Reflection on the Readings:
Plastic Recycling Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.
After reading this article, I realized it did not really give a solution to “fix it”. As I scrolled down the article, it talked about using recycled plastic as an opportunity to re-create something new. However, it also explained that since most plastic has mixed contents of other chemicals and are not really “recyclable” it is difficult to reuse the plastic. I kept on expecting a clear instruction on how to really fix this problem but it just left me even more confused. The article shared a lot of data on China and the trash they have collected but didn’t really give a solution.
In this past year, China and their waste management have changed drastically. From not importing to any more trash from other countries to enforcing a new trash system, China’s realization of plastics or trash in general is something this nation should be proud of. I truly appreciate the government taking a strong stance on waste management and even implementing a law to fine others if they do not take care of their trash the correct way. Though more research needs to be done to answer if this new waste management China has implemented is actually working well, I can assume that this new rule cannot hurt the environment.
China stopped taking a long list of garbage and it’s causing chaos.
After watching the video, I feel a sense of proudness yet worried. As a citizen of both Taiwan and the United States, I’m happy that China is starting to take care of their own country and rejecting others responsibility but at the same time, I’m worried that the United States’ trash accumulation will cause even more health and environmental issues. I was surprised to see that Massachusetts has waived the recyclable trash and it disappointed me because I have lived in Massachusetts most of my time before college. I hope that this will only be a temporary rule and that a better solution will come about.
Response to the “Bag It” movie
Prior to watching this movie, I thought it was just another type of movie that explains the negatives of plastic and showing us a lot of data. However, I really enjoyed the way Jeb Berrier presented his research and thought in this movie and made it very intriguing and educational. He showed us that even an average guy can make a difference and it made me really think about the things that I can do. Moreover, the way he talked about the future especially with his kids who is arriving to this world soon made me really think about my future as well. I hope in the future my children wouldn’t have to suffer the consequences that we are causing right now.
Though this movie made me think a lot about my actions and the consequences that I am doing, it is frankly so hard to live the way Jeb does especially in China. I personally do not trust the tap water restaurants or other food place serve because I do not think they are sanitized and actually drinkable. Therefore I tend to buy bottled water because I trust that they are safer. However, I do reuse the water bottle multiple times until I lose it or I think it is dirty. I do constantly try to use less plastic but almost everything that I buy comes with plastic and it is not my choice to say “please don’t use plastic” or “I don’t need it”. Therefore it is up to the society to cut out plastic all together as well as packaging services using alternative sources or even realizing that hey, maybe this product doesn’t even need any packaging.
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