The Health Impact of Plastic Wastes and How Recycling Helps

Milan Djordjevich, a resident of Springfield, Missouri, studied chemistry at the University of Iowa and East Carolina University. Years later, he founded MD Plastics Inc. in Chicago, which he now serves as president. Through his business, Milan Djordjevich sells virgin plastic and recycled plastic to help keep disposable products out of landfills.

Plastics have revolutionized industry, trade, and everyday life with their low cost, lightness, moldability, and durability. However, the rapid increase in plastic production and use has led to severe environmental consequences, endangering wildlife and causing harm to human health. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, Approximately 77 percent of the 9.2 billion tons of plastic produced from 1950 to 2017 has ended up as waste, polluting landfills and the natural environment.

Microplastics, plastic particles measuring less than 5 mm, are now found nearly everywhere. They contaminate food and water supplies and get ingested by fish, birds, and other animals, and in the case of microscopic particles, by humans. Additionally, microplastics emit dangerous chemicals that can interfere with the immune system, brain development, and other bodily systems if inhaled or come into contact with the skin.

Along with the global concerns over climate change, many countries are taking steps to address the environmental and health hazards caused by plastic waste through recycling. Recycling plastic helps mitigate the negative health impacts by diverting plastic from landfills, reducing the amount that ends up in waterways, soil, and food sources. It also decreases the energy and resources required to produce new plastic products, thereby minimizing their environmental impact.