What is the plastic problem?

Plastic is made from petroleum and is also called synthetic resin.
Compared to other materials, it is lighter, durable, and easier to process, so it is widely used in various products and containers and packaging around us.
On the other hand, due to its excellent durability and stability, it is difficult to decompose in nature.

If plastics that have characteristics that are difficult to decompose in the natural world flows into the natural world due to illegal dumping or littering, it will reach the sea through rivers, etc., leading to marine pollution.
The painful appearance of creatures, such as sea turtles with plastic straws stuck in their nose, and whales who swallowed a large amount of plastic bags and plastic garbage mistakenly swallowed for food, were often reported.
In response to this situation, the marine plastic waste problem has become a major problem around the world.

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Current Status of Plastic Issues (PDF: 2,285KB)

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To reduce disposable plastics (PDF: 1,221KB)

■Current status
　・Japan's annual emissions of one-way plastic containers and packaging per capita in Japan is the second largest in the world (the United States is the United States). ※1
　・The separation rate of PET bottles discharged from households in Yokohama has remained at a high level of 90% or more, while plastic containers and packaging
　　The classification rate has remained in the 60% range.

■The problem of global warming
　・Plastics generate a lot of greenhouse gases (CO2) that cause global warming when burned.
　　Global warming is said to cause global climate change, such as disaster-class intense heat and record-breaking heavy rains.
■Problems of resource depletion
　・Since the petroleum resources, the raw material for plastics, is limited, the use of unnecessary plastics leads to resource depletion.
■The problem of marine pollution
　・It is estimated that hundreds of millions of tons of plastics are flowing from land to the ocean annually worldwide, and this will be achieved by 2050.
It is predicted that 　　more plastic waste that exceeds the weight of fish will occupy the ocean. ※2
　・There have been reports of plastics coming out of whales, sea turtles, seabirds, and fish, and the impact on the marine environment, including ecosystems.
　　I am concerned about it.

※1 “Single-use plastics: A roadmap-for sustainability” (United Nations Environment Program, 2018)
※2 “THE NEW PLASTICS ECONOMY ETHINKING THE FUTURE OF PLASTICS” (Elen MacArthur Foundation, 2016)

One of the causes of marine pollution caused by plastics is microplastics.

■What is microplastics?
　Among plastics, plastics with a size of 5 mm or less is called microplastics and can be broadly divided into two types.
　It is said that it is almost impossible to recover microplastics that have flowed into the sea.

■Problems with microplastics
　Although it is still under research, it is said that microplastics can easily absorb chemical substances in water, so it is said that there is concern about its impact on ecosystems.

In response to these issues, the Ministry of the Environment formulated the "Plastic Resource Recycling Strategy" in May 2019.
For more information, please refer to the following link.

In Motoichi, we devise "Yokohama plastic resources recycling action program" and push forward approach of plastic measures.
For more information, please refer to the following link.

Plastic is a very useful material, so it is used in various places, and it is not realistic to stop using all plastics.
First of all, it is important to practice what each of us can do.

・Use of My Bags ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Do not get a shopping bag

・Use of My Bottle: Reduce the use of PET bottles by holding my own bottle
・Don't litter ... in a beautiful city with a beautiful heart
・Disposable tableware is NO!　・・ ・ Do not get disposable tableware such as plastic straws, spoons and forks
・Thorough separation ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Separate properly into the trash can
・Promotion of cleaning activities, etc. ... Actively participate in beautification of the city and environmental conservation

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Flyer (Table) (PDF: 754KB)

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Flyer (back) (PDF: 800KB)

[For elementary school students] Please take a look at the page for everyone's plastic measures page!