WORLD Environment Day was observed recently under the theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution: If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.” The observance served as an indicator (if not a reminder) about the grappling issues of plastic use and the ramifications this has for the environment.

Plastic is a versatile material; can be shaped into many forms, it is incredibly durable and pretty inexpensive. Simultaneously, plastic can also be found almost everywhere, from water bottles and surface coverings to clogging waterways and suffocating marine life. Get the picture?

Globally, it is estimated that 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic have been produced to date and as of 2015, there have been about 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste generated (BBC, 2017).

In observance of World Environment Day this year, UN Secretary General António Guterres noted, “Our world is swamped by harmful plastic waste; every year, more than eight million tons end up in the oceans.”

Guterres also highlighted, “Microplastics in our seas now outnumber stars in our galaxy.” Scientists average that there are about 100 billion stars in our galaxy, so the oceans clearly have their fill of plastic. And if present trends continue, the earth’s oceans will have more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050.

World Earth Day was also observed earlier this year under the theme, “End plastic pollution”, underscoring the need to initiate the conversation on plastic use and its indiscriminate disposal.

These international observances might only be once a year but they are promoted with the hope that the messages shared and the sentiments advanced, echo throughout the rest of the year. The main message this year is simple; plastic has been touted as a beneficial material to mankind but the time has come where it must be gradually abandoned.

A major push factor is that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not decay and decompose, or it takes far too long to do so. When you combine this property with the occurrence of pollution, you have waterways being filled with a material that will not easily break down, a material that will just remain there.

Plastic is detrimental to the environment and efforts are being made to reduce the quantity of plastic being produced everyday by promoting the use of reusable mediums instead.

Guyana has been recognised as a small nation with a fervent drive to push the frontiers of environmental conservation and protection. As such, the country wasted no time in weighing in on the conversation of plastic pollution and abandoning single-use plastics.

In April, Minister of State Joseph Harmon posited that steps had been initiated to address the scourge of plastic pollution impacting the environment. To this end, he announced that a document proposing the ban on single-use plastics had been introduced to the cabinet. These “single-use” plastics are those common everyday plastic beverage bottles, bags, straws and alike that are disposed of after only being used once.

If given cabinet’s blessing and later garners support from members of Parliament, the ban would entail gradually decreasing the imports of single-use plastics and completely banning them in 2021. Through this, single-use plastics will be replaced with items that can be reused and that are biodegradable.

Additionally, steps have already been introduced along these lines. Minister Harmon noted, too, that few of the major supermarkets in Guyana have subscribed to the initiative of decreasing the number of plastic bags being used daily. And with the relatively recent environment levy, beverage companies have been encouraged to reuse and recycle their bottles.

The impetus from the state-level is not enough. Governments can implement effective policies but citizens have the responsibility to adhere to these and to take up the mantle themselves to foster the conservation of the environment.

Single-use plastics can be eliminated from daily life by replacing them with reusable options. Using cloth or paper bags when shopping is a small change that can have an overwhelming impact. Opting to recycle and reuse plastic bottles is another. Importantly, proper disposal of garbage is critical.

Plastic is covering the earth rapidly. It is covering the land and infiltrating the earth’s waters. The material is undoubtedly useful but has negative ramifications for the environment. Critical to the conservation of the earth as we know it, is cognisance of the harmful effects each of man’s actions has, and the use of plastic is no exception.

There are small, unnoticeable changes that can replace plastic use and can function mitigate the scourge of plastic pollution. Environmental conservation must be high on our agendas at all times.