My vision of future, multicolored, plasticky beaches is perhaps far-fetched, but plastic pollution is a verifiable threat to life in the world’s oceans, and both plastic production and recycling are air, water, and ground polluting enterprises of their own.  Nonetheless, plastic packaging is everywhere–plastic bags, plastic wrap, plastic bottles, plastic cartons, bubble wrap, styrofoam. It is inescapable.  I can no longer find my favorite powdered laundry detergent in a cardboard box, only plastic bottles of, I presume, more profitable progress in liquid form.  Also, most of my landfill bound trash is non-recyclable, non-biodegradable plastic.  I understand the concern for food safety, but surely there are other, non-polluting options, and, yes, I am aware detergents pose environmental problems, particularly those with micro plastics.  Can anyone save us from ourselves?

Robert Porath