Polly Ethylene and Sty Roephome were enjoying a cup of petrol(??) at the Fill’er-Up Gashouse. “Sty, you old devil, I’m amazed that humans still allow you to create 80,000 tons* of waste every year. Don’t they get it that over 99% of it never gets recycled? Humans love your cups, packaging materials, carryout containers and egg cartons. But you’re so light and breakable that you blow all over the place littering the countryside and clogging waterways.
“Must be that humans are fooled by the ‘out of sight out of mind’ adage when they bury you in a landfill. I guess they don’t get that styrofoam is chemically stable and non-biodegradable. When some archeologist digs you up 500 years from now, you’ll still be there smiling up at her. Honestly, if I were the humans, I’d pull the plug on you, pal,” she winked. “There are so many better alternatives.”
“You may be right, but I’m still in the game,” Sty grinned back. “You’re a bit of a devil yourself. These humans are trying every which way to lower their use of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting fossil fuels. Yet 99% of you is composed of those very fuels, and humans are making more and more of you every year. At this rate, one estimate says by 2050 the making and disposing of you could generate the GHG emissions of over 600 coal plants each year.
“And you’re also good at tricking humans. I understand that a lot of them think it’s just fine to use plastic because they say, ‘I’ll just recycle it.’ But only about 9% of your mess actually gets recycled. Seems like humans should pull the plug on you too!” Sty teased.
Finishing their drinks, Polly and Sty reminisced about the benefits they’ve provided for humankind. “Yeah, we’ve been very convenient to use. But I gotta admit, it’s time to retire,” Polly added. “If I were a human, I’d definitely keep recycling. But when given a choice concerning which products or packaging to use, I’d say, ‘No thanks to Polly and Sty! I’m choosing Earth-friendly alternatives instead.’ Because this is their only home; it’s where they’re all forever…Earthbound.”