Plastic Water bottles SHOULD NOT be used!!

Plastics bottles bring us everything from household cleaners to soft drinks to things available as water! These bottles, while convenient, do have disadvantages when used on a wide scale. However, does anybody ever take time to think of the cons of using plastic water bottles? Most of these disadvantages are ecological in nature; the consequences could have widespread economic consequences in the long-term.

The main disadvantage of plastic bottles is the amount of time they take to decompose. Studies show that an average plastic bottle takes 500 years to decompose. Unlike tin cans which only take 50 years to decompose. A plastic’s decomposition can be affected by various factors, such as type of plastic, the climate and acids in the landfill. For an example, plastic beverage bottles take 450 years to dissolve and plastic bags only take 10-20 years to decompose.

Does anybody know that plastic bottles are difficult to recycle? Glass bottles can be melted and easily reused, as tin cans. Recycling plastic is not so simple! Much of the plastic placed in recycling boxes is not recycled at all, as most plastic cannot be recycled. Those bottles that are recycled are not used to make new bottles. Instead, recycled plastic bottles are used to make non-recyclables, such as t-shirts, plastic lumber or parking lot bumpers.

Thirdly, plastic water bottles are a threat to all animals! Unnecessary plastic usually ends up within marine sources. The research shows that the Pacific Ocean has one of the largest dumping grounds for plastics, unknown numbers of sea birds marine mammals and fish ingest plastics, affect their health. As plastics break down by wave action, phobic or biological means generation of micro plastics also occurs.

Fourthly, plastic is not renewable! Plastic is manufactured using oil with products and natural gas; materials that could be used in many other applications or conserved were plastic usage lowers. Natural gas, for an example, can be used to heat houses and cook food. Using plastic in the quantity we currently do reduces the availability of these resources, which are gone forever when used up!