Martinez1 ClaudiaMartinez Period3/5 11/03/11 Trash:TheEthicsofPlasticConsumption I.Introduction Todaytheworldfacesseveralissues.Oneofthemainproblemsisoverconsumption.Thereis onlyoneworldandforthatworldtocontinuetheremustbeimportanceandplacedonhowmuchis beingconsumedandhow.Overconsumptioncannotonlyleadtoruiningthewaysocietyisrun,but alsomaybepublichealthandtheenvironment.Manufacturedemandsforcertainmaterials,plusthelies industriesandcompaniesgiveareallwaysofincreasingconsumption.Firstofall,theyrelyingand secondly,theyreexcludingandreducingthewantforproductsormaterialsthatworkjustaswellor evenbetter(Sagoff). Likemanythingsinlife,overconsumptionispartofabiggercycleorsystemthatcirculates aroundseveralissues.

Overconsumptionfirsthurtstheenvironmentwhenresourcesareextracted,then movesontothenextslidewhichisthepublic.Overconsumptioncanharmtheenvironmentbecauseof thematerialsofeconomy,alargesystemthataccountsforallofthestuffwehaveconsumed explaininghowconsumptionhappensdividedintosmallerparts(TheStoryofBottledWater).One reasonwhyoverconsumptionisanenvironmentalissueistheprocessofmakingaproduct.For exampleletssayyoubuyabackpack,withoutanyknowledgeofhowitwasmadeintooneandby who.Thenyoufindoutitwasmadebyanineyearoldwhoonlygotpaidaroundtwodollarsandyour backpackcost25.00.Theglobalissuewithoverconsumptioninthiscaseisthatpeopledontlookat theenvironmentalexploitationanddesecrationthatmayhaveoccurredtomakethatproduct (Environment)

Martinez2 Theoverconsumptionofbeneficialmaterialsorresourcestendstofrightenpeople,partly becausethereisnowayofknowingwhatoutcomeitwillbring.Plasticmaterialsareagoodexampleof acommoditythatisbeingoverconsumedandhasgonewrong.Asolutionneedstobefound,toputan endtotheincorrectwayweareconsumingplastics.Formorethanacenturyplasticshavebeenin existence,howeverplasticwasntalwaysthispopular.DuringWorldWarIIplasticswerebroughtinto greatdemand,bringingagrowthofplasticsproduction,leavingtheworldwiththecommercial developmentoftodaysplasticsmaterials(Danson5).Asothermaterialssuchaspaper,wood,metal andglasswerebeingdowngradedandplasticwasprizednooneseemedtobetakingintoaccountwhat dilemmathiswouldcauseinthelongrun.Theprimaryuseforplasticsispackaging,followedby building,electronicsandautomotiveindustries(Hamerton60).Thereplacementofothermaterialsfor plastic,mightnowbethereasontheworldfacesoverconsumptionofplastics.It'saconsequencefor themistakemadeofignoringothermaterialsandtreatingothercommoditiesaslessthanplastic.

II.PoliticalandSocialConnections Theconsumptionofplasticsaroundtheworldhasbothpoliticalandsocialproblems.Plastic consumptioncanberelatedtotheoverpopulationofcountriesbecausebothinvolvetheeconomicpie. How?Becausebothdealwiththestatisticsofpeoplesmoneyandhealthincountriesorglobally.There aresevenbillionpeopleonearthandpopulationcontinuestogrow.Overpopulationcanpossiblychange thedemandsformanufacturedgoods,whichcouldcauseanexcessamountofoverconsumptionlater onresultinginthelossofproducts,loweconomyandoverpricing(WorldsPopulation,Shah).Ifover consumptioncontinuesandthereisntachangeforthebetter,thegovernmentwillneedtogettogether somelaws..Anotherexampleofhowtheoverconsumptionofplasticsisrelatedtoasocialissueisthat

