Ezinye izilimi kule ndawo zingaguqulwa ngemishini futhi zingafaka amaphutha. Usizo lokuthuthukisa Funda isiNgisi esisemthethweni
Ibhokisi lepulasitiki elihamba ngaphansi kwesolwandle.
Blue Initiative

Ukugqwala kweplastiki

Wonke umquba wepulasitiki owenziwe futhi ongashiwo uthuthukile, usekhona, endaweni ethile kuleplanethi. Okuningi kuzohlala isikhathi eside kunanoma ubani ofunda lesi siqephu.

Ipulasitiki iyizinto eziwusizo kakhulu. Ilula, ibiza kakhulu, ingamanzi futhi ayikwazi ukulahleka, ngakho-ke sisebenzisana nayo yonke into kusuka ezinyangeni zokwelashwa kuya kumaphakethe aqinile, futhi ngenxa yalokho yenze kube yinkinga. Izinto ezifanayo ze-chemical bonds ezikwenza ibhodlela liqinile ziyenza ihlale iminyaka emikhulu uma ikhishwa. Umhlaba awunawo ama-enzyme athuthukisiwe ukuwadla ngokushesha.

Kungani i-plastic ihlala njalo

Iningi le-plastics yizinhlayiya ezide ze-carbon ne-hydrogen ezikhiqizwa nge-oil negesi. Ukukhanya kwelanga kanye namagagasi ashaya ama-plastics, kodwa akuba yinto engalimaza: ibhodlela lihlukaniswa libe ngama-fragments, ama-fragments e microplastics ancane kunamamilimitha amane, futhi la ma-nanoplastics ancane kakhulu ukuwabona. Ama-microplastics atholakala manje kusuka ezindongeni zesihlabathi esinzulu kuya eqhwa le-Arctic, ezinhlanzini, emanzini okudla kanye noshukela womntu.

Hundreds of small white, blue and yellow plastic pellets scattered among twigs and grass on a beach.
I-nurdles, amapellets amancane epulasitiki asetshenziswa kakhulu ekukhiqizeni imikhiqizo yepulasitiki, ahlanzwa phakathi kwezinto ezibomvu zesihlabathi. I-pellets ehlanganiswayo iyinye yezingxenye zezinto ezincane zeplastiki eziselwandle. Photo: hockadilly, CC BY-SA 2.0

Indlela efinyelela ngayo emfuleni

Ingxenye encane kuphela yepulasitiki emhlabeni iphinde ibuyiselwe. Ngokusho kwe-OECD, izwe likhiqize 460 million tons yepulasitiki ngo-2019 futhi wakhipha i-353 million tons. Izinga le-9 kuphela lalezi zilwane eziphilayo ezingenayo imvelo elisha; i-22% yazo yaphathwa kabi, okusho ukuthi yafakwa emgodini, yashiswa noma yalahleka endaweni. Amamfula yimizila: amapulasitiki awela ezweni ahlanzwa emapayipi, amapayipi ahlanzwa emalwandle namapayipi ahlanzwa emfuleni.

460 MB2019 (i-i-OECD, 2022)
9%of plastic waste was recycled (i-OECD, 2022)
19 kuya ku-23 MBof plastic waste entered rivers, lakes and seas in 2016 (Borrelle et al., 2020)

Izifunda ezinemali azikwazi ukumelana nalokhu. I-Mediterranean ibamba cishe amaphesenti angama-1 wamanzi aselwandle emhlabeni kodwa amaphesenti angama-7 wezinto ezincane zeplastiki, futhi iplastikhi yenza amaphesenti angama-43 kuya kuma-51 epulasitiki emigwaqweni yaseGreki (I-WWF, ngo-2018). I-water pollution explainer yethu ihlukanisa imifula ephethe amaplastiki amaningi emanzini futhi ibonisa ukuthi ihlala kanjani emifuleni nasezilwandle zase-Europe.

Ibhishi elishayela ngemikhumbi yepulasitiki, ama-buoys, iziphuzo kanye nebhokisi ngezansi komfula omnyama we-volcanic, nomuntu oyedwa ehlala endaweni yokulahla.
Ipulasitiki yahlanzwa eSanta Luzia, isiqhingi esingahlalisi abantu saseCape Verde, ngo-2021. Imvula kanye ne-Atlantic currents ziyiqoqa enyakatho yesiqhingi; ingxenye enkulu yazo ilahlekile ngenxa yokudoba. Photo: CaptainDarwin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Imishini yokudoba inhle kakhulu. Izinsiza ezilahlekile nezilahliwe, ama-lines nama-traps agcina eqoqa izinhlanzi, izimvu, izilwane ezincane kanye nezinyoni zelwandle iminyaka, izinkinga ezibizwa ngokuthi ukudoba okungenzeka, futhi zihlanganisa inhlanganisela enkulu ye-plastic ehamba phambili emabhishi amakhulu.

I-sea turtle eqashwe emgodini we-fish net oluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka eqhweni eliqinile.
I-sea turtle ehlotshiswe nge-ghost net, i-net yokudoba elahlekile noma elahliwe eqhubeka nokudonsa. Credit: NOAA

Ukuvuselelwa kuyinsizakalo ekugcineni. Okuqala ukuthi awusebenzisi udoti.

