The Top 8 Essays on Plastic Waste (Grade 9) That Stand Out

The United Nations report reveals that around 500 billion plastic bottles and more than 500 billion plastic bags are used annually worldwide. The amount of plastic waste could cover four times the surface area of the Earth, with 13 million tons of plastic ending up in the oceans. The overuse of non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic products has severe consequences for the environment.

Some studies show that it takes hundreds of years to fully decompose plastic and nylon waste. When burned, plastic waste emits long-lasting toxic gases that harm human health, and plastics, which are abundant at the ocean's bottom, often end up as toxic food for marine life.

Plastic pollution has a massive impact on ecosystems, blocking rivers, destroying biodiversity, and harming many species. Marine animals often mistake plastic for food, consuming it and passing it up the food chain. Microplastics in ocean water can absorb hazardous organic pollutants, further increasing the risk of diseases in higher animals, including humans. Vietnam ranks 17th among the top 109 nations with the highest levels of plastic pollution, and it is one of the largest contributors to plastic waste in the ocean.

In addition to addressing environmental and climate change challenges, plastic waste pollution has become one of humanity's greatest hurdles. The United Nations' Clean Up the World campaign, held each third week of September, focuses on tackling plastic pollution, urging all countries and localities to take collective action.

Countries worldwide are working hard to eliminate plastic pollution by promoting awareness about its harmful effects on the economy, society, environment, and human health. Efforts include reducing plastic consumption, encouraging recycling, and promoting eco-friendly alternatives. Enterprises, supermarkets, markets, and shopping centers are also reducing single-use plastic products, replacing them with environmentally friendly options.

Every citizen must take responsibility and actively participate in combating plastic waste through concrete actions and initiatives. Changing habits, saying no to single-use plastic products, and using eco-friendly alternatives are essential steps. Engaging in local environmental protection activities, such as waste sorting and recycling, conserving resources and energy, and denouncing harmful behaviors, are crucial actions for everyone.

Everyone wants to enhance their appearance, and the same applies to buildings, cities, and even countries. However, in the process, we are unintentionally tarnishing the image of the very streets, neighborhoods, and countries we live in with the daily waste we produce. Waste has become one of the major concerns for societies today.

Waste can be simply understood as things that are no longer needed and discarded. While everyone can define waste, not everyone knows how to categorize it. Depending on various criteria, waste can be categorized in different ways: by origin, such as household waste, service waste, construction waste, medical waste, or by composition, like inorganic and organic waste, recyclable waste. These are common categories in our everyday lives.

Waste management has become a pressing issue worldwide. In 1900, approximately 220 million people lived in cities, producing at least 300,000 tons of solid waste, including food waste, packaging, and other household items. A century later, over 2.9 billion people lived in cities, generating more than 3 million tons of waste daily. The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) reports highlight a global 'emergency' related to the overwhelming amounts of waste impacting lives.

Among global waste challenges, Vietnam stands out as one of the countries facing the most concerning waste issues. According to a World Bank study across 109 countries, Vietnam ranks 17th in terms of plastic waste. Without needing these statistics, we can clearly see the problem through the piles of waste on Vietnam's streets. It’s hard to walk anywhere without seeing heaps of waste near busy neighborhoods, hospitals, construction sites, markets, or even in places where waste hasn’t been properly disposed of at nearby waste treatment facilities.

In recreational areas, cans of soda and candy wrappers are scattered all over, even near trash bins. Near the Turtle Tower, it’s hard to spot the turtle, as the area is instead covered in waste-filled waters. On the mainland, and even out at sea, people are increasingly accustomed to seeing beaches covered in plastic rather than fish. Waste from tourists, nearby residents, fishing boats, and untreated industrial waste are being discharged directly into the sea. Waste is everywhere: from cities to rural areas, from land to the sea. When it is handled, it's often by burning or burying it, methods that only exacerbate pollution. It is evident that the public still lacks awareness about proper waste disposal and management.

The consequences of improperly disposed waste are clear to everyone. Streets and homes cannot look beautiful when surrounded by piles of dirty, stinky waste. For a tourist destination like Vietnam, maintaining aesthetics is even more critical. We’ve seen statistics showing a drop in tourists due to pollution in places like Vung Tau and Sam Son beaches. Over time, improperly disposed waste leads to the spread of viruses and bacteria that can cause respiratory illnesses.

