QUT University Report: Plastic Waste and Its Global Impact

This report addresses the critical issue of plastic waste, highlighting its widespread usage and detrimental environmental impacts. It begins by establishing the significance of the topic, citing statistics on plastic consumption and waste generation, and referencing the challenges faced by both developed and developing nations in managing plastic waste. The report emphasizes the long degradation times of plastics and the presence of harmful additives, which pose risks to human and wildlife health. It then discusses the importance of addressing this issue, with a focus on the multi-pronged approaches undertaken by institutions like QUT University, including collaborations with government and private sectors to promote eco-friendly solutions and enhance the food industry's sustainability and profitability. The report underscores the urgency of the problem and the need for effective waste management strategies to mitigate the environmental and health consequences of plastic pollution. The references cited support the claims made throughout the report, providing evidence of the research on plastic waste and its impact.

Communication

Communication 1
Plastic has several appreciated usages; people have turned into habitual to particular use with
various environmental significances. It has been observed that 1 million plastic consumption
bottles are bought every single minute and 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are utilized
globally annually. Therefore, half of the plastic formed is intended to be used just once and
then it is put in the dustbins. The plastic waste now is so abundant in the natural environment.
The plastic pollution has identified to be the most pressing environmental issues as the
production of the disposable plastic products is overwhelming the ability of the world to
manage waste (Sharma & Bansal, 2016). The developing nations like Asia and Africa face
more problem of plastic waste as garbage collection systems are not efficient here. Whereas
the developed nations with low recycling rates have trouble inappropriately gathering
discarded plastics.
The plastic generally contains additives which make it stronger, more flexible and robust.
But several of these additives can extend the product’s life ranging from 400 years to the
breakdown. Plastic comes in several forms with the detrimental effects on human wellbeing.
The condiments being used in the plastics can have several health effects on public. The
plastic is equally harmful to wildlife as millions of animals are being killed by plastic every
year (Verma, et al. 2016). Almost seven hundred species comprising the endangered ones are
identified to be affected by the entanglement or starvation.
In order to manage plastic waste, landfills are not a viable solution. QUT University has
undertaken a multi-prolonged approach for handling the global challenge of minimising the
level of plastic wastage. The Queensland Government has initiated with private companies
and locals to come up with the eco-friendly ways to tackle extra waste. QUT has even taken
initiative with a new partner to enhance the future sustainability and profitability of the food
industry.

Communication 2
References
Sharma, R., & Bansal, P. P. (2016). Use of different forms of waste plastic in concrete–a
review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 473-482.
Verma, R., Vinoda, K. S., Papireddy, M., & Gowda, A. N. S. (2016). Toxic pollutants from
plastic waste-a review. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 35, 701-708.