Tackling Plastic Waste: Step 1 in Any Ecosystem Restoration

 The United Nations has declared the decade 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. "Preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide" is the quest of this UN Decade of Restoration. The obvious first step in ecosystem restoration when we see any of the many degraded ecosystems is tackling the plastic waste situation. The effort to take plastic waste out of ecosystems embodies the spirit of SDG 12:  Responsible Consumption and Production. 



Plastic pollution is almost universal in its degradation of ecosystems. 


Taking Plastic Waste Out of Ecosystems

In the Sisyphean task of restoring the ecosystems we have anthropogenically degraded, step 1 is tackling the plastic waste that has already entered and affected the various ecosystems on land and below water! In addition to halting use of plastic that will end up as waste, it's essential that we tackle all the plastic waste that's already devastating ecosystems. In our oceans, for examples, the gigantic gyres of plastic waste is now being referred to as the "Seventh Continent of Plastic." Efforts such as the Ocean Cleanup, set up by Boyan Slat, are on the large-scale and taking plastic out of oceans and rivers (The Interceptor). 



Meanwhile coastal and beach cleanup; canals, ponds, tanks and lake cleanups organized by mobilizing local communities and making them stakeholders in keeping the beach, lakeshore or waterbody (EFI) in their vicinity plastic and pollution free are highly effective projects restoring ecosystems. 



Such efforts have been recognized by awards from UN Environment (UNEP) and gained mention in record books.


Tackling Plastic Waste is Sustainable Development

Tackling plastic waste in our cities and communities paves the way for sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) as well as prompting a rethink on our consumption and production patterns (SDG12). Halting plastic production is climate action (SDG 13) as they are made from crude and thus promote the use of fossil fuels. Plastic waste disrupts life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15). 

Many individuals and communities have been tireless in their efforts to tackle plastic waste and succeed in guarding, protecting, nurturing and healing at-risk ecosystems. Through plogging and collecting trash while trekking and mountaineering, people have retrieved plastic waste from sensitive ecosystems. Their efforts have been vital in restoring ecosystems. 

Upcycling Plastic Waste Into Necessities 

As plastic waste is retrieved from ecosystems, it needs to be repurposed to prevent it returning into these sensitive areas - forests, mountains, oceans, beaches, rivers, wetlands, waterbodies, etc. Upcycling the collected waste into necessities -- such as housing, furniture, roads, tiles, bricks, clothing, footwear and blankets -- is sustainable development that tackles the symptoms of poverty while creating jobs and closing the loop in production-consumption lifestyles.  

The new breed of much needed eco-preneurs who focus on upcycling waste and creating jobs are frontline warriors and healers in the quest to restore ecosystems and pioneers of the circular economy. Many of these green entrepreneurs are women upskilled and trained to solve ecological problems. Nzambi Matee, a Kenyan woman who is upcycling plastic waste into super strong bricks used in construction. These efforts tackle plastic waste as well as poverty and climate change! This is the in fact the motto of WasteAid the International Waste Management NGO.

Ubuntoo also hosts a plethora of environmental solutions and is a great platform to kick-start the green turn. City corporations that encourage segregation of waste and recycling and repurposing like the Greater Chennai Corporation are key players in the quest to reduce plastic waste. The fight against plastic waste is truly multi-pronged in the effort to restore ecosystems in this decade and beyond!





 

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