Table of contentsIntroductionMain uses of plastic in the worldChemical compositionBiodegradable polymersPrimary effectsMain forms of plastic disposalEffect of plastics in Hong KongIntroductionThis essay was written to present the effects of human behavior on the environment. In particular, this essay will focus on the effect of plastic on the natural environment, as well as how plastic has made its way into our daily lives and some consequences that will result from overuse 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 as well as the environment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The main causes of plastic pollution are illegal dumping into the ocean, lack of landfill space as well as 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 interviews, including interviewing an environmental authority in Hong Kong. Secondary data was collected from books, newspaper articles, scientific reports, blogs and journals. Plastic is a type of material made 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 rubbers, plastic was engineered into the form it has today. The invention of plastic stems from the first use of chewing gum, made from natural rubber. It was a rubber tree found in the Amazon. Later, natural materials such as collagen were boiled in a process to create glue. Collagen comes from livestock, such as cows. After World War I, advancements in chemical technology reached a new peak. 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 return providing users with a durable and practical container for liquids. The reason why plastic has become such an important topic over the past two decades is due to its wide distribution around the world. The fact that plastic is present even in the most remote parts of the world shows how much people throw away and use plastic bottles every day. In regions like Antarctica and the Mariana Trench, microplastics and microfibers are even found in Arctic waters. In an investigation by Greenpeace's Protect the Antarctic campaign, seven of nine ice and snow samples showed traces of dangerous chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl 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 discarded objects litter our coasts, so much so that families with their children as well as sailors coming to Hong Kong for a race could see the plastics in the water from afar. The people of Hong Kong must make changes, otherwise ourlivelihoods, our attractions and attractions as a city will be lost. For example, the turtle nesting area in Sham Wan is largely covered in plastic. In addition, Chinese white dolphins are experiencing a sharp decline in their population. This is all due to the pollution of Hong Kong's waters. Hong Kongers throw away 1.36 kg of household waste per capita every day. 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 by Green Earth, they estimated that Hong Kong, in total, threw away 5.2 million plastic bottles every day (2017). Worse still, the recycling rate of Hong Kongers decreased from 32% to 11%, from 2012 to 2015. To ensure the validity of the primary data, the samples will be drawn from five different areas of Hong Kong, following the scientific guidelines of use a minimum of five samples. The quantity of samples collected in each area will be approximately the same to ensure fairness. This essay will look at the different types of plastic in each area, along with their sizes. A survey will be conducted in five water bodies. A second main data source will be an interview with the Director of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Main uses of plastic around the world The sheer variety of plastic products and products with plastic in them is staggering. Bottles, machines, phones, clothes, etc. The most common types of plastic that we see in our daily lives are plastic bottles. Used for drinks, storage or transport, 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 commonly used bottle for beverages is polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET. This material is malleable and can be bent to return to its shape. However, repeated use of this type of bottle is not recommended, as repeated use or exposure to heat may cause carcinogens to leak into the liquid inside. These plastic bottles are still recyclable. The next type of plastic container is made of high-density polyethylene, also known as HDPE. Compared to PET, this type of plastic is more heat resistant and is used to store large quantities of liquid; like milk and detergent. However, some recycling facilities may not accept them. Polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, is used to make sturdy items, such as children's toys as well as pipes. PVC is made from vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is ranked fourth in the resin identification code, and uses of this plastic can be seen in the ocean, particularly around turtles. In one case, a container designed to hold a six-pack of soft drinks became stuck around a turtle's waist, restricting its growth and slowing its development. Additionally, some of its organs were not fully developed. LDPE is used to make six-pack containers and, most importantly, plastic bags. There are a wide variety of uses for plastic bags: long-term storage, convenient handbags for shopping, heat-resistant bags for temporary storage of cold items. , pick up trash and much more. Some more useful or specialized uses of plastic bags include rations for soldiers,a method of storing intravenous fluid and biohazard bags. Most, if not all people in the world should be aware of the devastating effects of plastic bags on our environment. An example 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 the turtle getting the necessary nutrients, it 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 