From the current scientific point of view to analyze the three basic problems of plastic pollution, insects can not solve, so the use of small insects to eliminate plastic pollution is a temporary solution to this problem.
Recently, the topic of using plastic insects to eradicate plastic pollution can be described as a very fire in a circle of friends, a speech from a scientist in the field of chemistry and materials, in which the scientist cited waxworms Foraging and degradation of polyethylene as well as feeding on Tenebrio and degradation of polystyrene. The key message of the speech is that insect degradation can be a 'subversive' solution to plastic pollution.
However, the results of this study now cause a lot of cheers, or even the method as a nemesis of plastic pollution.
But the more impetuous and noisy the society is, the more we need to think more calmly. Just in April this year, National Geographic magazine published a commentary entitled "Eating plastic worms can clean up our rubbish "The article quoted a marine biologist's point of view:" Polyethylene is a high-quality polyester material, many of which can be upgraded and reused, and each time the waste is collected In the opinion of me, this (insect-eating plastic) is worth a fairy tale in the field of scientific exploration, but if it is really treated as a solution to the search for polyethylene plastic waste, it is actually wasted Money. "He said that the solution to plastic pollution should focus on reducing the source of production and improve the recycling rate.
'In all likelihood, a waste of money' is actually still the tip of the iceberg of the technical risks of insect degradation of plastics.About the same period in question above, the Guardian published a more alarming article, entitled "eating plastic worms? Wonderful story no doubt, but do not forget there is a stinger on the tail. "The article quoted the starting point:" let waxworms spread to the environment to eat plastic waste sounds good, but they also attack the bee's territory, and ultimately may be human Of crop production pose a great threat, if not controlled and may even bring a huge ecological disaster.
In his speech, the scientist referred to the team's discovery as a good example of "naturalization and harmfulness", but if so, as some ecologists warn - in order to solve one of humankind's problems, Is it not deviating from the idea that scientists advocate for introducing natural enemies of certain species, especially of species of importance to human existence? If we blindly apply a single technology without going further and comprehensive ecological risk analysis, Will repeat mistakes in environmental protection, even the mistakes of environmental disaster.
To take a step back, even though large numbers of plastic worms are put into the environment, they can survive in all kinds of environments without spoiling the ecological balance. However, the small bugs no longer say that they are not corpse powder in "Deer" Soon the rubbish into intangible, so our future natural environment, is likely to be plastic garbage and attached to the insects attached to the scene, I am afraid it is a new type of visual pollution and, if the plastic has become a worm Staple food, then the more plastic garbage, we can see the more insects, is this really the world we look forward to it?
Really want to solve the problem or to return to the origin of the problem.The reason why plastic has become a pollution has become the most serious kind of environmental problems, first, excessive production and consumption caused by a large number of resource consumption and hazardous waste emissions; Second, although the recycling Technology already exists, but because of product design problems, making back-end recycling and recycling difficult; Third, poor waste management, resulting in a large number of plastic waste into the environment.
From the above point of view, how to solve the three fundamental problems of plastic pollution is insects can not solve the problem, in fact, the idea is good, but how to maintain the ecological balance, the introduction of insects whether it will cause the current ecological environment Great destruction? This issue still needs careful study and discussion.
In the most secure way, we should tackle the issue of the scale of plastic waste through advocacy in terms of total pollution control and extended producer responsibility and green consumption. In the process of improving the quality of plastic waste through ecological design and waste separation Of the recycling rate; by improving the garbage collection and transport system, continue to reduce the total amount of plastic runaway out of control in these three measures, perhaps in the future there will be some use of small insects processing waste plastics processing plant, and production It is not a bad idea to make special industrial and agricultural raw materials. Therefore, it is understandable that the existence of truth, the use of insects to eradicate plastic pollution, but ensuring that ecology is not damaged is also something that needs careful consideration.