Index IntroductionMajor uses of plastic in the worldChemical compositionBiodegradable polymersPrimary effectsMain forms of plastic disposalEffect of plastic in Hong KongIntroductionThis essay was written to show the effects of human behavior on the environment. In particular, this essay will focus on the effects of plastic on the natural environment, how plastic has entered our daily lives, and some consequences that will arise from excessive use of plastic. Plastic is a material derived from petroleum, rich in carbon. The abundance of oil on earth has led to the production of a variety of plastic products, most of which have profound effects on humanity and the environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe main causes of plastic pollution are illegal dumping into the ocean, lack of landfill space, and neglected fishing gear. Through the use of two sciences, geography and chemistry, this essay will explore the main uses of plastic in Hong Kong, the United States of America and China. Primary data was collected through the use of an interview, specifically by interviewing an environmental authority in Hong Kong. Secondary data was collected through books, newspaper articles, scientific reports, blogs and magazines. Plastic is a type of material produced or derived from petroleum. Due to its heat resistant properties and ability to deform and return to shape, it is used and found almost everywhere in the world. Through the use and development of rubber, plastic was designed to take the shape it has today. The invention of plastic comes from the first use of chewing gum, made from natural rubber. This came from the rubber tree, found in the Amazon. Next, natural materials such as collagen were boiled in a process to create glue. Collagen was obtained from livestock, such as cows. After World War I, developments in chemical technology reached a new high. This has led to several deliberate and accidental creations of several new plastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The invention of PET replaced the need for glass bottles, in exchange providing users with a durable and practical liquid container material. The reason why plastic has been such an important topic in the last two decades is due to its widespread distribution around the world. The fact that plastic is present even in the most remote areas of the world shows how much people throw away and use plastic bottles every day. In areas such as Antarctica and the Mariana Trench, microplastics and microfibers are also found in Arctic waters. In a survey conducted by Greenpeace's Protect the Antarctic campaign, seven of nine ice and snow samples had traces of dangerous chemicals called polyfluorinated alkylated substances also known as PFAS. In Hong Kong, there is a constant presence of plastic on our streets and beaches. Plastic debris, bottles and various abandoned objects clutter our coasts, to the point that families with their children and sailors coming to Hong Kong for a regatta could see plastic in the water from far away. The people of Hong Kong must make changes, otherwise our livelihoods, attractions and attractions as a city will be lost. For example, the turtle nesting area in Sham Wan is heavily covered in plastic. In addition, the population of Chinese white dolphins hasrecorded a sharp decline. This is all due to the pollution of Hong Kong's waters. Every day, Hong Kongers throw away 1.36kg of household waste per capita. This is a staggering amount compared to other Asian countries, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei, 0.77 kg, 0.95 kg and 1 kg respectively. After a survey conducted by Green Earth, they estimated that Hong Kong, in total, disposed of 5.2 million plastic bottles every day (2017). Even worse, the recycling rate of Hong Kongers decreased from 32% to 11%, from 2012 to 2015. To ensure that the primary data is valid, the samples will be from five different areas of Hong Kong, along the lines scientific guidelines that require the use of a minimum of five samples. The amount of samples collected from each area will be more or less the same to ensure fairness. This essay will look at the different types of plastic in each area, as well as the sizes. A survey will be conducted in five bodies of water. A second primary data source will be an interview, that of the Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Main uses of plastic around the world The enormous variety of plastic products and products that contain plastic integrated into them is staggering. Bottles, machinery, phones, clothes, anything you want. The most common types of plastic we see in our daily lives are plastic bottles. Used for drinks, storage or transportation, this type of plastic is divided into seven different categories. The categorization system used for plastic bottles is the Resin Identification Code (RIC). The most common bottle, used for drinks, is made of Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET. This material is malleable and can be bent back into shape. However, repeated use of this type of bottle is not recommended as repetitive use or exposure to heat can cause carcinogenic substances to leach into the liquid inside. These plastic bottles are always recyclable. The next type of plastic container is made of high-density polyethylene, otherwise known as HDPE. Compared to PET, this type of plastic is more resistant to heat and is used to store large quantities of liquids; like milk and detergent. However, some recycling facilities may not accept them. Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, is used to make durable items, such as children's toys and pipes. PVC is made from vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ranks fourth in the resin identification code, and uses of this plastic can be seen in the ocean, particularly around turtles. In one specific case, a container made to hold a six-pack of soft drink became entangled around a turtle's waist, limiting its growth and slowing its development. Additionally, some of his organs were not fully developed. LDPE is used to make six-pack containers and, most importantly, plastic bags. There are numerous uses for plastic bags: long-term storage, convenient carry-on bags for groceries, heat-resistant bags for temporary storage of cold items, waste collection and much more. Some more useful or niche uses for plastic bags include rations for soldiers, a method of holding IV fluids, and biohazard bags. Most, if not all, people around the world should be aware of the devastating effects plastic bags have on our environment. An example of this would be turtles ingesting plastic bags.This is because a turtle's natural diet includes jellyfish, and so the buoyancy of the plastic bag mimics a jellyfish, and instead of receiving the necessary nutrients, the