CUNY Academic Commons

Single-use plastics are definitely more cost-effective when compared to any other materials that can be used. However recently there have been efforts to combat the vast increase in the use of plastics and its pollution. Some examples were the recycling of plastics bottles into fibers to create clothing, or the recent ban in NYC on all plastic bags, albeit currently not enforced due to the pandemic. People are realizing that plastics are causing devastating effects on us and the climate and starting to reverse that effect.

Plastic caught on in popularity for how its really durable for how cheap it is for the consumer, but you can also get a decent re-usable bottle for about 10-20 dollars. It’s that getting a plastic water bottle at a corner store is easier than buying a reusable one and then finding a place to fill it up. Many people know the damage that plastic can cause, but still use them because its easy. In order to actually do anything to reduce plastic waste, we need to find a way to make reusables more appealing. The plastic ban is a good first step, but we need to do more if we want to make any sort of progress on fighting plastic waste.

When I was younger, using plastic water bottles was basically unheard of. There were water fountains all over the place… Now when I go to the park, the fountains are often non-working. Is there a stigma against water fountains? New York City water, in particular, starts out super-clean in the Catskills, and sure there is some possible contamination via lead pipes and such in buildings, but there are also chemicals leaching into the water in those plastic bottles.

I agree with lauren on the fact that people should realize how much money they’re spending on plastic water bottles. My family recently took a liking to buying a pack of water bottles each month and I hate it because it’s a waste of money and it also isn’t good for the ecosystem in the long run. In my home country it was rare for people to buy water bottles because we had fountains everywhere and I think that decreased the need for water bottles.

I appreciate the different perspectives and how informative they are in helping understand what motivates consumers when it comes to deciding what materials to use in their daily lives. The truth is that single use plastic simply is not sustainable. Yes, it is convenient; sure, it’s light, resistant, can be made to look beautiful, “easy” to dispose—we think. However, regardless of the short or long term cost of using plastic compared to other materials the ecological cost should trascended the economical one. Therefore I am an avid supporter of other options that would cost the smallest possible impact in our ecosystem. I appreciate the information on paper bags since I used to go for those instead. Now, however, I will carry tote bags made of recycled fabric that I can use over and over again. Other things I already do is using metal straw, glass cups for my drinks when eating out, do not tend to make to-go orders, and even if I do I do not accept plastic utensils, and I installed a water filter at my place. Next changes will take place with they clothes I buy and my way to clean them. And let me tell you do I have homework to do in that area…