Module 8

Plastic Pollution

https://phys.org/news/2019-03-philippines-survey-plastic.html

Introduction

More than 8 million tons of plastic gets dumped in our ocean and circle the earth about 4 times
a year. The Philippines is hit with an average of 20 typhoons a year, thus flood is inevitable, and the
problem is made worse because of plastic garbage dumping, a habit practiced by Filipinos. It has been
found that the Philippines generate 2.7 million tons of plastic wastes annually that leaks into bodies of
water. To mention a few, plastic labo at 45.2 million pieces per day and 3 million diapers daily not to
mention the single use plastic sachet (Vila, 2018).

There is now 5.25 trillion macro and micro pieces of plastic in the ocean and 46,000 pieces in
every kilometer of ocean weighing up to 269,000 tons. Everyday around 8 million pieces of plastic make
their way to the ocean.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Identify the causes and effects of plastic pollution.

2. Find local government organization and non-government organization in your area that aims to
lessen plastic pollution and support them.
3. Suggest control measures to reduce plastic pollution.

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Pre-Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. Where does the majority of plastic waste end up?

a. Ocean
b. Burned for energy
c. Landfill
d. Recycled

2. Why do companies use plastics in their product?

a. Affordable
b. Lightweight
c. Convenient
d. All of the above

3. Where does the plastic waster come from?

a. Land
b. Household water
c. a only
d. a and b

4. What are the economic impacts of marine litter?

a. Increase marine debris
b. Enhance quality of life in coastal communities
c. Can injure or kill marine life
d. a and c

5. How can we prevent spread of marine litter?

a. Refrain from using plastic
b. Make radical change in consumer behavior
c. Industry should reduce manufacture of plastic products
d. All of the above

Lesson Presentation

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the environment that
adversely affect wildlife, habitat, and humans. Plastic that act as pollutants are categorized into micro,
meso, or macro debris, based on size.

The Philippines has a plastic pollution crisis on its hand and poverty makes it even worse. Single-
used sachets are sold in most developing countries, but the number consumed in the Philippines is 163
million pieces a day. For the multinationals that manufacture them, it’s a way to increase sales by
targeting customers who cannot afford bigger quantities (Gualva, 2019).

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 A 2015 report on plastic pollution by the Ocean Conservatory Charity and the McKinley Center
for Business and Environment ranked the Philippines as the world’s third largest ocean pollution despite
a waste management act coming into effect 18 years ago. the reasons are attributed to corruption, lack
of political will and an addiction to single-use plastic sachets.

CAUSES

The main cause of plastic pollution is negligence. It is estimated that 80% of marine litter comes
from land. This pollution comes from household waste, which is poorly recycled, dumped in landfills or
abandoned in nature. In addition, it is also caused by:

1. Increase in population
2. Most widely available container because they are cheap and convenient
3. Very slow decomposition – it takes 400 years or even more to decompose
4. Items made of plastic is a necessity like, nets used for fishing
5. Mismanaged disposal of plastic
6. Can be easily transported by current/wind

EFFECTS

1. Threatens ocean health, food

safety, and quality
2. Affect human health – exposure to
them is linked to cancer, birth
defects, impaired immunity, and
endocrine disruption
3. Decrease in coastal tourism
4. Contribute to climate change
5. It upsets the food chain
6. Groundwater pollution
7.
7. Land pollution https://plastic-pollution.org

8. Kills animals

EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO PLASTIC POLLUTION

(Rinkesh, 2019)

1. Use reusable bags when going outside to buy

what you need
2. Refrain from buying water in plastic bottles, use
you water bottle/jug instead
3. Recycle everything
4. Try not to use disposable plastics
5. Educate yourself and make better choices

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 6. Share what you know to friends, family, and companies/businesses
7. Get involved

Reference:

What if Plastic Pollutions Gets Even Worse?

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RozqiF_0k

Assessment

Single-use disposable plastic is the greatest obstacle to sound waste resource management. In
adequate waste management system and human negligence are often cited as the main contributors to
plastic leakage into the environment. Unfettered production of throw away plastic continues unabated;
cities and municipalities will find it difficult to cope. Disposable plastic is a pollution problem and the
only way to prevent it is to stop it at source.

Answer the following questions:

1. List down at least 15 most common items in your house which is made up of plastic.

1) Water 7) Wall clock 12) Dishware

container 8) Plastic jar 13) Toys
2) Storage box 9) Buckets 14) Shampoo/co
3) Dust pan 10) Plastic nditioner
4) Tupperware drawer bottle
5) Grocery bag 11) Artificial
6) Trash bin flower

2. Give suggestions how to reduce the use of these plastic products.

 Replace plastic Tupperware for glass or steel containers
 Bring reusable bags when going to a grocery store.
 Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags
 Avoid single-use plastic disposables such as straws and plastic cups
 Avoid using cosmetics that use micro-plastics and buy a biodegradable brush and wear
natural fabrics
 Use natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of plastic scrubbers and synthetic
sponges

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  Buy more bulk food and fewer packaged products
 Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags when going out
 Avoid non-stick cookware and choose stainless steel
 Avoid furniture and toys that are made from plastic

Reinforcement

It is estimated that more than 8,300 million metric tons of virgin plastic have been produce
globally. Cheap variety of plastics have been used for a variety of purposes, from car parts, to product
packaging. However, its end-of-life management particularly for plastics that are single-use in nature is
currently in question. Only around 9% of discarded plastic have so far been recycled. The rest are either
burned landfilled or released to the waterways.

It is high time that man should stop doing activities that disrupt the balance of nature and
become a responsible steward of God’s creation.

After presenting the effect of human activities on the balance of nature, the next module will
present the different types of ecosystem, terrestrial and aquatic.