Knowledge
As Goa imposes up to Rs. 5000 fine on using plastics bags, ScooNews investigates and shares 5 TED Talks on plastic pollution and what is being done to get over it
Here is a selection of 6 TED Talks which will show you what plastics do to our earth and ecosystem and what various individuals and groups are doing globally to raise awareness on plastic pollution and substitution.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday announced that from July onwards upto Rs 5000 fine must be paid by those buying or selling plastic bags in the state. Parrikar announced the measure as part of the government’s efforts to keep Goa clean. While it is the prerogative of governments to ban and regulate the use of plastics, one thing which every human being living on this earth must understand; it is our responsibility as citizens, parents, students and educators to understand the harm plastics do to our environment.
Here is a selection of 6 TED Talks which will show you what plastics do to our earth and ecosystem and what various individuals and groups are doing globally to raise awareness on plastic pollution and substitution:
Tough truths about plastic pollution | Dianna Cohen
Artist Dianna Cohen shares some tough truths about plastic pollution in the ocean and in our lives — and some thoughts on how to free ourselves from the plastic gyre.
We can recycle plastic | Mike Biddle
Less than 10% of plastic trash is recycled — compared to almost 90% of metals — because of the massively complicated problem of finding and sorting the different kinds. Frustrated by this waste, Mike Biddle has developed a cheap and incredibly energy efficient plant that can, and does, recycle any kind of plastic.
A super-strong plastic that reverts to dust | Jeannette Garcia
Plastics advocate Jeannette Garcia's accidental invention of a super-strong and fully biodegradable polymer could make today's environmental curse tomorrow's sustainable answer. The implications? Recyclable airplanes, dissolvable water bottles and dramatically diminished landfills.
A young inventor's plan to recycle Styrofoam | Ashton Kofer
From packing peanuts to disposable coffee cups, each year the US alone produces some two billion pounds of Styrofoam — none of which can be recycled. Frustrated by this waste of resources and landfill space, Ashton Cofer and his science fair teammates developed a heating treatment to break down used Styrofoam into something useful. Check out their original design, which won both the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award and the Scientific American Innovator Award from Google Science Fair.
Two young scientists break down plastics with bacteria | Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao
Once it's created, plastic (almost) never dies. While in 12th grade Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao went in search of a new bacteria to biodegrade plastic — specifically by breaking down phthalates, a harmful plasticizer. They found an answer surprisingly close to home.
Are mushrooms the new plastic? | Eben Bayer
Product designer Eben Bayer reveals his recipe for a new, fungus-based packaging material that protects fragile stuff like furniture, plasma screens — and the environment.
We must all act and take positive steps like using paper bags and cloth bags for our shopping. Glass or steel containers to carry liquids or water. We must reduce the consumption of plastic. We must recycle, reuse and reduce and only then we will leave a beautiful earth as a legacy for our future generations.
Source: TED.com