount of plastic utensils used” (​Leung​). People in Vietnam and Thailand would eat take out

more than eating in their own. In the article ​New Road Material Reducing Plastic Pollution in

Indonesia​ by Clint Borgen mention, “government don’t invest in water pipes making the

majority of the country to be dependent on water bottles or boiled river water and many use
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disposable plastic in forms of bags, cups, bottles, and utensils use common part of their daily

routine” (​Borgen​). When the government doesn't want to be involved then the people couldn’t

do anything when the government don’t fund for water pipes. In the article ​Philippines plastic

pollution: why so much waste ends up in oceans​, by Alixandra Vila mention, in the Philippines,

“there is a lack of political will and an addiction to single plastic use to cause the plastic

pollution” (​Vila​). With the lack of will to change, there will be nothing done.

Internationally, ​Oceana ​a nonprofit organization located in the United State, Europe,

Chile, Canada, Belize, Philippines, Brazil, Peru, and Mexico, focused on ocean conservation and

was founded in 2001 (Oceana). Nationally in the United States an act was sign in 2018 of

October called Save the Ocean Act.

In the regional, plastic pollution is more of a concern in the US in the west coast because

there is a bigger gyre of plastic in the Pacific ocean than in any other. According to ​National

Conference of State Legislatures​, the state of California ban on plastic bags statewide in 2014

(National Conference of State Legislatures). In the districts to county and the city have the same

ban on the plastic bag, since it was a statewide ban. In the city of Chico, there is a ​Chicobag

center where you can buy a reusable bag for shopping or to store snack or food. (Chicobag) In

the neighborhood, there is many people around that use less plastic water bottles and more hydro

flask or reusable water bottle. By, doing this we can reduce plastic bottles.Then on campus there

is no plastic straws but use of reusable straw that we could buy and reuse them again. In the

single household, there is limit to using new plastic wraps or bottles of water and store the items

in container.
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Plastic pollution continues to exists because we are still producing plastic. According to

plasticocean.org​ we produce over 300 million tons of plastic every year. As stated by Laura

Parker in the article ​A whopping 91 percent of plastic isn’t recycled​, mention plastic around the

world only 9 percent is recycle (​Parker​). The ones that benefit from this problem is the company

that produce plastic and the people that uses plastic. Plastic can benefit a lot of things when it is

in use. It can help with the storage of food, making it last longer. When there is consumer there is

producer. The marine animals would be the ones that don’t benefit from this problem. They are

the ones that getting harm from all the plastic that we are dumping into the ocean.

Awareness need to be raised because plastic is harming the ocean and the marine

animals. One potential consequence of not finding solution to plastic pollution is that there could

be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Another consequence of not finding a solution to plastic

pollution is that plastic will not go away. It will just be broken down to smaller pieces and

smaller pieces leaving a footprint on earth. With these two consequences going around, it could

affect our health and the food chain.

BACKGROUND

An article, called ​Plastics: The History of an Ecological Crisis ​by Olivia Rosane stated,

plastic begin in 1862 when Alexander Parkers demonstrates the first man made plastic at the

Great International Exhibition in London (​Rosane​). Plastic was somethings that was used in

World War II (WWII) and by then four fold of plastic production had increased (​Rosane​).

According to ​Plastic​ by Chris N Trueman at the history learning site in WWII the use of plastic

was to gar wheels in vehicles and parachute cords. (​Trueman​) Research reports in the early

1970s, found plastic pellet in the North Atlantic impacting marine animals (​Rosane​).
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According to the​ United States Environmental Protection Agency​ the laws related to

saving our ocean are The Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), Marine Debris Research.

Prevention, and Reduction Act (MDRPRA), Shore Protection Act (SPA), Marine Protection,

Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), The BEACH Act of 2000, and save the Ocean Act

(SOS) (​United States Environmental Protection Agency​).

The ​APPS ​comprises six annexes that address specific forms of marine pollution. (​Office

for Coastal Management National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration​) The ​MDRPRA ​was

to one map identification, impact assessment, removal, and prevention, two reducing and

preventing gear loss and three outreach. (​Office for Coastal Management National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration​) With this act it established grant programs providing federal

funding to non-federal applicants nationwide. The ​MPRSA ​prohibits the dumping of material

into the ocean that would unreasonably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities,

or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. (United States

Environmental Protection Agency) With this act we can’t just dump trash or other stuff into the

ocean and will need permits to dump. The BEACH Act is an act to reduce the risk of disease to

users of the Nation’s coastal recreation waters. (​United States Environmental Protection Agency​)

According to the Environmental Protection, the ​SOS ​Act is an act will help address the problem

by extending the NOAA Marine Debris Program for five additional years and authorizing the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to declare severe marine debris events.

(Environmental Protection) With this act it will fund state for cleanup and for response efforts.