thermosoftening polymer, which will be explored in more detail in the next section. Polypropylene is non-polar, heat resistant and chemically similar to polyethylene. Polypropylene is used to make harder, sturdier objects such as chairs, ropes and industrial pipes. Its uses are extremely varied. It is labeled number five by the resin identification code. Our vision of plastic in the world is that of single use. Most of our drinks bottles, plastic bags, are not reused once they are finished and taken home. They are disposed of without further thought, leading to the waste dilemma we currently find ourselves facing. Chemical composition The strength and durability of plastics depend on their chemical structure, as well as the bonds involved. The different types of connections will also be discussed. First of all, there are two main types of branching in terms of polymers. This particular discussion will focus on high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (HDPE). Low density polyethylene contains several branches, making the overall structure non-linear. This causes the melting point of LDPE to decrease, due to the weaker London forces holding the atoms together. The chemical structure of LDPE is shown below: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is classified number two by the resin identification code and is used in a wide variety of building materials, such as reusable plastic bottles and water pipes for domestic use. Biodegradable PolymersNon-biodegradable polymers are not the only type of plastic. A biodegradable polymer is a distinct type of polymer that breaks down to produce natural substances such as carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen. These polymers generally belong to the amine, ester and amide groups. The difference between normal slow-degrading polymers and biodegradable polymers is that they are non-toxic, can withstand extensive reuse of the material, and are also able to control when the polymer will decompose. To some extent, all types of plastic are biodegradable, but as they decrease in size, there is a good chance that they will enter our food chains and cause disruption to those who consume them.Primary EffectsThe Most Important Effects The basic and most visible source of plastic pollution is in the sea. When you travel on a ferry to the outer islands of Hong Kong, pieces of plastic are already visible after leaving the port. In relation to the streets, plastic bottles and polystyrene containers periodically litter the streets. Hong Kong's lack of recycling bins and incentives led to an even greater drop in the government's proposed recycling rate in 2015. In the Pacific Ocean, a swirling mass of waste does notonly increase in size over time. It's called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This mass of waste is estimated at 1.6 million square kilometers and consists of approximately 1.1 to 3.6 trillion pieces of plastic. This survey was carried out 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 ineffective, so they created a new way of sampling. This is called a 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 go down to a maximum of 5 meters.Main Forms of Plastic DisposalIn Hong Kong, there are four main types of waste disposal, including of course plastic . The most common and widely used technique is dumping. With three main landfills for municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition waste (C&D), plastic makes up a total of 21%. (HKEPD, 2016). In 2014, the MSW recycling rate was calculated from the production of domestic waste and the disposal of MSW in landfills: if the MSW generated per capita in 2014 was 2.13 kilograms, and the quantity of MSW sent to landfill was 1.36 kilograms per capita, we can calculate the MSW recycling rate in 2014. (2.13 – 1.36)/2.13 = 37%99% of our waste is exported to mainland China for processing. Only 1% is treated locally. The government realized this and set up several recycling zones with funding. In 2014, 15,000 tonnes of waste were dumped in landfills every day. According to government calculations, we will reach the limits of the three main landfills in 2020, if our current recycling rate does not increase and our dumping habits continue to increase. Hong Kong's recycling rate compared to other Asian cities is declining, although the government has implemented measures to reduce plastic use, such as the tax on plastic bags. This levy caused all establishments and stores to charge their customers 50 cents for a plastic bag, in hopes of reducing people's need for plastic bags. From 2011 to 2014, Hong Kong's recycling rate fell despite an ongoing government program, from 48% in 2011 to 37% in 2014. Compared to other Asian cities, South Korea has a rate of recycling of 61%, Taiwan 52% and Singapore with 48%. Frameworks provided by the government have shown a target for reducing the disposal of MSW into landfills. They originally set the target for 2011 at 1.27 kg, 1 kg or less in 2017, and 0.8 kg in 2022. Contrary to these ideals, the actual elimination in 2018 is 1. 41 kg. As bleak as these results show, waste treatment in Hong Kong has three main components. MSW is sorted into organic fractions, recyclable materials and unsorted residual waste. Through sorting, plastic is separated by type, then 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 the landfill where it is transformed into energy. Effect of plastic in Hong Kong On the streets of Hong Kong, plastic is overflowing from trash cans and onto sidewalks. Not only does this make it look unpleasant for tourists, but residents also have less space to walk on the already limited sidewalk size. In 2016, the Hong Kong government enacted a new law prohibiting dumping waste on the side of trash bins, in or in..