Martinez3 itcanharmthepublichealthnotonlymoneywisebutalsoenvironmentallyandphysically. Shouldplastic,likeeveryothercommoditybetreatedequallysothatnomaterialgets downgradedasaproductthatisworthless?Ifallcommoditiesincludingplasticweretreatedwitha philosophicalprinciplesuchasegalitarianismpeoplecouldbetemptedtoassumingthatmightnotbe overconsumptionofmaterials.Egalitarianismwouldallowplasticalongwithothermaterialstostrive andcompete.Egalitarianismalonewouldntwork,theremightbeneedforanotherprinciple.Since egalitarianismisaboutequalizingtheplayingfieldthatwouldmaketherebeasocialunfairnesstoward economics,withoutanydisadvantagesoftheeconomyitwouldruinthewaysocietyisrun(Sandel141, 153,154)Thetruephilosophicalprinciplewouldbeutilitarianismandlibertarianismnotegalitarianism. CombiningMillsutilitarianismandlibertarianismhelpsbetterunderstandthecausesofboththepolitical andsocialproblemsoftheoverconsumptionofplastics.Autilitarianwouldwanttomaximizehappiness andutilityandthelibertarianwouldwantrespectforindividualliberty,boththoughwouldhavetofollow lawsandrules.Togethertheutilitarianandlibertarianwouldbeabletothinkofasolutionthatdoesnot hurtanyonerespectsindividualrights,andwillmaximizetheoverallutility.Allthiswhilestillkeepingthe economicpiegoingcouldcreateapossibleresulttoabettersociety.

III.Causes Overconsumptionhascausedmanyproblemsingeneral,whathasbeenaffectedisthepublic health,alsosaidtobecausedbyoverpopulation.Togetheroverpopulationandoverconsumptionhave causedpublichealthsuchaspoverty,whichdoesntmakeeveryonehappy.12%oftheworld populationconsumes5565%ofworldresources(Hamerton3).Iftheoverconsumptionofplasticsis oneofthecausestowhywehavepovertyintodayssociety,itmakesthemorereasontofindinga

Martinez4 solutiontothatproblem. Anotherwaythattheoverconsumptionofplasticscausespublichealthiswhenplasticisnt recycledorincineratedanditgoesintotheoceanorbodiesofwater.Thecycleofhowplasticsinthe oceanleadispoisoningmarinelifeandthenusisbecauseweeatfoodfromtheocean.TheUnited Nationsclaimsthereare46,000piecesofplasticineverysquaremileofocean(AddictedtoPlastic) Plasticsthatgointobodiesofwatercausesanotherimportantresourcewhichiswaternotonlybecause ofthewatersthatcouldbeaffectedwithtrappedplasticmakingthewaterundrinkablebutalsointhe caseofoceananimalseatingplasticpossiblefood.Overconsumptionisalreadycausingpovertysowith anotherissueofpublichealthandpopulationcontinuouslygrowingtherewouldbeaworldofdisaster andextremepovertywithdifferenttypesofhealthproblems. Theoverconsumptionofplasticscausesbadenoughproblemstobothsocietyandthe environment,butwiththosetwocomponentsofasustainabledevelopmentitwouldntbelonguntilthe economywentdownalso.Couldyouimaginehowmanymorecommoditiesarebeingoverconsumed, findingasolutiontotheoverconsumptionofplasticswouldonlybeonepieceofsolvingthepuzzleto sustainabledevelopmentworldwide.

IV.Solution PlasticConsumptionalongwithothermaterialsmustbestoppedinordertocreateasustainable development,helpingachieveoverallhappiness.AccordingtoIanHamertonthethreecomponentsofa sustainabledevelopmentaresociety,theeconomyandtheenvironment(Hamerton3).Withthosethree