Ingxenye engabonakali: izithako

Imikhiqizo yepulasitiki ivame ukuba yipolymer ehlanzekile. Abakhiqizi bafaka ama-plasticizers, ama-flame retardants, ama-colourants nama-stabilizers, futhi ezinye zalezi zinto zekhemikhali zingaphuma. Abanye, njenge-phthalates ne-bisphenols, bathinta ama-hormone futhi bavunyelwe ezindaweni eziningi. Isintshisekelo esigcwele solwazi lwemiphumela yabo ejwayelekile yosuku ngalunye siqhubeka nokukhula, okuyinto eyenza kube nzima ukuqaphela.

Izixazululo eziqinisekisiwe

Izinkomba zibonisa ukuthi izinyathelo ezisebenza * ngaphambi* kokuba ipulasitiki ibe yigugu, futhi eziningi zazo sezisebenzele ezweni lonke:

  1. Izindleko zezipho ezisetshenziswa kanjena, noma uzibambise. Izindleko zase-England zokugqoka izipho ezisetshenziswa kanjena, eziqanjwa ngo-2015, ziye zaba sinye sezishintsho ezihamba phambili empilweni: ama-supermarket aphambili wakhipha izipho eziyizigidi ezingama-7.6 ezisetshenziswa kanjena ngo-2014, futhi wathengisa ama-euro ayizigidi ezingama-126 ngonyaka we-2025 kuya ku-2026, ukuwa kwe-98% (iGosa lase-UK). i-Ireland yasungula 15 isenti lesivivinyo kumabhokisi epulasitiki e-2002, futhi imali idlula ezinyangeni zokunciphisa udoti; isilinganiso sezipho zokhuni ezifakwe ezindaweni zokulahla izidakamizwa zase-Ireland sikhuphuke ngo more than 92 percent kusukela lapho (Government of Ireland; Convery et al., 2007). I-Rwanda yavimbela amabhokisi eplastiki ngo-2008 futhi isebenzise lesi simiso kahle kakhulu, ngakho-ke ithandwa kakhulu njengenhloko yesifundazwe (Behuria, 2021).
  2. Ukubuyiswa kwe-deposit. Ukukhokha i-deposit encane ebuyiselwe emuva kumabhodlela namabhokisi kuguqula izitsha ezingenalutho zibe yimali, ngakho zibuyela endaweni yokufinyelela emifuleni. E-Norway, 92.4% yebhodlela lepulasitiki eligcinwe libuyiselwe ukugcinwa kwayo ngo-2025, futhi i-98.2% yaqoqwa ngokugcwele (Ingxelo yonyaka ka-Infinitum 2025). ILithuania yaqala izinhlelo zayo ngo-2016: cishe isithathu sebhodlela lepulasitiki laqoqwa ngaphambi kwayo, futhi amaphesenti angama-91.9 wezinto zonke ezigcinwe zibuyela emuva ngokuphela konyaka ka-2017, unyaka wesithathu kuphela wezinhlelo, ngokusho kwezibalo zomhlinzeki (Open Access Government, 2018). EJalimane, iziphuzo ezisetshenziswa kanjena kanye ne-cans zifaka imali ekhokhwayo, futhi kusukela ngo-2006 wonke amasitolo athengisayo kufanele athathe emuva izinto ezingasebenzi zezinto ezifanayo (DPG).
Ibhodlela kanye ne-can return machine efakwe ngaphakathi kwedonga le-tile esitolo esikhulu saseNorway, ngaphansi kombhalo obomvu ofunda Miljøstasjon.
Imishini yokubuyisela iziphuzo nezitsha esitolo esikhulu seCoop Extra eOsøyro, eNorway, ngo-2018. Ibhokisi ngalinye elifakwa kulo libuyisela emuva inkokhelo. Photo: Wolfmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
  1. Yenza abakhiqizi bakhokhele. Izinhlelo ezibanzi zokwehlisa umthwalo wokukhiqiza zikhokhisa izinkampani ukuqoqwa nokuvuselelwa kabusha kwephakethe labo elithengisayo, okuzozikhuthaza ukuthi zisebenzise kancane futhi zithuthukise ukuguqulwa kabusha. Le nkinga ixhaswe yidatha: ucwaningo lwe-1,576 brand audits okwenziwe ngabahlanganyeli ezweni le-84 lwathola ukuthi inzalo yenkampani ye-branded plastic pollution ikhula ngokuqondile ngengxenye yayo yokukhiqizwa kwe-plastic, futhi ukuthi isigamu sazo zonke izinto azikho i-brand ngaso sonke isikhathi, isizathu sokwenza abakhiqizi babike lokho abathengisayo (Cowger et al., 2024).
  2. Kuqoqwe konke. Kubantu abazigidigidi asikho ukuqoqwa kwezinto ezilahlekile ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ukuthuthukiswa kohlelo lokuqoqa nokuhlukanisa impahla kuyisici esibalulekile sokuvimbela ipulasitiki efinyelela emfuleni.
Uwesifazane omncane onebhayisikili eligcwele isigqoko esimnyama esikhulu sepulasitiki eqoqwe esitezi sokugcina impahla ngaphansi kwelanga elisha.
Umqoqi wezinto ezilahlekile onesitoko sepulasitiki eqoqiwe. Ezindaweni eziningi, abaqoqi abangaziyo njengaye baqoqa ingxenye enkulu yepulasitiki esetshenziswa kabusha. Photo: Andrew Kartende, CC BY-SA 4.0
  1. A global treaty. United Nations member states have been negotiating a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution across the whole life cycle of plastic, from production to disposal.