Studies show that places lacking proper sanitation systems have higher risks of skin and respiratory diseases. Waste is also a major challenge, as it causes environmental pollution when not managed correctly: non-biodegradable materials buried in the ground pollute the soil and water, while burning waste releases toxic fumes that harm both health and the air. The ocean has been transformed, and marine life is unable to survive because of the massive amounts of waste floating on the surface. Dead fish and other aquatic life are affecting fishermen and aquaculture businesses. Despite significant resources allocated by local and national governments, waste management has yet to achieve substantial results.

The root causes of this problem are easy to identify, starting with the public's lack of awareness. People often lack understanding of where to dispose of waste properly, how to segregate it, or the long-term harm caused by improper disposal. Moreover, waste segregation practices are rarely taught in local communities or workplaces. Sweden, the cleanest country in the world, even imports waste because citizens diligently separate recyclable from non-recyclable waste at home, which helps with recycling processes. Unfortunately, in Vietnam, there are still no recycling plants, and the waste treatment methods are outdated, which harms the environment and wastes resources. Public education and awareness campaigns are still lacking and have not had a significant impact on people.

It’s time for us to take action to save the environment and improve our lives! Just a few seconds to dispose of waste properly, a minute to sort it correctly, and a friendly reminder to everyone can help foster good habits. Rather than spending billions on waste collection and pollution management, the government could focus on raising public awareness and imposing fines on those who disregard waste management regulations. A simple, attractive trash bin with a label that says, 'Please put your trash here' placed regularly on sidewalks and in buildings would catch people's attention. These simple actions aren’t difficult at all.

As the old saying goes: 'A clean house is a cool house, and clean bowls make tasty meals.' Living in a clean, beautiful, and fresh environment is far better, don’t you think?

In today's world, the environment is a top priority. In developed countries, the importance of maintaining a clean environment is emphasized, resulting in nearly no littering or wastewater dumping. Citizens are educated extensively about the importance of keeping the environment green, clean, and beautiful. Unfortunately, in our country, littering in public spaces and streets remains common. This behavior has a significant impact on the environment, specifically contributing to pollution. Let us explore this phenomenon further.

Littering in public spaces manifests in various ways, with the most common being throwing trash onto the streets or in public areas. After enjoying an ice cream or candy, people often discard their sticks or wrappers on the ground. Similarly, after drinking a soft drink or bottled water, people leave their cans or bottles right where they sat, even though a trash bin is nearby. Some individuals even dispose of chewed gum by sticking it to benches, leaving it for others to clean up. Parks, which should be a refreshing and serene space, and even sacred places like temples, are not exempt from this issue. Train stations, bus stops, and canals are also plagued by litter.

Another common issue is the dumping of construction waste, such as bricks and stones, by truck drivers who scatter it throughout the streets. People even mindlessly discard dead animals, like dogs, cats, rats, or poultry, into rivers, ponds, or streets. Street vendors often pour leftover food and dishwashing water into drains, causing blockages and stagnant wastewater. Unfortunately, this issue has even spread to the younger educated class.

A specific example is seen with some university students who distribute flyers carelessly at street corners, leaving the streets covered in paper. In classrooms, students often litter in their desks, corners, and hallways. More dangerously, hospitals have been known to bury trash just next to residential areas, or as in the case of Vedan's MSG factory, dumping wastewater into the Thi Vai River for decades, turning it into a lifeless waterway.

So why has this littering phenomenon become so widespread? The main cause lies in bad habits and outdated, selfish mindsets where individuals care only for their personal interests. They live by the mentality that if their home is clean, it’s fine, but public spaces don’t belong to them, so they don’t see the need to keep them clean. They discard trash carelessly, thinking the cleaning crew will handle it. This way of thinking is both short-sighted and harmful. Another cause is the long-standing nature of this habit, which is difficult to change without constant reminders. In schools, teachers and class leaders have to remind students daily to maintain cleanliness. But society is much larger than a classroom, and everyone is busy with their own lives, leaving no time to remind others. Without these reminders, people fall back into their old habits.

