Pros And Cons Of Plastic Waste By Freinkel

If you are like me, in your twenties, always falling for the latest models or trends, but never thinking about purchases or garbage - this book will change the way you think about how much waste we actually produce on a daily basis, specifically plastic waste. Freinkel notes that the world consumes over 600 billion pounds of plastic annually today (pg. 14). As a science writer and graduate of Wesleyan University and Columbia University Graduate School, Freinkel is aware of the growing recycling problem of our world. One day she decided she was going to go an entire day without touching any plastic. That was quickly changed within the first 30 seconds when she needed to use the restroom. This is when she decided to instead write down every

One of the main things I really enjoyed in the book was how detailed and in depth she went into each object she researched. She starts by explaining what material the object was once made of, some obstacles scientist overcame and how this new plastic object changed our lives – for the good and the bad. She dives into the social, environmental and human health impacts each object

Let’s go ahead and get the obvious out of the way – plastic is not biodegradable, but most plastic is photodegradable; which means it is broken down by the sun’s UV rays. This is not possible in the ocean, though. This is why large garbage patches exist today. Frankel points out that one main reason plastic came to be so popular and seen as a pro was because it was produced from a waste product of oil. So, technically the plastic industry supports the oil companies, which are harmful to our planet. Frankel is subtly saying with every pro there are a few cons in this industry. The most interesting point Frankel makes, that was brought to my attention, is how the plastic industry has made us into a wasteful society. With plastic becoming such a ‘cheap-thrill’ it is easier than ever to throw away and upgrade just about everything. I can’t lie; I have definitely upgraded something, usually electronics, before it was necessary. Just because I wanted to stay up to date with trends, and that is what I am used to. Plastic has pretty much defined our