Argumentative Research Paper

Plastics take forever to decompose and are rarely recycled.
According to Lindwall (2020),
single-use plastics are hard to recycle because they are small and are not commonly accepted
by recycling centers. This means that single-use plastics just multiply rapidly yet they are not
recycled by any means. As these single-use plastics are rarely recycled, they only keep
increasing in number as they do not get recycled or reduced in size in any form. Moreover,
plastics are not organic. According to Elkins (2019), plastics are not organic as they are made
from polyethylene terephthalate, which makes decomposition not applicable for plastic because
most bacteria cannot break it down. As bacteria cannot break down plastic, it can only remain
everywhere forever. As plastics are not organic, they are not biodegradable.
There is a possibility that plastics contaminate food. As chemicals in plastic can leak.
Studies show that few chemicals in plastic can possibly leak into the food we consume. Most
especially, if you tend to microwave food in plastic containers. This means that there is a
possibility that we could be consuming contaminated food due to plastic chemical leakage. This
chemical leakage may contaminate food and contribute to several health issues. Also,
microplastic gets eaten by animals. According to Villines (2020), microplastic travel through
water and eventually gets eaten by organisms especially marine animals. Microplastics are mini
pieces of plastic that are hardly noticed and can be mistaken by animals as food. As these
marine organisms constantly consume microplastic, these will eventually accumulate in the guts
of these animals which are later on consumed by humans. This means that humans may have
consumed animals that have plastic inside their stomachs.
Plastics are a huge contributor to pollution as they are either incinerated or dumped in the
ocean. As plastics cannot be decomposed, there is a significant percentage of it being

incinerated. According to Cross (2019), in the United States alone, 12 percent of plastic is
burned. Incineration of plastic is responsible for the major source of air pollution. Plastics are
burned and thus causing air pollution. Moreover, plastics get dumped in the ocean. Most
plastics are dumped into the ocean and Plastic Oceans International (n.d.), stated that there is
an estimate of 10 million tons per year. These plastics are made with chemicals and can leach
into the water causing the water quality to degrade and be filled with toxic chemicals. Chemicals
in plastics can leach and cause water pollution.
CON
Single-use plastics are so widely produced that it is everywhere, from cafes, malls, to the
market. According to the British Plastics Federation (2019), in terms of food, plastics can
prevent food spoilage and it helps preserve food. Not only that, it is also mentioned that plastic
is tremendously hygienic to use as it blocks out germs found in the air and it allows food to stay
fresh for more days. Moreover, single-use plastics such as plastic bottles are convenient to use.
Once you are done consuming the water inside the bottle, all you need to do is throw it in the
proper trash bin and you are good to go. True to its original purpose, single-use plastics do
indeed make lives easier.
Single-use plastics are indeed accessible and convenient for the people. However, can
this convenience be more important than what humanity can lose in the long-run? The argument
for why single-use plastics should not be banned care about what appeals to the people and not
the process and outcome for humanity. Caring for humanity is different from caring for the
people because humanity is about collectivity and compassion to the greater number of people.
The argument that plastic protects food may be true for some but when heat is involved,
chemicals from plastic leak into the food we consume.

Single-use plastics should be banned because it not only affects the environment, it also
threatens our health and consumption. In a local setting, Davao City should prioritize and
strongly implement the banning of single-use plastics. Taking action such as the prevention of
malls to use plastic body bags and straws can be done. Single-use plastics should no longer be
sold to consumers.
Should we sacrifice our nature and our health for the sake of convenience? Is it proper
to prioritize what is accessible for what is morally right? Single-use plastics should be banned
and discouraged to use. When used, these can harm the food that we intake as there are
chemicals that might leak from it. Studies show that these chemicals do in fact have an effect on
our bodies. Also, after usage, these cannot be broken down by bacteria so they are left
unmanaged to rot in landfills, incinerated, or dumped in the ocean. Single-use plastics are
responsible for being one of main sources of air and water pollution. As most of the plastic are
dumped into the ocean, there are microplastics that get mistaken for food by marine animals,
which are eventually eaten by people. This cycle will continue to accumulate harmful and toxic
disadvantages to nature and humans. Single-use plastics should be banned.

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Plastics take forever to decompose and are rarely recycled.

According to Lindwall (2020),

consumed animals that have plastic inside their stomachs.

ocean. As plastics cannot be decomposed, there is a significant percentage of it being

in plastics can leach and cause water pollution.

indeed make lives easier.

chemicals from plastic leak into the food we consume.

disadvantages to nature and humans. Single-use plastics should be banned.

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