Martinez5 componentsandthelibertarianandutilitarianperspectiveasolutionwillbereached.Countriesall aroundtheworldaretryingdifferentwaystobecomebetterconsumers.Allcountriesshouldmakelaws abouthowmuchcanbeincineratedifnecessaryandtherestcanberecycled.Althoughpeoplehave individualfreedomlawsstillneedtobefollowedinasocietyofbothlibertariansandutilitarians.There shouldbealawaboutplasticconsumptionhowitismanufactured,incinerated,andrecycled. Howaproductormaterialismanufacturedisoneofthestepstohelpingsolveasolution becausetheamountthatismanufacturedisconsumed.Ifthereweretobealawthatinvolvesputtinga limittohowmuchplasticcanbemadeandspecificallywhatplasticscanbemixedtogetherlikeona waterbottlethenalltheseplasticmadeproductswouldbeeasilyrecycled.Plasticcanbeconsideredan importantcommodity,butifintheendthepeopleintheworldarenothappy,whyisallthishappeningin thefirstplace?Thereneedstobealimittohowmuchplasticismade.Plasticmanufacturersshouldbe requiredtopayortakebacklessthanhalfofdisposalofplasticsdependingonhowmuchthey manufactured.Lookaroundyou,counthowmanythingsaremadeofplastic,andthencounthowmany arent.Whatstheratio.Mostlikely,plasticwins. ForcountrieslikeJapanthatfeeltrappedabouthowmuchtheyhaveletthemselvesconsume, incinerationmightfeelliketheonlyoption.Especiallywhenlandfillsarepilingupandspaceisexpensive andscarce.Plasticisabigproblemforlandfillsbecauseittakesoveronehundredyearstodecompose (AddictedtoPlastic).Onlyasmallpercentageofplasticsshouldbeincinerated,therestcanbe recycled.Thebadthingaboutincinerationisthatitcausesanotherproblemwiththeair,soitsbestthat ifincinerationisnecessaryweuseitasalastoptionorverylittleincineration. Recyclingplasticsmightbethebestsolution,notjusttheusualrecyclingofputtingplasticsin binsbutdowncyclingandreusingplasticinvariousways.Mostindustrialwasteisrecycled,whereas

Martinez6 mostconsumerwasteisnot(Hamerton61).AllcountrieslikeKenyashouldhavealimittohowthick bagsare(AnyanguAmu).Recyclingmightinvolvemoreenergy,butitwillprovetobeworthitonce happinessincreasesandtheenvironmentbecomesmoresustainablewhichwouldhelpsociety.Aman namedTomSzackyshowstheworldadifferentwayofrecyclinghecallsitdowncyclinganditisthe processofusingplasticthatisgoingtobethrownawaytomakeotherproductssothatitdoesntend upinlandfillsorincinerated.Usingthiswayorrecycling,youarenotonlyfixingapartoftheover consumptionofplasticsbutmakingmoney,hecallsthissystemturningtrashintocash(Recyclingthe WorldsTrash).100billionpoundsofplasticismadeandonly5%isrecycled,thequestioniswhat happenstotherestofthewaste?Wellapparentlyitissoldtoothercountries.Awaytoharnessplastic energyaswasteplastic,turningplasticbackintooil,anotherwayofdowncycling(AddictedtoPlastic). Forasustainabledevelopmentinsociety,theeconomyandtheenvironment,lawsabouthow muchplasticisbeingconsumedshouldbeestablishedabouthowmuchofamaterialneedstobe manufactured,incineratedandrecycled.Thesolutiontosolvingtheworldwideconsumptionofplasticsis possiblealltheworldneedsispeopletocareabouttheimportantissuesthatoverconsumptioneffects andefforttochangeforthebetterofsociety.

AnnotatedBibliographyReviewOfLiterature WorksCitedPage I.Books Danson,Ted.ACitizensGuidetoPlasticsintheOcean:MoreThanALitterProblem. Washington,DC:CenterforMarineConservation,1994.Print.195. Thisbookisaboutplasticandmainlyabouthowitcanaffecttheenvironment,especiallythe ocean.TheresacertainconnectionthatImade,thatwithjustreadingthebookithardtomake. IconnectedthedocumentaryofplasticthatIsawtothisbookbecausethebookisjustapartof thechainsystemthatthevideotalksabout.Page59gavemeinformationabouttheplastics

