One word: plastics

Sat., Feb. 1, 2020

“I just wanna say one word to you: plastics”…

If ‘merica is truly exceptional, a citizen would not be wrong in expecting the USA to immediately be able to stop the flood of plastics into our environment. It’s a man-made problem; there should be a man-made solution. Easy. Oh, wait, gobs of money are at stake. Plus, Umericans can only muster a recycling percentage of a measly 9% of our plastics. Stellar!!

Even non-exceptional China is working to stop the manufacture of one-use plastics such as plastic straws and plastic bags by 2022. According to studies, most plastics end up in waterways and the ocean — over 9 million tons per year. Gross!

Is it time for the government to subsidize thermal depolymerization plants throughout the country while enforcing mandatory recycling? Sounds serious. It is!

Steve LaCombe

Spokane Valley

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