Environmental Impact
According to a 2011 Ibope survey, 94% of Brazilians interviewed had already expressed concern about nature. In addition, 59% of people separate some of their waste for recycling. These figures show that, over time, our commitment to keeping the environment clean and healthy has grown. However, we still have a very worrying habit that we urgently need to rethink: using disposable cups.
Do you know the risks that disposable cups pose to health and the environment? We have put together some information to help you better understand the dangers and know what to do.
Disposable cups take a very long time to decompose
They are everywhere: hospitals, doctors' offices, schools, workplaces and more. This is a serious concern because of the huge amount of plastic wasted every day, reaching 720 million cups a day.
The problem is that, in general, Brazil has no consistent curbside recycling collection. As a result, all of these materials are thrown out with regular trash and eventually end up in landfills or open dumps. Once buried, they take about 200 years to fully decompose.
They are among the main culprits of ocean pollution
There are many improper ways of disposing of them, and because of this, the cups end up in the sea. According to the BBC, the ocean receives 8 million tons of plastic every year. This creates a huge stretch of ocean whose surface is completely covered in debris, known as the “Plastic Patch.” After some time in the water, disposable cups and other plastic fragments release tiny particles called microplastics, which are highly toxic. Since fish can ingest them, they end up on your plate, increasing the risk of poisoning.
Recycling is almost impossible
You may be thinking the solution is simply to recycle the cups. The problem is that this material cannot really be recycled. Most often, cups are thrown away after use, and contaminated materials cannot be recycled because they pose risks to the process and to the health of future users.
They pose a risk to your health
Who doesn't love a good cup of hot coffee? The problem is that, when heated, a disposable cup releases a substance called styrene, which is considered carcinogenic. It also releases bisphenol A, which can cause a range of changes in the human body, not only cancer but also weight gain and several other problems: fatigue, drowsiness, headaches, hyperactivity and aggressiveness.