© Troy Mayne / WWF
In spite of broad efforts to implement plastic recycling programs worldwide, only about 9% of plastics are recycled. The majority of all plastic produced eventually ends up in landfills or our oceans – and we produce A LOT of plastic. Humans are dumping the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic waste per second into the ocean and this rate shows no signs of abating. Plastic pollution is a threat to sea turtles and other marine creatures that may become entangled in plastic debris, ingest microplastic debris they mistake as food, or ingest plastic indirectly through consumption of prey species, leading to illness or death.
People who want to be a part of the solution can start by reducing their own use of single-use plastics, recycling properly, supporting companies and industries that are working to reduce plastic consumption, encouraging friends, family, and local businesses to reduce plastic usage, and engaging their representatives about the issue.
Check out the links below to learn more about the problem and the solutions, then test your plastic pollution knowledge with an EarthDay.org quiz!
The scope of the problem: Billions of tons of plastic have been made over the past decades, and much of it is becoming trash and litter.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment
Close to home: The South Carolina Senate recently passed a bill to keep “nurdles” - pelleted raw material for producing plastics - from polluting Charleston waterways.
https://abcnews4.com/news/local/sc-senate-passes-nurdle-bill-to-help-curb-plastic-pellet-spills
The scoop on single-use plastics: Plastics straws and plastic bags may get the most attention, but we are surrounded by single-use plastic products and packaging, much of which can be avoided.
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101
How to recycle properly: Recycling rules and regulations vary regionally, and a lot of potentially recyclable materials are discarded as waste, either at home or by the recycling center. Check out these tips on how to recycle properly.
https://www.earthday.org/youre-doing-it-wrong-7-tips-to-recycle-better/
The data behind the problem: A trove of data, charts and graphs demonstrate how big the plastic pollution problem is.
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
Quiz yourself: https://www.earthday.org/oceans-and-plastic-pollution-quiz/
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