Impact of Plastic Packaging and Short-term Plastic Usability on Environment

Abstract

The use of one-time plastics is growing at an unusual rate. Plastic products that are no longer used or discarded after use are known as one-time plastics. Many types of onetime plastic products are now easy to catch. These include plastic cups, spoons, straws, plates, glasses and many more types of one-time plastic products. These one-time plastic products are mostly coming from places like restaurants, residential hotels, airlines, super shops, tea shops and special events. The use of plastic is essential today because of our daily survival. Polymer is being used as an alternative material in every field of life. Plastic is being used as an alternative to everything from carry bags to medicine bottles, food containers to flower tubs - whether its burlap bags or glass vials or porcelain dishes or earthen tubs. Due to lack of awareness among the common people, they are throwing away the used plastic materials Since the plastic material does not mix with the soil, some of it is not recyclable, so it is gradually accumulating as waste in the local bosom. And pollution is spreading from that. Burning polymer materials is even more dangerous, as hydrocarbons are released into the air, increasing the level of pollution. About 50 percent of the total plastics produced at present are disposable. In 1990, the amount of plastic used in Bangladesh was only 15,000 metric tons whereas in 2018 it has increased to 1200000 metric tons. The country currently imports about 8 lakh metric tons of raw materials for making plastics. Less than 20 percent of recycled plastic is now being used to make plastic products in Bangladesh. Observations, interviews and questionnaire analysis show that the plastics we use and leave behind in the open are creating barriers in various fields on the one hand and increasing environmental and health risks on the other. This article focuses on eco-friendly processing methods and the proper use of manufactured products as well as the various stages of processing and environmental and health awareness. Finally, we made some recommendations on how to reduce the use of single-use plastic and recent status of biodegradable plastic items manufacturing industries in Bangladesh.