Martinez7 industrywhichhelpedbetterunderstandwhatsolutionswouldbepossiblelikelawsandbanning plasticbagsmadeofcertaincompanies.Page95gavemejustlikeotherpartsofthebooka smallparagraphonwhattheoverallsolutionfortheconsumptionofplastics. Hamerton,Ian.Polymers,theEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopment.UK:Wiley,2003.Print. Thisbookhastwoapproachesthescienceofplasticsandthesocialandpoliticalsideof plastics.Itcontainsinformationofplasticsandpolymer'singeneralandtheconsumptionof plasticsindifferentpartsoftheworld,italsogivesexamplesofthingsthatcountrieshavetried usingtogetridofplasticandstopoverconsumptionwith.Thisbookisusefulbecauseitgives thereaderanoverviewofplastics,recyclingandconsumptionaroundtheworld.57[worldwide diagramshowinghowmanyearthsweneedifwekeepconsumingthewaywedoreally visual],4973[keyfactsaboutplasticconsumptionexamplesof countriesMSW]102120[108109,111and115allinthesectionofeconomicshelpfulmainly becauseofinformationonthosepages,also116,117&118disposal,lawsandpolicies,etc]. Sandel,MichaelJ."TheCaseForEquality."Justice:What'stheRightThingtoDo?London:Penguin, 2009.14065.Print. II.ShortArticle AnyanguAmu,Susan."KENYA:PlasticBags:ConvenienceCostingtheEarthIPSIpsnews.net." Onlineposting.IPS(InterPressService).IPS,21Jan.2010.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50061>. ThisarticleiswrittenspecificallyaboutacaseinNairobi,Kenyawhereplasticistakingoverone ofthelandspreciouswatersources.Itsaysthatifthereisn'tanalternativefound,the governmentwillneedtotakeactionbybanningplasticbagsthatarenotthinnerthanthirty microns. Barnard,Anne."CityCouncilPassesBillforRecyclingofPlasticBagsNYTimes.com."NYTimes Advertisement.TheNewYorkTimes,10Jan.2008.Web.31Oct.2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/nyregion/10bags.html?ref=recyclingofwastematerials>. NewYorkissettingtheexamplefortheU.S,thearticlesaysthatstoreswhosellplasticbags alsoneedtohaverecyclingbinsintheirstores.Thebillpassedaccountsforstoresthatare largerthan5,000squarefeet.ShouldalloftheUnitedStatesfunbythisrule,orshoulditbea lawinallcountries? "Environment:GlobalIssuesRegionalApplications."UniversityofWisconsinLaCrosse.Universityof WisconsinLaCrosse,2002.Web.02Nov.2011. <http://www.uwlax.edu/murphy/environment/overconsumption/overview1.html>. "TheFutureofUrbanSustainabilityTheAtlantic."TheAtlantic%u2014NewsandAnalysison Politics,Business,Culture,Technology,National,International,andLife%u2013

Martinez8 TheAtlantic.com.TheAtlanticMonthlyGroup,22Sept.2011.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/urbansustainability/archive/2011/09/fromplastictopl ants/245527/>. Thearticleisonlyonepage,butwithinthatpageitholdsusefulinformation,becauseitgivesthe readeranideaofwhatsmallthingscanbechangedtolateroncauseabiggeroutcome.Things thatthisarticlehaslistedcanbegreatwaystostoptheoverconsumptionofplastics. Shah,Anup.EffectsofOverConsumptionandIncreasingPopulations.GlobalIssues.26Sep.2001. Web.02Nov.2011. <http://www.globalissues.org/article/216/effectsofoverconsumptionandincreasingpopulatio ns>. III.LongArticle "DrowninginPlastic:TheGreatPacificGarbagePatchIsTwicetheSizeofFranceTelegraph."Online Posting.Telegraph.co.ukTelegraphOnline,DailyTelegraphandSundayTelegraph Telegraph.TheTelegraph,24Apr.2009.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/5208645/DrowninginplasticTheGreatPacifi cGarbagePatchistwicethesizeofFrance.html>. Thisarticleremindedmeaboutabookcalled,ACitizensGuidetoPlasticsintheOcean:More ThanaLitterProblem.Thereweremanyfacts,likenumbersthatshowedjusthowmuchplastic, canbeusedtocauseseveralproblems. Navarro,Mireya."Lunch,LandfillsandWhatITossed."TheNewYorkTimes(2011):14.TheNew YorkTimes.21Oct.2011.Web.27Oct.2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/nyregion/onrecyclingnycgoesfromleadertolaggard. html?scp=3&sq=consumption%20of%20plastics&st=cse>. Thislongarticleishelpfulbecauseitmakesthereaderthinkaboutdifferentsolutionstothe affectsoftheworldwideconsumptionofplastics.Itsayssomeinterestingfactsthatmighthelp withwhatphilosophicalprincipleshouldbeusedforacommoditylikeplastic. Sagoff,Mark."DoWeConsumeTooMuch?"Onlineposting.TheAtlanticOnline MonthlyTheAtlantic.com.TheAtlantic,June1997.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97jun/consume.htm>. Thisarticleisfrom1997andwearecurrentlyin2011,it'sbeen14yearssince.Thearticlesays thatsincetheworldisadaptingtofindingnewmaterials,itforgetsandexploitsoldoneswhen theycouldbejustasgood,anexamplethewritergavewasthedeclineofrubber,cementor coal. IV.Documentary

