Big Plastic Count is a bid to fight pollution

MOST of us are aware that plastic is the new forbidden fruit or poison.

It causes considerable damage to Earth and many forms of life: in the sea it is mistaken for food and suffocates sea creatures. It is anathema to the ecosystem, and at some point future generations are going to have to clean the sea, and the planet of all the plastic we put there.

Disposing of plastic is problematic, and much of our waste is exported to foreign countries, for example Turkey, where UK plastic has been dumped and burned. Burning plastic creates toxic chemicals which are harmful to humans and animals.

A recent poll recorded that 85% of people want the government to force retailers to reduce plastic packaging, but reliable estimates are that by 2040 plastic produced will double. Recycling is now the norm and everyone wants to stop plastic pollution. The minister responsible for recycling, Rebecca Pow, claims 16% of our plastic packaging is recycled, but that includes exported waste which goes to landfill or is illegally burned. Reliable estimates are that the real plastic recycling ratio is more like 5% all factors considered.

As a result, Greenpeace has several demands for the UK government: reduce single-use plastic by 50% by 2025; ban plastic waste exports completely by 2025; and fulfil the promise to reintroduce deposit-return for drinks containers. For all these reasons, Greenpeace has a new campaign, an investigation into household plastics called “The Big Plastic Count”, with the aim to understand exactly how much plastic packaging waste is leaving British homes and where this goes.

It will create real evidence to push the government to reduce plastic usage. For one week, May 16-22, we are to count our plastic waste. If we participate in this Big Plastic Count,

we can discover the real truth on the topic and we will understand our plastic footprint more.

It is time to stop pollution of all forms, there is a connection between Gaia theory, Chaos theory, quantum mechanics, the green agenda and human health. This is an opportunity for direct action to help change the world and details are available at: greenpeace.org.uk

Mr J Bucke Cefn Glas, Bridgend