The world’s responsibility

Rebecca Waters explains the importance of waste protocols.

We live in a throwaway culture. Nothing tends to last long these days and we purchase items knowing that their longevity will be short-lived. Packaging, much of it from single-use food wrapping, has created a huge problem for the population across the globe. The increased use in plastics has also prolonged the issue dramatically – some plastics can take up to 450 years to biodegrade. It is even affecting our health, as fish consume fragments of plastic – often micro-beads (tiny plastic balls) derived from cosmetics and toothpaste – which is then passed up the food chain to humans.

However, there are positive changes occurring. Recently, the UK followed some of its European partners by charging consumers for plastic bags; at a cost of 5p, usage has reduced significantly. There is pressure to go a step further by campaign groups, such as A Plastic Planet, who are lobbying for the government to enforce plastic-free aisles in supermarkets. Innovators are coming to the fore too, creating cleverly designed, edible food packaging to create zero waste. Dental practices take their share of responsibility by storing, segregating and disposing of their waste correctly, for the benefit of the health and welfare of their staff, patients and the wider environment.