turtle feels full even though it hasn't eaten anything nutritious. Polypropylene, also known as PP is a type of polymer that can change state after reaching a certain temperature. This type of polymer is called a heat-softening polymer, which will be explored in more detail in the next section. Polypropylene is non-polar, heat resistant and is chemically similar to polyethylene. Polypropylene is used to make harder, sturdier objects such as chairs, ropes and industrial piping. It has an extremely wide variety of uses. It is labeled with the number five from the resin identification code. The way we see plastic in the world is single use. Most of our drink bottles and plastic bags are not reused after being brought home. They are disposed of without a second thought, leading to the waste dilemma we have now. Chemical composition The strength and durability of plastics depend on their chemical structure, as well as the bonds involved. The different types of branching will also be discussed. First of all, there are two main types of branching in terms of polymers. This particular discussion will cover High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Low-density polyethylene contains several branches, which makes the overall structure non-linear. This causes the melting point of LDPE to decrease, due to weaker London forces holding the atoms together. The chemical structure of LDPE is shown below: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is ranked second in the resin identification code and is used in a wide variety of building materials, such as reusable plastic bottles and pipes of water for domestic use. Biodegradable Polymers Non-biodegradable polymers are not the only type of plastic. A biodegradable polymer is a distinct type of polymer that decomposes to produce natural substances, such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen. These polymers usually come from amine, ester, and amide groups. The difference between normal slow-degrading polymers and biodegradable polymers is that they are non-toxic, can withstand extensive material reuse, and are able to control when the polymer decomposes. To some extent, all types of plastic are biodegradable, but as these plastics shrink in size, there is a high likelihood that they will enter our food chains and cause disruption to those who consume them. Primary Effects The most basic and most visible effects of plastic pollution is in the sea. When traveling on a ferry to the outlying islands of Hong Kong, pieces of plastic are already visible after leaving the port. Compared to the streets, plastic bottles and Styrofoam containers periodically clutter the streets. Hong Kong's lack of recycling bins and incentives have led to a further decline from the government's proposed recycling rate in 2015. In the Pacific Ocean, a swirling mass of waste only grows in size as time passes . This is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This mass of waste is estimated to be 1.6 million square kilometers and made up of approximately 1.1 to 3.6 trillion pieces of plastic. This survey was conducted by a non-profit organization called The Ocean Cleanup, which launched its expedition between 2013 and 2016. They realized that the previous form of measuring microplastics in the sea was inefficient, so they created a new way of sampling. This was itcalled Multi-Level-Trawl, used to measure the level of microplastics at different water levels. This allowed them to measure up to 11 water levels and descend to 5 meters at most. Main forms of plastic disposal In Hong Kong, there are four main types of waste processing, including plastic of course. The most common and used technique is dumping. With three major landfills for municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D) waste, plastic accounts for a total of 21%. (HKEPD, 2016). In 2014, the municipal solid waste recycling rate was calculated through the production of domestic waste and the disposal of municipal solid waste in landfill: if the municipal solid waste generated per capita in 2014 was 2.13 kilograms and the quantity of municipal solid waste disposed of in landfill was 1.36 kilograms per capita, we can calculate the recycling rate of municipal solid waste in 2014. (2.13 – 1.36)/2.13 = 37% 99% of our waste is exported to mainland China for treatment. Only 1% is treated locally. The government has noticed this and created more recycling areas through funding. In 2014, 15,000 tons of waste were thrown into landfills every day. According to government calculations, we will reach the limits of the three major landfills in 2020, if our current recycling rate does not increase and our dumping habits continue to increase. However, Hong Kong's recycling rate compared to other Asian cities is decreasing due to measures taken by the government to reduce plastic use, such as the Plastic Bag Levy. This tax has led all establishments and stores to charge customers 50 cents for a plastic bag, in hopes of decreasing people's need for plastic bags. From 2011 to 2014, Hong Kong's recycling rate declined, despite an ongoing government program, from 48 percent in 2011 to 37 percent in 2014. Compared to other Asian cities, South Korea has a recycling rate of 61%, Taiwan 52% and Singapore with 48%. The frameworks provided by the government showed the aim of reducing the disposal of municipal solid waste in landfills. Initially the target set for 2011 was 1.27 kg, before reaching 1 kg or less in 2017 and 0.8 kg in 2022. Contrary to these ideals, the actual disposal in 2018 is 1.41 kg. As disheartening as these findings may be, there are three main components of waste treatment in Hong Kong. Municipal solid waste is separated into organic fractions, recyclable materials and undifferentiated residual waste. Through sorting, the plastic is separated by type and recycled and recovered accordingly. The Organic Fractions undergo biological treatment and are transformed into biogas. Unsorted residual waste is thermally treated and then sent to landfill where it is transformed into energy. Effect of plastic in Hong Kong On the streets of Hong Kong, plastic overflows from bins and onto pavements. Not only does it cause an unpleasant appearance for tourists, but residents also have less space to walk on the already limited size of the sidewalks. In 2016, the Hong Kong government enacted a new law against placing waste on the side of garbage bins, in or in In 2016, the Hong Kong government placed 800 new garbage bins across the city in an attempt to dissuade people from dumping waste. I collected samples of plastic waste from Hong Kong beaches. The data presented below will show the type of plastic, the time it takes to biodegrade, and the percentage of plastic. This piece of acrylic was found in Deep Water Bay, located on the side.