Martinez9 AddictedToPlastic.Dir.IanConnacher.CrypticMothProductions.DocumentaryHeaven.Web. 31Oct.2011.<http://documentaryheaven.com/addictedtoplastic/#>. [Documentaryisonehourandtwentyfiveminutes].Thisdocumentaryisamazing,thereare plentyoffactsaboutplasticthataresoshockingthisbecomesinteresting.Thisdocumentary saysthattheUnitedNationsclaimsthereare46,000piecesofplasticineverysquaremileof ocean.Notonlydoesthisdocumentarygivegooddataandstatisticsabouttheamountof plastic,butalsodifferenttypesofplasticsandwhatthoseplasticsareusedfor.Thecomparison thatamaninthevideogavetoplasticwasclayandhestatesreasonsthatpeopledont automaticallythinkof.Italsospokeaboutthehistoryofplasticsandwhenitcameaboutlike demandforitduringworldwartwoandthemarket,commercialsandoverallmanufacture.An examplethedocumentarygavewashowin1979theU.Smademoreplasticthansteel.But, thatsnotallwhatIfoundmostsurprisingwasthatIcouldcomparethislongdocumentaryto thestoryofstuffvideobyAnnieLeanoard,becausethedocumentarysaidthateverythinghasa chaininotherwordsallthingshavesystems.Highlight17:4719:00.Itiskindofsadthatin 22:34adoctorwhoistodoanautopsyonabirdsaysthattryingtocleanuptheplasticthe waterwashesoutisalosingbattle.At28:00until28:26thedocumentaryreallymakesgood pointsforwhysomeplasticsandothermaterialsshouldntbemixed,makingmethinkmaybe thereshouldbesomekindoflaw.35:00talksaboutthedifferencebetweenrecyclingand downcycling.Itsaidthat100billionpoundsofplasticmadeonly5%arerecycledquestionis whathappenstotherestofthewaste?Wellapparentlyitissoldtoothercountries.Awayto harnessplasticenergyaswasteplastic,turningplasticbackintooil.MoreHighlights 38:5541:00,56:0058:15and64:0064:57[alsohasinfoforchemistrypartofproject] ParentSignature: V.MultiMediaVideos RecyclingtheWorld'sTrashintoCash(TurningTrashIntoCash)CNN.com.Dir.NatalieAllen andMatthewKnight.Perf.TomSzacky.CNN.comBreakingNews,U.S.,World,Weather, Entertainment&VideoNews.CNN,10Oct.2011.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/10/world/americas/terracyclerecyclingwasteszaky/index.html? iref=allsearch>. Thevideoshowshowonepersonwithagreatideacanhelpahugecommoditylikeplasticand recycleitadifferentway.Thiscanbeanotherpossiblesolutiontotheoverconsumptionof plasticswithouthavingtoinvolvethegovernment. TheStoryofBottledWater.TheStoryofStuff.FreeRangeStudios,PolarisInstitute,Environmental WorkingGroup,FoodandWaterWatch,PacificInstitute.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/>. Thisvideoshowstheviewerhowthingsbecomemanufactureddemandswiththesystemsof economy.Itgivesreasonablesolutionstohowwecanpreventcompaniesfromtrickingpeople intobelievingadstheyputuporfactstheygiveabouttheproductstheysell.Itwassaidinthe

Martinez10 videothattheUnitedStatesbuysmorethanhalfabillionbottledwatersinaweek,apparently enoughtocirculatetheglobefivetimes. World'sPopulationTeetersontheEdgeof7Billion:NowWhat?Perf.AzzaKaram,Dennis Dimick,HariSreenivasan.World'sPopulationTeetersontheEdgeof7Billion:NowWhat? PBSNewsHour,27Oct.2011.Web.29Oct.2011. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/julydec11/population2_1027.html>. Thevideoisremindingtheviewerthatoverpopulationcanpossiblychangethewantfor manufactureddemands,whichcouldcauseevenmoreoverconsumptionofmaterialsandthen thatwouldresultinthelossofproductsoroverpricing.Thisvideoisaperfectexampletoshow whatcanhappenwhentheworldoverpopulatesasitsdoingnow,anditconsumestwiceas muchasitdidtobeginwith.