Another contributing factor is the lack of proper education on environmental preservation. Although media outlets frequently promote environmental awareness, the programs are insufficient and fail to meet the needs of the public. As a result, many people still lack a basic understanding of proper behavior in public spaces. Moreover, the enforcement of regulations by authorities is weak, and there are no strict penalties for violators, leading to indifference towards the issue. If a person were heavily fined for littering, it would serve as a deterrent for others.

The consequences of widespread littering are far-reaching. First and foremost, it affects public health. Litter that is left unchecked begins to rot and emit foul odors, polluting the air. Water sources are contaminated by waste from nearby communities, and in some cases, even dead poultry infected with H5N1 is thrown into rivers. People who use this contaminated water or live near trash dumps are at risk of gastrointestinal diseases, skin conditions, and eye infections. Recently, there have even been deaths due to cholera outbreaks linked to polluted water.

From an economic perspective, the aquaculture industry suffers greatly from pollution. The contamination of ecosystems causes fish and shrimp to die or become sick, severely affecting production and the livelihoods of local farmers. In schools, if litter is not promptly cleaned, it results in foul odors that disrupt students' learning and teachers' ability to teach. The aesthetic value of the school is also compromised. Worse still, medical waste, with its harmful pathogens, poses an even greater threat to public health.

Litter accumulated in canals and drains causes flooding during the rainy season, further impacting the lives of local residents. The government must spend significant resources on cleanup efforts, dredging, and clearing blocked waterways. Additionally, if this littering continues, it could tarnish the country’s image, deterring potential tourists. Who would want to visit a country covered in trash with an unpleasant smell? If this continues, we risk losing a significant portion of our tourism revenue.

Our planet is facing numerous challenges that seem insurmountable. As a developing country, Vietnam is struggling with issues such as environmental degradation, pollution, climate change, rising sea levels, and notably, plastic waste, also referred to as 'white pollution.' The amount of plastic waste continues to increase, and without effective solutions, the negative impacts of plastic waste will become increasingly severe.

Each minute, approximately one million plastic bottles are sold, and each year, five trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. The concerning fact is that it takes hundreds, even thousands of years for plastic and nylon waste to decompose, directly affecting human health, endangering ecosystems, and threatening sustainable development in every country. The amount of plastic waste and nylon bags continues to rise annually, posing a significant burden on the environment and even leading to disasters that environmental experts call 'white pollution.'

Plastic waste, particularly plastic, remains a problem that no country has yet figured out how to resolve. Every day, we hear of reports of large amounts of plastic waste being discarded on beaches, where marine animals often consume it. We encounter countless people using plastic bags, disposable cups, bottles, and other items. As countries develop, people gravitate toward convenience, and plastic products are often the go-to choice because they are easily available. Plastic waste consists of items that are not biodegradable in most environments, such as bottles, bags, and old toys.

Polyethylene (PE) plastic packaging, when used, turns into waste. The most long-lasting environmental issue is plastic because it is very difficult to break down, yet easy to produce. This type of waste outlives us by a significant margin, even up to 10 times our lifespan. A typical example is the plastic water bottle we use daily—it can remain intact for up to 1,000 years. Even when plastic waste breaks down, it doesn’t disappear entirely; it just breaks into smaller pieces, continuing to damage oceans bit by bit.

Plastic waste negatively impacts ecosystems, living environments, human health, and the sustainable development of nations. If we fail to implement effective and timely solutions, the repercussions of plastic waste will become even more alarming.

To combat global threats from plastic and nylon pollution, the United Nations launched the 2018 campaign “Tackling Plastic and Nylon Pollution.” This initiative aimed to raise awareness, encourage people to reduce single-use plastic products, and protect human health by reducing environmental pollution.

Many countries worldwide have already taken action to minimize and ban the use of environmentally harmful plastic products. They have also focused on increasing recycling, reusing, and promoting a circular economy for plastic waste. It’s crucial for all of humanity to join hands in this effort—this is not the responsibility of just one person or organization, but of each and every one of us. Let’s return to a green, clean, and beautiful planet.

