Recently I have been researching the effects of production and dumping of artificial and plastic plants on the environment, and have decided to start a petition. Not only does the dumping of unwanted and unnecessary plastic plants harm the environment, but the manpower used in the production of artificial plants could be used in further contributions to society or nature conservation.

Plastic plants need to be cleaned and maintained just as much as actual plants, besides the occasional watering and sometimes sunlight. In fact, the textures often found in the cheap polymers of artificial plants can easily catch dust and grime, making the plant nearly impossible to clean.

Another factor to consider is that natural plants not only make indoor spaces more aesthetically pleasing, but also produce oxygen and help improve the quality of air. Plastic plants often release chemicals that can actually lower indoor air quality.

Although many states have fire codes in place for commercial artificial plants these days, many fires have been caused by lack of fire resistance in artificial plants. Silk foliage branches are made from plastic and polyester fabric. Predictably, the fabric is quite easy to ignite, and more surprisingly, the plastic burns quite easily. This means that when a fire starts because or around these plants, they quickly catch fire, aiding in the spread of the flames and releasing toxic chemicals into the air.