Canada Aims to Ban Single-Use Plastics by 2021: Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

 

Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet 

CANADA AIMS TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS BY 2021

1. Exploratory (All facts taken from Canada Ban Article)

More than 60 nations have taken steps to reduce the use of disposable plastics by imposing bans or taxes. 

Canada has the world’s longest coastline, about 151,019 miles. It also has a quarter of the world’s freshwater. This makes it a large contributor and target for plastic pollution in water. 

Canada recycles less than 10 percent of its disposable plastics. This fact can be changed by encouraging people through advertisements around the country and implementing things that make it a normality to recycle. (Brian Howard)

2. Diagnostic

Canada is aiming to ban single-use plastics because of the amount of trash it generates. Single-use plastics contribute tons of waste to our oceans and water, due to the fact that they are mass produced, only used once, then thrown. Canada aimed to cut down the use of single use plastics to counter the effects it has had on our environment. 

3. Cause and Effect

Because of single use plastics, it causes large amounts of pollution. This pollution gets into our water ecosystems and causes those ecosystems to die out. Things like plastic tupperware, plastic bottles, and any other single-use plastic item can get ingested by an animal and causes them to be filled with plastic and die. There are also many other negative effects plastic has on our water and environments and earth as a whole. It negatively impacts us and our planet, and that is why Canada is taking this big step to try and reverse it. 

4. Priority

The most important issue here is the fact that plastic (which is already bad for the environment) is being mass produced and used for so many things daily, and can only be used once. The priority is to stop the production and sale of most of these plastics in order to lessen the negative impact. 

5. Application

This applies to me and also everyone because we all buy single use plastics every day. It is completely normal and a part of our culture and society. That is mostly because it is an easy and cheap way to meet all of our needs. Whenever I shop at the grocery store, over half of the products I buy have single use plastics. This Canadian ban directly influences how manufacturers produce and sell their items, and how everyday consumers like me and you go about our day. It will be a drastic change to everyone living in Canada, and also a change to the market and economy due to Canada not buying specific goods from other countries. 

6. Critical

It makes me realize how much effect plastic has on our planet and how it is a bigger deal than I thought. Now I am wondering if other countries will follow Canada by placing new rules on single use plastics and also if places near me in Texas are changing their ways at all. It will make me more mindful of my single-use plastic use and has made me want to try to lessen my contribution to the buildup of it. I can’t help but notice this article is from 2019, and says they aim to ban it by 2021. It is now 2022 and I do not know of any news of Canada taking action on this. It does make me think that maybe this is a lot harder than people are willing to try and keeps getting pushed to the side. It does make me lose a little bit of hope for a better future with less plastic pollution. 

 

References: 

Howard, Brian Clark, et al. “A Running List of Action on Plastic Pollution.” Environment, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions. 

Activity 3.3.3 - My Plastic Use

Microplastics

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Microplastics can be found everywhere now, but are especially starting to be plentiful in freshwater ecosystems. Some are from additives in personal care and cosmetic products called microbeads, which serve to "exfoliate" your skin when applying. (HABB) They are also formed from the breakdown of larger plastic products, like if some pieces broke off and made their way into the environment. Other types of microplastics are found in many different things, even things you wouldn't think. These include tires, synthetic clothing, tennis balls, laundry and dishwasher pods, cigarettes, glitter, wet wipes, tea bags, etc. (Conversation.com) So may things used throughout our daily lives are not just made of plastic which can harm the environment, but also contain these tiny microplastics that are even more harmful because they are not able to be as seen and are not able to be removed. Plastics in general can get into oceans and freshwater from flying out of trashcans, landfill sites, and also littering. They find their way into sewers and small bodies of water and eventually flow down out into our oceans and large bodies of water. That's where they then do the most damage. Microplastics are problematic and pose a threat to the environment because they are polluting the earth's natural habitats with non natural waste. This plastic cannot be broken down over time and instead stays in the water or area, which can pose a threat to the wildlife living there. Animals like fish and other sea creatures are affected negatively by these microplastics because they can get inside their body when they inhale or open their mouth. Then when that plastic infested animal is eaten by a predator, that animal then has plastic inside their body system. Microplastics have even been found in some fish sold at supermarkets and is starting to become a concern of what we can put in our body. This causes sea life to die, which hurts the environment as a whole down the line. Not to mention it also has a negative affect on how clean our freshwater is, which we use for drinking water, irrigation, cleaning, etc. Due to microplastics' small size, they are not able to be removed by treatment. They have proven to be impossible to remove, and the more plastic we use, the more pieces broken down and into our water. The more microplastics in our soap and other toiletry items, the more of those tiny pieces end up somehow in our water. 

Throughout my day, there was so many more things I used that were plastic than I had thought. It got me thinking about what things are made of and when I'm done with them, what harm they cause to the environment. I went and took a look at my soaps and shampoos and luckily I buy the kind that does not contain microbeads. What else is in there that can harm the environment, I don't know. The plastic bottle itself can end up our bodies of water. It made me think and made me see that we use plastic for a lot of things. This assignment has made me want to change what I use in hopes of lessening the pollution of microplastics in our waters.

References:

Haab, S., & Haab, K. (n.d.). The environmental impacts of microplastics: An investigation of microplastic pollution in North Country waterbodies. Adventure Scientists. https://www.adventurescientists.org/uploads/7/3/9/8/7398741/haabhaab2016_environmental_impacts_of_microplastics.pdf

Sharon George Lecturer in Environmental Science, and Deirdre McKay Senior Lecturer in Geography. “Ten 'Stealth Microplastics' to Avoid If You Want to Save the Oceans.” The Conversation, 15 Nov. 2021, https://theconversation.com/ten-stealth-microplastics-to-avoid-if-you-want-to-save-the-oceans-90063.