Table of ContentsThe Case for Plastic Bag Pollution in VictoriaDetermining Factors of Plastic PollutionPlastic Pollution ControversiesMajor Consequences or Impacts of PlasticsConclusions and RecommendationsReferencesIndependently Of the various uses and applications of plastic in today's industries, it has become the major concern that harms the creatures and environment of this planet. Humans have become dependent on plastic items to meet most of their needs and this dependence has led to a rapid increase in this hazardous material. Plastic pollution has become one of the main concerns. It is estimated that more than thousands of tonnes of plastic are ending up in Victoria's parks, waterways and oceans. Due to its properties such as strength, cheap or low cost, light weight, plastic has been widely used for product packaging, healthcare and other industries. Plastic bags are also one of the most used items that can easily blow away with wind or water. These plastic bags have caused serious damage and danger to aquatic plants and animals. Being non-biodegradable, plastic tends to remain as it is for several years and further blocks sewage and water channels, thereby causing soil and water pollution. Its influences are long-term and become more and more difficult over time. The use of plastic bags has become ubiquitous in modern life. However, this essay addresses the multi-faceted topic of plastic bag use, exploring its impact on the environment, economy and society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The case for plastic bag pollution in Victoria The increased rate of plastic use has led to contamination of land and water. This affects the habitats of many organisms and unbalances the ecosystem, reducing its ability to support the needs of living things. One of the major concerns is non-biodegradability. Being non-biodegradable, plastic tends to remain as it is for many years and blocks roads, water channels and most of this waste enters water bodies. Many studies also indicate that a large number of organisms die from consuming trace amounts of plastic. Most people around the world eat seafood or other animals. This results in plastic entering the food chain, which is very dangerous for human health. The widespread use of plastic in agronomy has also led to soil degradation and a reduction in its fertility. Although many government and non-government organizations are working, the goals are still not achieved. Recycling is just one solution, but not the complete solution. It seems better to focus more on increasing alternatives, but their costs should also be adjustable and affordable. Banning certain plastic items is effective but requires more effort. Citizen education and awareness could help resolve these issues. Many struggles and actions are necessary to reduce plastic pollution of land and coasts. Events should be held to engage Victorians in cleaning macro and microplastics from land and water bodies. It is suggested that work carried out by people with the cooperation ofsenior authorities will make remarkable changes and could make Victoria a plastic-free state. Driving Factors of Plastic Pollution There are two main forms of plastic called macroplastic and microplastic. Most macroplastic enters water sources or remains accumulated on land in its synthesized form. On the other hand, microplastics refer to small-sized plastics. It can be further divided into primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics: these are small particles of around 5 mm that are released directly into the environment. These include no. of products used in cosmetics, textiles and other manufacturing industries. For example, microbeads, microfibers and scrubbers used in industries are the main contributors to plastic pollution. Secondary microplastics: These types of plastics are created with the breakdown of macroplastics and their conversion into microplastics. This occurs in the presence of sunlight through the process called photodegradation. This includes dumping plastic bottles, bags and other items. For several years, Victoria's population growth has increased at a high rate. According to one of the Victorian Government's reports, this figure is estimated to increase at a rate of 1.5% per year and could reach around 11.5 million. Increased population growth leads to an increase in demand for plastic products and more and more people surround coastal areas. There are high possibilities of discharge of these plastic wastes into water bodies, which not only contaminates the land and water but also affects humans and other living organisms. Mismanaged plastics refers to inappropriate methods or ways of handling plastics that can leak into the habitat of marine organisms and cause contamination and pollution that make it difficult for them to survive. These wastes include plastics from discharges from industries, factories and landfills. According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), in 1990, plastic pollution in the aquatic environment was recognized as a major problem. In 2015, one of the published research papers suggested that approximately 5 to 13 million tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010 from various land-based sources. Another significant marine pollution concern is discarded fishing equipment such as plastic nets, plastic lines and many more. Every year, more than 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear are discarded worldwide. Many times, consuming the fragments of these plastic bodies has led to the death of the organisms. Since many people around the world consume seafood and animal flesh, it can cause direct or indirect harm to humans by entering the food chain. These are plastic items or objects that can pass from overflowing trash cans in urban areas into the habitats of terrestrial and aquatic organisms that cause blockage of water channels, cause soil degradation and have many other impacts. Wind and stormwater carry all of this waste into water bodies or continue to accumulate on land. Lightweight plastic bags are commonly used to transport food and other groceries. Thick plastic bags are also available in many stores. Reports generated by the Victorian Government indicate that each year, more than 1.5 billion lightweight plastic bags and approximately 133 million heavy plastic bags are used by businesses.Victorians. Less than 70% of these bags are reused for many other purposes and the remaining quantity continues to persist in land or water bodies. According to National Litter Index reports, plastic bags make up less than 1 per cent of the total waste produced in Victoria. Controversies regarding plastic pollution There are many ongoing conflicts as it has been suggested that most of the plastic pollution in the aquatic system enters through land. (more than 80%) but some studies claim that this figure needs to be validated and does not provide information on the total mass of debris that entered or entered the aquatic system via land. In 2009, the Australian government investigated that around 4 billion single-use plastic bags are used each year, of which more than 2% become waste. According to reports generated by the Total Environment Center of Australia (TECA), these figures are not correct and need to be double-checked. He also suggested that in reality, the use of plastic bags amounts to more than 5 million per year and that every year the amount of plastic bags that become waste is at least 100 million. The Tangaroa Blue Foundation is a non-profit organization (NGO) reporting on the huge amount of hidden plastic debris currently covered in sand and vegetation in various parts of Australia. This debris could appear later due to tides, storms and other natural events. Plastic debris confined under the flora of estuaries and other waterways can have dangerous influences on the environment. The Tangaroa Blue Foundation has insisted there is currently no proper assessment regarding the hidden debris. Most reports generated by authorities are based on observations and estimates. There are controversies on issues related to the burning of plastic waste. Some researchers support burning plastic as well as recycling it, while other opponents argue that burning plastic creates many other problems that tend to hinder plastic recycling. There are controversies related to the dumping of plastic waste. There are many questions that need to be answered, for example: Can increased plastic recycling have negative impacts on the environment? What alternatives to plastic can be created and how to meet the demands of such a large population. Major consequences or impacts of plastics Some facts and confirmations suggest that the current use and problems related to its disposal remain a major challenge that continually affects both land and water. ecosystems. Many researchers already consider plastic pollution as a new threat that is destroying this planet. The extensive use of plastic in agriculture has led to soil degradation; reducing soil fertility as well as many microplastics tend to remain as they are in the soil for decades. This can cause great destruction to coral reefs, photoplankton and zooplankton. The accumulation of these plastic bodies can interfere with plants' water absorption and affect many other processes. Many research experiments determine that plastic is an artificial material responsible for climate change in Australia because, when exposed to sunlight, most plastics tend to produce greenhouse gases that overall lead to global warming. Human health also faces many risks associated with the use of plastic objects in daily life; exposure to plastic and., 3.