Solving the Problem of Plastic Waste

Plastic pollution is getting worse, especially in the oceans. The main source is food packaging and food containers that are only used once, then tossed in the trash. Recycling only takes care of about six percent of all plastic waste and with the prices to recycle going through the roof more and more waste is being thrown away to save on cost. As a result much of the seafood we eat contains plastic; eating the flesh of fish harvested in the oceans, we consume micro amounts of plastics that end up staying in our bodies. Although plastics have yet to be shown to be really bad for our health, it is not something that I want accumulating in my sacred temple.

The answer that would solve much of this problem is hemp. Viturally all food packaging and containers can be made of hemp. When it is buried in a landfill after use, it decomposes into the soil and in a lot of cases may be used as fertilizer. Hemp can be made clear for water bottles that decompose when placed in landfills. It could be a major cash crop for farmers worldwide with thousands of uses for hemp beyond food packaging. The hemp plant can be made into food, building materials, and even everyday items like a toothbrush or paper, for instance. Its greatest advantage is certainly that when an item made of hemp is used and discarded it readily decomposes back into the soil. So if you are an inventor, get to work on figuring out how to use this wonder plant to solve our problems with waste disposal.