Isimo sicacile. Uma ukhetho olulula futhi olubizayo luyisinqumo esihlanzekile, abantu abaningi bathatha lokhu, futhi ushintsho luhamba ngokushesha.

Izinhlangano ezisebenza kulolu msebenzi

Lezi zinkampani ezingatholakali zikhona izibalo zomphakathi zemiphumela. Thola ukuthi yini abayenzayo, futhi uma umsebenzi wabo ukhuluma nawe, cabanga ukunikela kubo ngokuqondile ngewebhusayithi yabo. I Local Solar System Foundation ayisebenzisi noma iyiphi yazo futhi ayitholanga lutho kuzo. Phambi kokuba ukhokhe, funda ingxelo yonyaka nezimali zenhlangano ngayinye, njengoba ungenza nanoma iyiphi inhlangano enikelayo.

  • Ocean Conservancy iyinhlangano engekho emthethweni yase-US (501(c)(3)) ephethe i-International Coastal Cleanup. Kuze kwaqala, abantu abangaphezu kuka 19 million abasebenza ngokuzithandela baqoqe ngaphezulu kwama- 400 million ama-pound (ama- 180,000 tons) wezinsalela, futhi barekhoda yonke into kumakhadi edatha ajwayelekile, bekwakha i-database enkulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni yezinto eziphilayo ezingenalutho (Ocean Conservancy).
  • 5 Gyres Institute iyinhlangano engekho emthethweni yase-US (501(c)(3)) eyasungulwa ngabacwaningi uMarcus Eriksen noAnna Cummins. U-Eriksen wahola ucwaningo oluqale lulinganise ngokugcwele ipulasitiki ehamba ngamanzi, okungu-5 trillion amaphuzu (U-Eriksen nokunye, 2014), futhi inhlangano yaholela ekuqwashiseni kwe- #BanTheBead okusize ukudlula kwemithetho yeMicrobead-Free Waters Act yaseMelika ngo-2015.
  • Plastic Soup Foundation iyinhlangano yobuciko yaseDutch enesimo se-anbi, yasungulwa ngo-2011. Isebenza ngemithetho ye-EU neyezwekazi mayelana nepulasitiki, isebenzisa uhlelo lokusebenza oluvumela abathengayo ukuthi babhekane nama-microplastics kumakhandlela, futhi yasiza ukuqala ucwaningo lokuqala lwemiphumela yokuphila kwe-microplastics ngo-2018.
I-sea turtle ibhukuda eduze kwebhokisi lepulasitiki elihamba.
Izinhlanzi zelwandle zingakhohlwa amabhokisi ahambayo njenge-jellyfish, enye yezithelo zabo ezijwayelekile.

Ungasiza kanjani

  • Ukwenqaba, bese usebenzisa kabusha. Thola isiphuzo, ikhofi nebhokisi. I-plastic ephumelela kakhulu yileyo engazange yenziwe.
  • Thenga ukhululekile futhi uphinde ugcwalise. Khetha izithelo nezithelo ezivulekile, gcwalisa kabusha amasitolo namamikhiqizo engilazini, insimbi noma iphepha lapho zikhona.
  • Ungasebenzisi izinto ezingasetshenziswa kabusha: ama-trays epulasitiki amnyama, amaphakethe anezingqimba eziningi, i-polystyrene kanye nanoma yini ebhalwe ngokuthi ingasetshenziswa kabusha uma indawo yakho ayinayo imithombo yezolimo.
  • Nquma ukuthi ungasebenzisa kanjani ama-microplastics ekhaya. Hlala izigqoko ezikhiqizwe ngezinto eziphilayo, ziqine futhi zipholile, bese ucabanga ngomshini wokuwasha; ungasebenzisi ama-cosmetics ane-microbeads ye-plastic.
  • Thinda izithathu. Thola izingxenye ezintathu zezinto ezilahlekile ebhishi, epaki noma emfuleni ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho uvakashela khona. Kuyinto elinganayo.
  • Umbuzo ovela edolobhaneni lakho nasezindaweni zakho zokudlela. Umbuzo ovela kuma-schemes wokukhokha, izimpuphu zamanzi ezitholakalayo futhi ukhetho lokugcwalisa kabusha. Buza ama-brand ukuthi ashicilele ukuthi bangakanani amaplastiki abawathengisayo nokuthi bangananini abawuqoqayo.
  • Join us. Hlola ukuhumusha kwesichazamazwi noma hlela idatha yeplastiki yasendaweni ku contribution board.

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