Trash is a huge problem in Belize. People don't think twice about throwing trash on the ground or out the window or putting bags of trash in a pile near the sea. It drives me nuts. In their defense, trash disposal is horrid here. And plastic bottles are everywhere. To be sure, it's really hot here. Cold water is crucial. I keep a rotation of water bottles in the freezer at all times.
Where is this all coming from?!
Unfortunately, there's a bad combination. There are a lot of tourists who believe the water isn't clean, even though it is. Then there is an idea among locals that buying water makes you look wealthier. Sigh. Then, there's the cruise ships. We can add to their list of environmental crimes the drastic increase of plastic water bottle trash when they come around. I should maybe actually do a post just on cruise ships. This combination added to the God awful trash pick up (lack thereof) and the Belizean willingness to toss trash on the ground is the perfect shitstorm.
I have been coming here since 1996, and there was an attempt at education on not littering already going then, but it has never really taken hold. Honestly I don’t understand what it’s about. For whatever reason people don’t see it as a big deal. I don’t think they totally realize how stunningly beautiful this country is, nor do they understand how much damage trash can do, particularly in the ocean and rivers. There is also this really odd thing about doing whatever they want and not doing what they are told is best, particularly when those people are white. I totally get that part. More long term consequences of colonialism.
It’s not just Belize, though. It’s all over. Just because they more often get taken to the dump in other places doesn’t mean plastic bottles and plastic or styrofoam containers aren’t a nightmare nuisance. In the US, 35 billion plastic water bottles are thrown away every year. They take around 500 years to decompose! I know the water has lots of chlorine and fluoride, so buy a filter!
Some more scary facts
Here’s a fascinating bit of info. In the Pacific Ocean, there’s something called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It’s twice the size of Texas! In fact 40% of the ocean surface in the world is covered with garbage. Isn’t that astounding?! Of the floating stuff, 90% of it is plastic. Plastic accounts for 10% of our total waste.
Plastic isn’t just bad for the planet. It’s also bad for our bodies. The chemicals in plastic can be absorbed in the body. In fact some 93% of Americans over age 6 have some amount of BPA in their body. Some plastics are also known hormone disruptors.
Styrofoam is from the devil!!!
Styrofoam is a whole other can of worms! Of the three most common trash items I find on our beaches, plastic bottles and styrofoam are two of the three. I’ll tell you the third in my next post in the Small Change, Big Difference series. While styrofoam no longer contains CFCs, it is made from styrene, considered a likely carcinogen that also has effects on the respiratory system and the liver among other things. It also contains Benzene, a known carcinogen. Dioxins, yet another known carcinogen, are used in the creation of styrofoam. Of course styrofoam is most frequently used to keep hot things hot, and that heat will often cause the chemicals to leach into the food or drink. Of course all this also goes into our air, land, and water both during production and post use. And styrofoam is essentially eternal. Scientists believe it would take more than a million years for it to decompose. Holy cow.
When it does end up in the water, unlike many other plastics, it will eventually sink, and it also breaks into smaller bits. So of course it gets eaten. Sometimes those animals die either from the chemicals or from blockage as the styrofoam doesn’t move out of their systems. In other cases, those chemicals bioaccumulate in the flesh of the fish or shellfish and often end up getting eaten by humans, and the chemicals live on.
What to DO?!
How can you make a difference? These numbers are overwhelming, are they not? Of course recycling more would be wonderful. Currently only 5% of plastic is recycled. Increasing that number would be fabulous.
More importantly, though, we need to reduce the amount of plastic we use. Here are a few ideas on how to do that. Like I said, I drink a lot of water! It’s hot here, and I picked up this wonderful habit from my years of nursing babies. So, I have bought a few water bottles, and I just refill them, freeze them, and then use them throughout the day. You can also buy a reusable plastic, glass, or metal water bottle. Nearly any restaurant will allow you to refill your water bottle for free, and lots of places now have water refilling stations designed to accommodate water bottles so you can fill up and stay hydrated!
Pixabay
If at all possible, skip the straw! I’m aware some people with disabilities must use straws, and sometimes the disposable ones are easiest, but if you can, either skip the straw or buy a reusable one and keep it with you. Another great thing to keep in your car or purse (or man bag!)? Silverware! Think how much plastic ware you will not be using by keeping a fork and a spoon with you! You can also use them at potlucks, and for those, remember to bring your plate! Coffee shops are almost always happy to use your coffee mug from home. It saves them money as well as avoiding those plastic lids or plastic lined cups. If you don’t have something reusable, and you’re out, request a paper cup instead of a styrofoam one and simply refuse to patronize restaurants that use styrofoam for take-out for leftovers. Insist on renewable and biodegradable or recyclable containers.
Think also about what other single use plastics are in your life. Do you go through a lot of shampoo? Try the bar shampoo or blend up your own. Some health food stores also sell in bulk so you can bring in and fill your refillable container! What about laundry detergent? My Charlie’s detergent comes in a plastic ziplock bag which is much less packaging than the thick plastic containers, though we do reuse those containers to store our bulk items like sugar, beans, flour, and popcorn. Speaking of bulk, that’s a great way to cut down how much packaging, much of which is plastic, you consume. When you do have to buy something in plastic, try to buy the biggest container possible. You know, the surface area to volume ratio thing!
Now, tell me how you cut down your plastic usage, especially with single use plastics, and if you’re involved in any cleanup projects, I’d love to hear about that too. We clean up around here periodically, though not as much as we should!
Much love, y’all!
As always, all pics are mine or pixabay unless otherwise noted.
