Dear Editor,

Plastic takes an average of 500 years to break down into simpler fragments, releasing carbon dioxide along the way, a greenhouse gas that fuels the indelible effects of climate change. While plastic pollution is often seen as a visible nuisance clogging oceans and littering landscapes, its long-term environmental impact runs much deeper.

As plastic degrades, it not only contributes to the climate crisis but also leaches harmful chemicals through run-off, threatening numerous ecosystems and human health alike through bio-accumulation. Despite the growing awareness, global plastic production continues to rise incrementally, raising urgent questions about our consumption habits and the future of our planet.

July is observed globally as Plastic Free Month, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the devastating impact of plastic pollution on the natural environment, and providing novel resources in its control. What began as a grass roots movement has now become a worldwide call to action, urging individuals, communities, and governments to rethink their reliance on single-use plastics.

Mark you, I am by no means denying the significance of plastic in modern society. Its affordability, durability, and resistance to oxidation make it a material of choice across countless industries.

Unlike metal, it doesn’t suffer corrosion; unlike wood, it doesn’t rot under humid conditions. Its lightweight nature makes transport much easier and more energy-efficient. In many ways, plastic has revolutionised how we live. But that same resilience is what, paradoxically, makes it such a persistent environmental threat.

Undoubtedly, Jamaica faces a persistent garbage problem. Constant littering, coupled with a chronic lack of proper waste-processing facilities, has left the island contributing a significant share of the estimated 320,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated across the Caribbean each year, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha).

In response, the Jamaican Government took a crucial step several years ago by introducing a nationwide ban on certain single-use plastics. While their efforts in developing solid policies are indeed commendable, this move is only the beginning of what must be a sustained and collective effort to address the island’s mounting waste crisis. The efficacy of this initiative ultimately depends on our discipline as a nation.

With the hurricane season now upon us, the need for proper plastic disposal becomes even more urgent. Every bottle tossed carelessly, every bag left behind, adds to the danger. If we want to protect our island, we must take personal responsibility. Let’s treat waste management not as a chore, but as a civic duty. Our future, quite literally, depends on it.

Dujean Edwards

dujeanedwards@gmail.com