To the Journal editor:

Most of us have heard the alarming stories of plastic pollution in oceans and its harmful effects on marine life and water quality.

But we need to realize that harmful forever plastic pollution is also present in the Upper Peninsula’s rivers, lakes, roads, landfills, and wildlife. This is what we learned from the alarming film “Ripples of Plastic” shown at Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette last October. (see our Oct. 26 letter to the editor on this film). Producing plastics from petroleum contributes to global warming.

Moreover, plastic products–from coffee cups to toys–are not biodegradable, meaning they do not decompose and can persist for hundreds of years, unlike paper and other trash.

They do eventually break down into tiny microplastics which can release harmful chemicals into soil and water. Ingested by fish, birds and other wildlife, they can make their way into our food supply.

Studies show that ingested microplastics contribute to heart disease. Since less than 10% of plastic products are recycled, the other 90% are disposable single-use products.

Producing plastics is big business and Exxon Mobil, as the biggest U.S. producer, will earn more than $3.1 billion in 2024 (google AI). On Sept. 23, the state of California filed a 147-page first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Exxon Mobil. The lawsuit alleges that Exxon Mobil has deceptively misled the public decades into believing that recycling plastics is viable.

In fact, the company has hidden the fact that collecting, sorting, and recycling used plastics is far more expensive than simply producing new plastics from petroleum, meaning that recycling is not economically feasible.

The lawsuit contends that the purpose of Exxon Mobil’s deceptive promotion of plastic recycling as viable is to blunt the passage of federal, state and local legislation and regulations that would cut into the company’s huge profits (NPR news Sept. 23).

Several countries, such as France, and states, like California, ban single-use plastic bags, cartons and bottles. Most of these plastic products can be replaced with safer glass, metal and degradable paper products.

The United Nations has attempted worldwide efforts to restrict plastic production by negotiating a treaty.

Unfortunately, just last week, treaty talks between 170 countries in South Korea collapsed without a treaty on reducing plastic production. The collapse was caused by opposition from oil-producing countries. (Washington Post 12-1-24).

So, how can you help? First, contact your state legislators to pass restrictions on single-use plastics that other states have enacted. Second, as shoppers, just say “no” to plastic bags.

When you shop, bring your own sturdy reusable bags and demand that local stores offer paper bags as alternatives. Please do your share.