Some significant years for plastic are 1979 when plastic grocery bags were introduced in

the US, 1990s widespread use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics begins, 1997 Charles Moore
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discover the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the world’s largest collection of floating garbage,

when sailing home to Los Angeles, 2007 San Francisco becomes the first U.S. city to institute a

plastic bag ban, 2008 government study confirms that BPA may increase risks of early puberty

breast cancer prostate issues and behavioral problems (​Rosane​).

ARGUMENTS

There are many side of plastic pollution, such as microplastic is harmful for us, marine

liter is the cause and not plastic, or recycle plastic cause help with plastic pollution. The

argument we will be focus on will be “Is taxing plastic production the best way to control plastic

waste”? Stated by the pro side, John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign director mention, “reducing

production is the best way to address plastic pollution,” will be a possible solution to this

problem. Also, Hocevar mention, “Less than 10 percent of the plastic we have produced has

been recycled, and the recycling rates are declining in the United States. Taxing plastic

production would spur investment in design innovation for new delivery mechanisms for

products that rely more on reuse and refill options than single use.” (Lemon) Taxing plastic

would made people think more of buying other product than paying for the plastic that could

only be used once. Example like this would be the plastic bags that are tax in California. Many

people would be reusable bags than to pay ten cent of a plastic bag.

On the con side, Steve Russell, Vice President, Plastics Division, American Chemistry

Council mention, “ Ending plastic waste is an urgent global challenge that requires an integrated

approach- from better product design to improved collection and treatment to post-use materials.

Widely cited research concludes that most ocean plastics come from parts of the world with

rapidly emerging economies and poor or nonexistent waste management.” (Lemon) Russell also
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mention, “Taxing plastic production would jeopardize all of these benefits, while doing nothing

to reduce the amount of plastics flowing into our ocean.” Taxing plastic would risk the global

sustainability goals.

If we were to tax in the United State or China or Britain it would not be that affected

because it is a first to second world country comparing to Jamaica, Iran, or Ukraine would be

affected because they are third world country.

SOLUTIONS

Single use plastic should be ban in the United States.Single use plastic such as plastic

bags, water bottle or soda bottles, to straws because it is causing harm to the marine animals. If

we ban single use plastic then there will be less plastic in the ocean. To ban single use plastic it

must be a bill first. According to​ How Laws are Made,​ after the bill is made bill. It will be

proposed and need a sponsor or get support for it. The bill will be introduced when it's placed in

the hopper a special box in the clerk’s desk. Only Representatives like us citizen, can introduce

bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. A reading clerk will read the bill to all the

Representatives,a dn the Speaker of the House sends the bill to committees. The bill will go to

the committee and then review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not the

send the bill back to the House floor. The bill is reported and this is when the committee has

approved the bill. The bill will be ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. The

Bill is debated, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it.

The bill will be voted on after changes have been made. They are either voted by Viva Voce or

division, and recorded. If majority said yes, the bill will passes in the U.S. House of

Representatives and be delivered to the U.S. Senate. (How Laws are made)
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The Bill is referred to the Senate. It goes through many the same steps it went through in

the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill will be discussed in a Senate committee and then

reported to the Senate floor to be voted on. The bill is sent to the president. The president will

have three choices. One sign and pass the bill, refuse to sign, or veto, the bill and send back to

the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the reasons of the veto, or do nothing meaning if

Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after ten days and Congress is not

insession, the bill does not become a law. (How laws are made) There was ninety-five bills in

2019 related to plastic bags. Most of the bills would ban or place a fee on plastic bags. (National

Conference of State Legislatures)

Even if this process is this long way we could do it by state. California, has banned

plastic bags. If you want a plastic bag you would need to purchase one for ten cents. If not you

could choose to bring your own reusable bag. Some example of reusable bags are ​ECO BAGS​,

Earthwise​, or ​Chico Bags​. California is not the only one that have a ban in plastic bag. According

to State Plastic and Paper Bag Legislation New York and Hawaii also have a ban or fee on

plastic bag. (National Conference of State Legislatures) In the article ​A brief history of how

plastic straws took over the world​ by Sarah Gibbens stated in “Seattle, it was the largest United

State city to ban plastic straws”. (Gibbens). California is also in the process of banning plastic

straws. Although San Francisco have passed a law of its own banning the use of plastic straws

outright it’s due to take effect in July 2019 (​Filloon​).

Another reason why we should ban single use plastic​ because, the ​Ocean Cleanup​ a

non-profit organization developing technologies to get rid the world’s oceans of plastic stated,

“The vast majority of plastics retrieved were made of rigid or hard polyethylene (PE) or
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polypropylene (PP), or derelict fishing gear (nets and ropes particularly)” (Ocean Cleanup).

