We are poisoning Earth with the plastic we manufacture

The thorny subject of bin charges was discussed before the Dáil broke up for summer. The Taoiseach remarked that “we must encourage people to throw away less”. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a fellow Unitarian minister who is passionate about caring for Earth.

She is trying to eliminate plastic from her life. She admitted this is extraordinarily difficult. She also said it is impossible to throw anything away. We put waste in the bin and we pay to have it removed from our home.

But where does it go?

It is recycled, it is in landfill or it is incinerated. The preferred option is that it is recycled. If something is put into landfill we expect it will biodegrade into compost. If it is incinerated it becomes heat. The waste is in a new location and perhaps in a new form, but it still exists. Both landfill and incineration add to the level of CO2 in the atmosphere; CO2 contributes to global warming

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The enormous task my friend faces is highlighted by the fact that plastic is found in unexpected places. Many toothpastes contain micro beads. These make our teeth whiter and smoother. They are tiny particles of plastic and are also found in fleece jumpers.

These tiny particles of plastic enter the water system; the beads eventually settle on the sea bed. They are attractive to the microbes that feed on the sea bed but are toxic for these microbes. The plastic that is contained in everyday items is killing the first level in the food chain.

Landfill or incineration

Throwing something away simply removes the item to another location. The new location is either landfill or incineration. With landfill over time, microbes break down waste into compost. This does produce a level of CO2 but the end result is a rich soil.

This is not the case with plastic. We don’t actually know how long it takes for plastic to break down; estimates range from 10 to 1,000 years. Scientists have found just one single bacterium that can break down plastic.

Exposure to sunlight helps to break it down but in our climate we cannot depend on sunlight. We can incinerate plastic at the cost of producing CO2. There is no easy option when it comes to disposing of plastic – when we just “throw it away” we have a larger heap of plastic.

Reduce, reuse, recycle is the familiar trinity of green living. I was so blinkered into the western mindset that it took me a long time to think differently about “reduce”. The most effective way to reduce waste is to reduce consumption.

The developed world is responsible for climate change. The poorer nations pay the price for our lifestyle. It is no longer just about being responsible citizens of the world; care of the earth is a matter of justice.

Migrants and polar melting

We are responsible for drought in the horn of Africa which is causing famine threatening the lives of about 24 million people. Our actions have contributed to the trail of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Our lifestyle is contributing to the melting polar caps.

Yet, just mention global warming and we switch off. It is too complicated; perhaps Donald Trump is right that it is fake news. Or Earth has always had periods of warming and cooling. Surely scientists will find a solution to save the planet.

Actually, we don’t need to concern ourselves with the survival of the planet. Earth will survive – whether or not it can continue to sustain life is the issue. Right now estimates of loss of species is between 200-2,000 every year.

A scientist put global warming in perspective for me. If I have a temperature of one degree above normal I don’t feel well. If my temperature rises to two degrees above normal I am ill in bed. Any further increase in my temperature I am in hospital.

Our Earth is becoming seriously ill. Even if global warming is not a threat, we still need to clean up the planet. The Native Americans say we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we hold it in trust for our children.

What will our children do with the plastic we are generating?

Rev Bridget Spain is minister at the Unitarian Church on Dublin's St Stephen's Green