We are for the Earth

This planet needs a united movement from all of us to protect the Earth from toxic plastic waste.

KOMPAS/ICHWAN SUSANTO

A "plastic monster" in the form of a lantern fish that usually lives in the deep sea is displayed in a plastic free parade on car free day, Sunday (21/7/2019), in Jakarta.

International Earth Day 2024 has passed on April 22. On its official website, Earthday.org carries an interesting theme to think about together, namely "Planet Vs Plastics", planet versus plastic.

This theme is not only applicable during such commemoration, but also in our daily lives. So, how do we apply our crucial role for the Earth, especially in combating plastic?

An inseparable element

In the creative and innovative civilization of humans, plastic (production and usage) has become an inseparable element from daily life. Even now, everything around us is made of plastic materials.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has reported that the production and use of plastic has significantly increased since 1950 until the early 2000s. It is estimated that as much as 9.2 million tons of plastic have been produced since 1950.

In 2021, it was recorded that global plastic production was approaching 400 million metric tons per year. It is predicted that by 2050, that number will continue to rise to around 1,100 million metric tons.

According to the World Population Review 2022, Indonesia ranks fifth as the country that contributes the most plastic waste in the world, producing 9.13 million tons. As much as 56.3 tons of the plastic waste are dumped into the sea.

Also read: The Complexity of Plastic Packaging Waste Management

A threatening reality

From the data, there are at least two things that we as amateurs can comment on. First, the use of plastic will continue to increase if not stopped wisely. The increasing production and use of plastic are directly proportional to human consumption demands. Moreover, with the culture of "single-use".

Approximately 36 percent of plastic production is used for single use in food and beverage packaging. Around 85 percent of this production is disposed of in final landfills (TPA) without being processed. There is still more use of single-use plastic in other forms, such as bottles, bags and cutlery.

The increasingly excessive production and use of plastic will be very dangerous for human life and the sustainability of the Earth. The plastic waste produced certainly cannot be managed and processed very well.

The level of human awareness and knowledge to handle the production of plastic waste, especially single-use ones, is not yet adequate.

Advanced industrial and waste management systems are not evenly distributed. Experts and the cost of recycling machines are still relatively expensive. Meanwhile, it takes at least 10 years for plastic waste to decompose. This becomes a greater threat when non-biodegradable plastics are disposed of carelessly in large quantities into the ocean or rivers. The ocean or rivers and all creatures within are infected with chemical toxins from the plastic materials.

In addition, human awareness and knowledge in handling plastic waste production, especially disposable ones, are still inadequate. Although in some developed countries such as Japan, Sweden, Hong Kong, and South Korea, plastic waste management is quite good.

The community is educated to be aware and know how to properly dispose of plastic waste. The government also plays a crucial role in managing plastic waste with a integrated and laboratory-tested system.

However, it seems that this effort is still very lacking compared to the number of countries that have not been able to pay attention to handling plastic waste production. Therefore, the second thing is needed, namely accelerating the end of plastic production, as stated in the UN agreement on ending single-use plastic production by 2030.

KOMPAS/RUNIK SRI ASTUTI

Entrepreneurs in Tropodo Village, Sidoarjo, East Java, declared their rejection of using plastic waste as a production fuel on Tuesday (26/11/2019).

Active participation

Earthday.org, as a movement, actively supports the United Nations agreement. The focus of this movement is to press and reduce the rate of plastic production up to 60 percent by 2040. This indeed indicates that human life cannot be directly separated from plastic. It takes a considerable amount of time to get accustomed to this.

All human beings, including ourselves, must actively participate in getting used to not relying on single-use plastics and not getting used to disposing of plastic waste carelessly. This planet requires a unified movement from us all, including intellectuals, researchers, governments, religious figures, the public, and everyone else to protect the Earth from toxic plastic waste.

Unity can occur and accelerate if humanity on this planet participates actively in the daily movement of rethink, refuse, reuse, repair< /i>, recycle, and reduce. This movement is solely to protect us and preserve nature from trash and plastic. This planet must exist and that is our duty.

Also read: Rejecting Plastic for a Living and Sustaining Ocean

We exist to protect this Earth and "care for and manage" the planet created by the Almighty Creator (Genesis 1:28). If we disregard this call by producing plastic and waste in an uncontrolled manner, disposing of them on Earth without processing, we are committing a criminal act.

"Discarding plastic into the sea is a crime; it kills biodiversity, the Earth, and everything," said Pope Francis (Sunday, 6/2/2022). So, are we here as guardians, caretakers, and managers of the Earth, or as criminals committing a criminal act?

Agustian Ganda Putra Sihombing, Member of the Medan Province Capuchin Order JPIC Foundation (OKPM) Medan Capuchin Environmental Integrity Division; Student of the Master of Philosophy Concentration in Pastoral Ethics, Santo Thomas Catholic University, North Sumatra

DOK. PRIBADI

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