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Perspective: What Are YOU Going To Do About Microplastics?

Elsa Glover
Julia and Melanie with the sponsor of Clinton Rosette Middle School's Green Club, John Murray.

Occasionally, our Perspectives author Elsa Glover turns over regularly scheduled spot to her colleagues and students who have something to say. This time, she asked students in Clinton Rosette Middle School's Green Club to talk about something important to them. Melanie Hernandez and Julia Glover worked together to research, write, and deliver their Perspective.

Some people know this, and some people don’t. But everyone needs to understand the effects of plastics on our world and make more informed choices about using plastic.  

 
Plastics are one of the most dangerous materials we use to make different products. When we use disposable plastics, we are creating a larger problem. This plastic is usually not biodegradable. So the plastic gets buried in a landfill or seeps into our water systems. The plastic breaks down to become microplastics, very small pieces of plastic that invade so much of our daily lives. Microplastics pollute the oceans, and they make up about 30% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Microplastics are also in people’s foods, like bottled drinks, seafood, and food packaging. Microplastics are even found in cosmetics like moisturizers, shampoos, and scrubs.  

  

We can decrease plastic use and waste. One common solution is to buy groceries using bags that are cloth or mesh. Another way to reduce plastic is to recycle so we can reuse the plastic in another form.  

 

Everyone’s choices matter, and we need to make informed choices to help conserve the earth. Knowing that plastics cause complications and problems, we can choose to use them less. Think about buying items without microplastics, replacing plastics, and finding alternatives that do not hurt our world.  

 
We stopped using plastic straws. What choices will you make? 

 
We are Melanie Hernandez and Julia Glover. And that is our perspective. 

 

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