The world’s recycling statistics show recycling is not effective enough. So, let’s dive into the trash management system that exists today. Recycling household plastic makes us feel like we’re doing the environment justice! Besides, we’re told it’s helpful to do what we can to sort our trash. It reduces the amount of plastic pollution limiting the strain on the natural environment. It also gives the government the ability to sell raw material. Moreover, the recycling program`s purpose is to keep the invasion of material out of landfills… Or does it?
Even though, Canadians recyclers are contributing to a solution. According to National Geographic, we also produce twice as much garbage then Japan. Plus, ten times more than half a dozen countries in Africa! Yet, garbage swamps the lives of the poorest people around the world! In fact, it’s because only nine percent of the world’s garbage is recycled! It shows that as a global community we are not doing enough to do justice to the environment!
The Faulty System
Here at home, the Canadian recycling system sorts plastic at recycling process centers. Next, they turn the manufactured material into pulp, pellets, melt it or press it into sheets.
Then, re-manufacturing plants or end markets take these items.
End markets like the Philippines and China receive shipments to re-manufacturing post-consumer waste. The system works to reduce the squeeze on the natural environment and limit plastic pollution.
However, the truth is ninety-one percent of trash is not recycled. So, billions of tonnes of Global garbage is either incinerated or left in landfills. This releases even more Green House Gas.(GHG) further stimulating the world’s Green House Effect.
If fresh water evaporates from global warming we will wither and die. Yet, in the meantime, we’re arguing over what to do with mismanaged garbage. The plastic pollution should be a good enough reason to change our spending habits. Yet, it hasn’t. So the potential of trash wars is a dilemma that we face today and in the future!
The Conflict
Hence, there’s a standoff between the Philippines and Canada today. The partnership between these two countries has soured. Why would Canada a developed country try to take advantage of them?
Comparatively, Canadians hold a reputation and an International image of peace and prosperity. We have much more space than those in the Philippines. Our land mass is almost 10,000,000 square kilometers. They’re a developing country with a land mass of just 300,000 sq. kilometers.
Canada has 34,000,000 people with an annual GDP of forty thousand (American) dollars per capita. Yet, Philipino’s have over 96,000,000 people in their population. The annual GDP is only just over four thousand dollars per capita. Consequently, the Philippines struggles to keep its population above the standard threshold of human development.
In 2013 a Canadian company shipped one hundred containers of “recycling” overseas. Thus, upon arrival, the Filipino Port Authority deemed the shipment unfit to process. They asked the Canadian government to return our containers back to Canada. Regardless, the Canadian government told the authorities “No thanks” and asked them to dispose of it.
Foreign Recyclables Banned
Six years later the trash still remains at the Port. Filipinos have rallied and their government threatens war! The Canadian supply chain sent unfit products and the Filipinos don’t want to be the junkyard. Therefore, we should set an example for the rest of the world. It’s our responsibility as Canadians to control the distribution and take back the trash!
But, suddenly, it’s not getting any easier. Canada finds it harder to source end markets now because China has banned our products. China told the World Health Organization they will no longer accept foreign recyclables. They no longer want to accept our plastic pollution.
There`s too much product and they now want the highest quality material. Thus, Canadian recycling processors now struggle to cope with the volume of plastic. There is more supply than demand. Therefore, the recycling program of British Columbia states it will restrict materials in our blue bins.
The newest technology to manage Plastic Pollution
For this reason, we’re losing the battle and more must be done through new technological advancements. After all, Corporations need packaging to sell their products. We would rather die than see the world not able to produce household products. Consequently, without packaging the economy would falter.
Fortunately, there are two Zennials making a difference in the war on trash! They’ve developed a process to produces a post-consumer product with dirty plastic. This company is called Biocellection Inc . and it’s ready to take on the challenge of the future. Together both Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao have come up with a solution to deal with the plastic pollution!
The Founder Miranda Wang is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She believes there is a lack of waste management. This is the main reason our garbage is ending up in Rivers and Oceans.
Co-founder Jeanny Yao gained a degree in Environmental science from the University of Toronto. Together their business plan is to change the way how to deal with contaminated trash. They believe it should be managed in a more circular sense.
So, they’ve moved away from the approach of breaking down plastics, washing then melting it. Instead, they take the molecules and break them down into a complex method.
The chemical method cuts the polyethylene (plastic) chemical chain into small pieces. These small chemical pieces transform into precursors of higher value materials. Materials found in such things as car parts, electronics, and textiles!
This technology offers one solution for the other ninety-one percent of contaminated waste. In conclusion, this innovation also has the ability to replace fossil fuels. It will use plastic waste for an industry’s energy needs and reduce the amount of plastic pollution around the world.
Our Responsibility
Consumers have the responsibility to make conscious decisions when they’re purchasing items. Make different choice such as buy glass containers instead of plastic. Avoid anything wrapped in plastic, and reuse whenever possible.
The waste management system of British Columbia states its goal is zero-waste. But, what it does is turn the manufactured material into pulp, pellets or sheets. Thus, reducing the pressure of mining, deforestation, and chemical manufacturing in the environment.
The population is rising and there will forever be a need for natural resources. Therefore, continuing to recycle helps manufacturers source post-consumer material. It’s also important to change our buying habits each day by not spending money on over-packaging. Make conscious choices, lobby for change with petitions and join shoreline cleanups. Don’t let trash define us as a Nation!!
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