By the year 2050, an estimated 12,000 metric tons of plastic waste will reside in landfills and the natural environment. This estimation is made assuming plastic production and waste management efforts continue at their current rate. In light of this, several production companies have publicly announced their shift towards being more “eco-friendly” as consumers demand more sustainable products.
Over the years, we have seen this range from plastic products simply being labeled as recyclable to being created mostly or entirely out of recycled material. A common label we see declares some product to be biodegradable as they are “plant-based” or “bio-based.”
In a study released in 2020 on the toxicity of plant-based plastics, it was found that these materials are similar in toxicity to conventional plastic. Just because a product is labeled as biodegradable, does not mean it’s the better option nor does it automatically become capable of breaking down well in the environment.
In theory, most plastics should be recyclable, but it has been found that the process of recycling is expensive, confusing and considered downcycling at best as the recycled material is of lesser quality and at the end of its repurposing life. Unfortunately, much of what we have heard about recycling and what is recyclable is not exactly clear.
Plastic products are being produced and used at a much higher rate than we can properly dispose or repurpose them. There are no cleanups, bans, fees or recycling programs that will fix our plastic pollution problem. There have been numerous campaigns across the globe created to bring awareness to the plastic pollution crisis.
To make the biggest impact, plastic production and consumer consumption must be drastically decreased.
For more than 15 years, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium has supported the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program. In recent years, the program has placed growing efforts on increasing community education and awareness about the plastic pollution crisis. In the cleanup program, we focus on engaging the community in stewardship opportunities geared toward debris removal (i.e., cleanups) and connecting the community with programs, such as Plastic Free Gulf Coast. Plastic Free Gulf Coast is an amazing program with a wealth of knowledge focused on the prevention of plastic pollution through the promotion of sustainable swaps by partnering and collaborating with organizations, businesses and communities through cost-share analyses. Check out Plastic Free Gulf Coast to see how you can help your community become plastic free.
Upcoming Mississippi Coastal Cleanup events:
- May Monthly Cleanup – Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Pascagoula Beach, MS.
- World Ocean Day Beach Cleanup – Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Ken Combs Pier in Gulfport, MS.
- June Monthly Cleanup – Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Biloxi Beach Boardwalk in Biloxi, MS.
For more information on these and future events, please visit www.mscoastalcleanup.org.
*Jessi A. James contributed to this blog post.
Meet the author
Mandy Rigsby
Ecotourism and Stewardship Specialist
As part of our Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Engagement Team, Mandy Rigsby works with nature-based tourism businesses to connect visitors to local nature and its wildlife. She also... Read more
Phone: 228-546-1020
Email: [email protected]