Editor’s Note: This commentary, by Susan McCabe with Tag Gornall and Steve Bergman, is part of an ongoing series of “Green Briefs” contributed to The Beachcomber by the Whole Vashon Project. Find out more at wholevashonproject.com.

Every week, each American consumes a credit card’s worth of plastic in the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the air we breathe. Plastics were introduced as far back as 1907 to solve problems but instead created a host of greater troubles. Today, plastics threaten life in the ocean and, some say, the very existence of humankind because of the dangerous “forever” chemicals used to create them. In fact, every piece of plastic ever created still exists, because the polymers used to make plastic break down into micro-plastic particles that can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.

Most plastics are made from oil, some from coal and natural gas – all fossil fuels. In 2012, experts estimated that 8% of oil production was used to make plastics. Today’s usage has risen to 10%, largely due to the increased use of plastic during the COVID pandemic.

The manufacturing process uses excess energy, pollutes the air when it’s burned, creates microplastic particles, exposes workers to toxic chemicals and causes hormone disruptions in the general population.

What’s more:

Just 9% of the 35.7 million tons of plastic waste Americans create is recycled. Packaging constitutes the majority of plastics in the waste stream – just 14% is recycled; 70% is landfilled and the remainder is incinerated

By 2050, if we keep using plastic at our current rate, there’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

One estimate suggested that 107,000 to 730,000 tons of microplastics could be dumped on agricultural soils in the U.S. and Europe every year, compared to the 93,000 to 236,000 tons that enter the oceans.

All polyester garments include plastic; washing those fleece jackets causes microplastic particles to float into the air and water.

The “bad” plastics are those containing endocrine-disrupting biphenyl A or phthalates used to make hard, clear plastics like the linings in disposable food and drink containers and in shower curtains.

The “ugly” plastics are single use such as plastic bags and cups, which make up 50% of plastic production.

But the news about plastics isn’t all bad. For instance, the market for recycled plastic is growing. Current research is yielding more ways to use plastic as raw material and in clean energy production.

“Good” plastics are those generally used in medical applications, cell phones, computers, construction components and others used to lighten vehicles, saving energy. Some grocery store chains are offering refillable packaging that can be used, returned and cleaned for reuse. Reusable grocery bags and refillable coffee mugs are making a triumphant return as panicked pandemic bans are lifted.

State and local governments are passing legislation aimed at reducing plastics use. Washington State’s single-use plastic bag ban became law in October. Retail customers must provide their own reusable bags, or pay an $.08 charge for paper or reusable plastic bags.

Washington State’s legislature is among the most progressive in the US, working on and passing multiple laws aimed at reducing waste, supporting clean energy development and promoting land conservation. Zero Waste Washington hosts a website outlining pending and passed legislation at zerowastewashington.org/legislative-work.The site includes opportunities to support this legislation with a few simple clicks.

That brings us to what we can do to make a dent in the damage plastics are doing to the Earth.

Stop buying bottled water! It’s more than 2000 times more expensive than tap water and it’s less regulated in most parts of the US. Seventeen million barrels of oil are used to make plastic bottles every year.

Other steps you can take fall under the four R’s — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse.

Eat fresh foods to avoid plastic packaging. Buy in bulk and from our Farmers’ Market. Bring your own reusable grocery bags, bulk food containers and produce bags. Stick with bottled wine rather than boxed. Store food in glass jars and Pyrex containers instead of Ziploc bags. Use reusable water bottles; drink soda from glass bottles. Use cotton or hemp shower curtains, bar shampoo and conditioner, make your own toothpaste; use cloth diapers.

Check out these tips and more on page 87 of The Whole Vashon Catalog (www.wholevashonproject.com/catalog). And write to manufacturers, demanding that they be responsible for disposing of the waste they create.

Now, play a plastics awareness game — try to spend a day without plastic or save all the plastic waste your family creates in one week in a laundry basket … or two.