PARA SA KALIBUTAN TA! (For Our Planet!)

During celebrations, festivities, or events that involve a mass gathering of people, fond memories are not the only ones being made. People have always contributed to the staggering build-up of trash and as always, plastic wastes dominate the dump. It has been a constant problem all around the world, affecting people’s health as well as the environment.

Plastics are cheap but durable. It is often used as a packaging material, main component for home and office supplies, furniture, appliances, construction, and almost anything that we use for work and at home. With its rise, it brought versatility, cost-efficiency, and longevity to the equation. Yes, longevity. It lasts long while you use it. But sadly, it lasts even longer after you’ve discarded it.

This year’s Earth Day has the global theme “Planet vs. Plastics”. It aims to unite all sectors of society in calling for a 60% reduction in plastics production by the year 2040. The goal is to build a future that is free from plastics. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, around 400 million tonnes of plastic wastes are produced globally each year. This is both sad and scary. Sad because all throughout the years, people haven’t fully grasped the concept of proper waste disposal and management. Sad because this problem persists and our dependence on plastic materials is ever increasing. And scary for what will the future hold for us if we continue this negative trend?

Plastics give us a lot of benefits but also puts people and the environment’s health at risk. We may not think of it so much after we discard our wastes, but nature has its way to slap us back with it. Flooding is often caused by the build-up of wastes in our waterways. Extreme heat and climate change? It’s the result of greenhouse gases emitted as we burn plastics. Even the food that we eat may possibly contain microplastics as our wildlife sources like fishes accidentally ingest our dumped waste when it reaches the sea. Health is not the only one at risk but our safety, food security, and the entire ecology.

“Let us do our fair share to lessen plastic wastes by adopting greener strategies. We can do recycling or upcycling of our plastic wastes. Let us continue innovating, even just in our homes so that little by little, we can contribute to the goal of getting rid of plastics and finding a better alternative for it. It is no easy feat but far from impossible if we have the will,” said DENR 6 RED Livino B. Duran.

Everyday must be dedicated to the protection of Mother Earth from whom all that we have emanate. Let us strengthen our fight against plastics for us now and the generations still to come. Para sa kalibutan ta. For our planet./DENR6

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