Battling the Plastic Crisis: Insights from Adjie Henderson

An article by Adjie Henderson, PhD titled Plastics and You, was published in the

October 2024 issue of The Island Current, Adjie is a longtime City Island resident, co-

chair of the Hutchinson River Restoration Project and a board member of the City Island

Oyster Reef.

In her article, Henderson paints a picture of how pervasive plastics have become in

everyday life, from picnic tables laden with Styrofoam and plastic items to the ever-growing piles of discarded water bottles and packaging. She highlights the dire environmental consequences, explaining that plastics can take centuries to degrade

and release toxic chemicals that affect everything from marine life to the human body.

“Recycling is largely a myth,” Henderson warns, as only a tiny fraction of plastics are

genuinely recycled, with most remaining in our oceans and landfills, turning into

microplastics that invade every part of our ecosystem.

Henderson also discusses hopeful solutions, urging us to be mindful of our choices by

opting for alternatives whenever possible, such as biodegradable materials and

reusable containers. While no single approach can solve the plastic crisis, she

emphasizes that each small action adds up, creating a ripple effect that can ultimately

protect the planet for future generations.

To read Adjie’s full article, you can download a PDF version of The Island Current

attached below.

The Island Current 10_24.pdf

Download PDF • 4.72MB