Judith Enck has dedicated her career to protecting public health and the environment. She began at Environmental Advocates NY, then held senior roles in state and federal government, including deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor’s Office and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator under President Obama. Now a professor at Bennington College and president of Beyond Plastics, she aims to eliminate plastic pollution globally.
Enck, who calls herself a “solid waste gal,” co-authored a book with journalist Adam Mahoney titled “The Problem With Plastic.” The book highlights that plastic is everywhere, contributing to pollution, climate change, and health issues.
Plastic production has skyrocketed from 2 million tons annually in 1950 to 450 million tons today. Made from fossil fuels and chemicals, plastics harm the environment throughout their lifecycle. Low-income communities near plastic plants suffer most from their emissions, according to Enck and Mahoney. Meanwhile, people consume and inhale hundreds of thousands of microplastics annually.
Plastics are pervasive, found in the air, on Mount Everest, in Antarctic snow, and in the deep ocean. They are also found in human placentas, breast milk, stool, blood, and brains.
Plastic recycling is mostly a myth, Enck claims in the book, explaining its inefficacy. Despite a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by plastic companies, most plastics cannot be recycled.
The Federal Trade Commission provides guidelines on recycling labeling, but many companies ignore these voluntary rules. Enck recommends recycling only numbers one and two plastics, as they have the best chance of being processed. Most plastics, however, end up in landfills, the environment, or incinerators.
Despite the presence of 16,000 chemicals in plastics, Enck argues that recycled plastics should not be used in food packaging due to health risks. The process for approving recycled plastics in food packaging is inadequate and self-reported, according to Enck.
Research links microplastics to various health issues. Studies have found microplastics in human bodies, including the heart and brain, where they may increase risks of heart disease and neurological conditions. Removing plastics from the body is challenging, highlighting the need for prevention.
Individuals are encouraged to reduce plastic use at home by not microwaving plastic or using plastic bedding. However, systemic change is essential, and alternatives like paper, metal, and glass should be prioritized.
Efforts to curb plastic production face resistance. Over 100 countries called for limiting plastic production at U.N. treaty talks, but local and state actions, like banning plastic bags, show promise.
“The way we’re going to win is with probably 1,000 different strategies, with tens of thousands of different people in the lead. This issue really calls out for local action.”
Enck emphasizes the overlooked connection between plastics and climate change. Plastic production emits more greenhouse gases than the aviation industry. ExxonMobil is the largest plastic producer in the United States, as fossil fuel companies pivot to plastics amid declining demand for transportation and power production.
Enck dedicates her book to communities of color living near plastic facilities, highlighting the environmental injustices they face. Stories from places like Port Arthur, Texas, and Cancer Alley in Louisiana, reveal the hardships and resilience of these communities.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org