Polyethylene ​is used in applications ranging for films, tubes, plastic parts, laminates, etc. in

several markets (packing, automotive, electrical, etc.) (Omnexus). Polyethylene is “safe and

non-toxic in natural in solid form but if inhaled and or absorbed as a vapor or liquid it is toxic”

(Omnexus). Plastic bags are mostly made with polyethylene. ​Polypropylene ​is used in a variety

of applications to include packaging for consumer products, plastic parts for various industries

including the automotive industry, special devices like living hinges, and testiles (Creative

Mechanisms). Plastic straws are made with polypropylene. Polypropylene are “attacked by

highly oxidizing acids, swell rapidly in chlorinated solvents and aromatics” (​Omnexus​).

Additionally, Environment California, a statewide citizen-based environmental advocacy

organization mention, “Turtles and seabirds frequently ingest floating plastic, mistaking it for

food” (​Environment California​). California have already ban plastic bags and in the process of

banning plastic straws. Little by little, we can ban single use plastic. Now, think about what’s

around you. There is plastic in everything you do. Next time you throw plastic wrapping away,

think can you reuse this wrapping again. Before you throw away another plastic bottle, see if you

can reuse it again.

Stopping plastic production can be done but look around you. Everything that you use

every day is made of plastic. No one wants to keep a plastic bag when it is rip. But with reusable

bags we can have more durable bags to hold our stuff. With bottle of water or soda is much more

of an easier transport than a glass of water or soda. Still, with reusable water bottle like hydro

flask refilling the bottle again and again can cause less plastic. Along with the plastic straws, no

one wants a bend straw and can’t get a good suck out of it. Yet, with reusable straws it doesn't
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bend as often and can be wash and reuse as many time as you can. Again, we can just ban the

single use plastics and find some other replacement for the ban items.
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Work Cited

Borgen, Clint. “Plastic Pollution in Indonesia.” ​The Borgen Project​, Clint Borgen

Http://Borgenproject.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/The_Borgen_Project_Logo_small.

Jpg, 21 Aug. 2018, borgenproject.org/tag/plastic-pollution-in-indonesia/.

Filloon, Whitney. “California Bans Restaurants From Automatically Giving Out Plastic Straws.”

Eater,​ Eater, 21 Sept. 2018,

www.eater.com/2018/9/21/17886256/california-straw-ban-plastic.

Gibbens, Sarah. “A Brief History of How Plastic Straws Took over the World.” ​Plastic Straw

Bans Are Spreading: Here's How They Took over the World​, 3 Jan. 2019,

www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/news-plastic-drinking-straw-history-

ban/.

“Hashem Al-Ghaili.” ​Hashem Al-Ghaili - Sea Salt around the World Is Contaminated by

Plastic Fibers.​, www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1308343825964539.

“Keep Plastic Out of the Pacific.” ​Environment California​,

environmentcalifornia.org/programs/cae/keep-plastic-out-pacific.

Leeson, Craig, director. “A Plastic Ocean”. Netflix, 2016, ​www.netflix.com/title/80164032​.

Lemons, Jane Fullerton. "Plastic Pollution." CQ Researcher, 7 Dec. 2018, pp. 1017-40,

library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2018120700.

Leung, Hannah. “Five Asian Countries Dump More Plastic Into Oceans Than Anyone Else

Combined: How You Can Help.” ​Forbes​, Forbes Magazine, 22 Apr. 2018,

www.forbes.com/sites/hannahleung/2018/04/21/five-asian-countries-dump-more-plastic-t

han-anyone-else-combined-how-you-can-help/#555f06461234​.
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Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. “Kids in the House.” ​Kids in the House -

Grade School - How a Bill Becomes a Law​,

kids-clerk.house.gov/grade-school/lesson.html?intID=17.

Madaan, Sonia. “Various Causes of Plastic Pollution.” ​Earth Eclipse​, 30 Mar. 2016,

www.eartheclipse.com/pollution/various-causes-of-plastic-pollution.html.

Ocean Cleanup. “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” ​The Ocean Cleanup,​

www.theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/​.

“Polyethylene (PE) - Complete Guide.” ​Polyethylene (PE) Plastic: Properties, Uses &

Application,​ omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyethylene-plastic.

Staff, Creative Mechanisms. “Everything You Need To Know About Polypropylene (PP)

Plastic.” ​Everything You Need To Know About Polypropylene (PP) Plastic​, 4 May 2016,

www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/all-about-polypropylene-pp-plastic.

“State Plastic and Paper Legislation.” National Conference of State Legislatures, 5 Apr. 2019,

http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/plastic-bag-legislation.a

spx​.

Trueman, Chris. “Plastic.” ​History Learning Site​, History Learning Site, 17 Mar. 2015,

www.historylearningsite.co.uk/inventions-and-discoveries-of-the-twentieth-century/plasti

c/.

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South China Morning Post​, 18 Oct. 2018,

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ch-waste-ends-oceans.
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“What Is Single Use Plastic?” ​Plastic Free Challenge,​

www.plasticfreechallenge.org/what-is-single-use-plastic.

“What We Do.” ​Oceana,​ oceana.org/what-we-do.