We have always been taught that: "Protecting the environment is protecting our own lives." This is true. When the environment is clean and healthy, human health is protected, and both physical and mental well-being can improve. On the other hand, when the environment is polluted, we suffer significant consequences. While most people are aware of this, it seems that we still don’t fully understand the importance of environmental protection, especially with the ongoing issue of waste.

Waste is simply defined as things that have been used and no longer hold much value, so they are discarded. In Vietnam, as in many places around the world, waste remains a top concern. On average, each Vietnamese person generates about 200 kg of waste per year. We often see waste carelessly thrown around, especially after events and festivals, leaving behind a “battlefield” of trash. Moreover, much of this waste, particularly plastic waste, can take thousands of years to decompose. Even in sacred places such as temples, there are people who blatantly litter. The most serious issue is waste from factories and plants that is directly released into the environment without treatment.

Carelessly discarding waste in the wrong places, or throwing waste into the environment for economic gain, may seem like small actions, but they have far-reaching consequences. Waste tarnishes urban landscapes and leads to severe environmental pollution. A dirty environment is the cause of and breeding ground for many dangerous diseases such as dengue, cancer, and more. Untreated waste directly released into the environment rapidly degrades the quality of soil, water, and air. It’s heartbreaking to witness mass fish deaths, acid rain, and other disasters caused by waste. Moreover, waste management costs the government billions of dollars annually to clean up and restore the environment.

Why has waste become such a significant issue? First, it is due to the lack of awareness among the public, as environmental consciousness is still low. Additionally, educational efforts have not been as effective as needed. Furthermore, many companies are willing to trade environmental protection for profit, discharging industrial waste directly into the environment to save costs and increase profits. These actions are exacerbating the waste problem and causing immense harm to our environment, threatening both nature and human life.

The environment is where life begins. It is time for people to change and work together to address waste management and overall environmental pollution. Solving this problem requires collective effort from everyone, from government agencies to ordinary citizens. We need to intensify public awareness campaigns to educate people about the pollution caused by waste and its consequences. There should be stricter punishments for individuals and organizations that deliberately litter and pollute the environment. We should also promote recycling activities. Each of us must take personal responsibility for protecting the environment, by disposing of waste properly, participating in environmental protection activities, and more. We must strongly condemn those who are thoughtless, selfish, and disrespectful of nature, as their careless actions harm the entire community.

Let’s cultivate a beautiful lifestyle in harmony with nature. Don’t let waste destroy our lives and the future of our children.

Currently, plastic waste poses a global environmental threat. Although plastic products are convenient, they have a harmful impact on the environment and human health. In particular, the pollution caused by plastic waste has reached alarming levels. So, what can we do to reduce plastic waste and protect our planet – green, clean, and beautiful?

Plastic products and tools come in a variety of forms, including plastic cups, bags, pellets, bottles, food containers, straws, etc. Due to their convenience, low cost, ease of production, usage, and high recyclability, plastic products are increasingly used in everyday life and manufacturing.

Plastic waste has a very long lifespan, even up to 10 times longer than our own. A plastic bag, straw, or cup made for single use is produced in seconds, used for minutes, and then discarded. However, it can last for 20 years, 50 years, or even up to 10 centuries. The most concerning part is that it never completely disappears from the environment.

Furthermore, plastic waste, when burned, releases toxic gases like Dioxins and Furans, which are harmful to human health. While the invention of plastic and its products has brought many benefits, plastic is also the cause of severe negative impacts on health and the natural environment. The amount of waste from daily activities, agriculture, industry, and tourism is increasing, and plastic waste has become a major issue for society.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Vietnam generates approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste each year. This is an alarming figure, signaling a global emergency that must be addressed. The consequences of plastic waste are far-reaching, with ocean pollution being an inevitable disaster.

The main reason behind the growing issue of plastic waste is excessive reliance on single-use plastic. Inadequate waste management capacity, with limited recycling and sorting systems, further exacerbates the environmental and public health burdens. People’s lack of awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution, especially in marine environments, contributes to this issue. To ensure a better, sustainable life, we must reduce our consumption of single-use plastics and bags. Let’s raise public awareness and live by the motto: "I do it for others, and others do it for me." Only then will we have a clean, green, beautiful environment and a truly harmonious Earth for all humankind.