In 2012, it was estimated that there was approximately 165 million tons of plastic pollution in the world's oceans.
It takes hundreds, if not thousands of years for plastic products to decay or decompose, yet humans come in contact with plastic for only a fraction of plastics total lifespan. Humans use plastics for their own purposes, perhaps use them again, but after that they are disposed of, where they take up space in landfills,sewers or oceans. Because they take so long to decompose, plastics are slowly strangling the planet, and both people and the environment are paying the ultimate price. Single use plastics are being used too often and aren't being recycled as much as they should. Irresponsible disposal of plastics harms people and wildlife. This is caused by wastefulness and lack of a greener environmental alternative to plastics. Until people change their mindset to think more 'green' about plastic disposal, the problem will continue to grow.
Plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources such as oil, gas and coal. According to the 2002 Nolan ITU Report they explained that 8.7 plastic checkout bags contain enough petroleum energy to drive a car 1 kilometre. Plastic bags are recyclable, although if plastic is not recycled, this petroleum energy is being lost in plastic bags.
Plastic is an extremely chemically influenced material used in the manufacturing of durable products. Plastic is used to make items such as clothing, eyeglasses, shopping bags, toothbrushes, water bottles, electronics, utensils, toys, and packaging. Plastic pollution is created when people throw away unwanted or even unused plastic items instead of recycling.
DID YOU KNOW:
The plastic bottle industry is creating a huge environmental problem which is unreliable and could result in a plummet in the global communities environmental biodiversity.
Compared to other wastes, such as paper or metals, the rate of plastics recovered for recycling is fairly low. The EPA report indicates that approximately 8% (which is 2.4 million tons) of all plastic waste generated is actually recovered for recycling.
Over many recent years our society has come up with a way in which to make disposable plastic products, however this is not enough. The rate at which humans are demanding plastic items is increasing rapidly and is unsustainable. Most plastic is manufactured in a very short time and is disposed of quickly.
It takes hundreds, if not thousands of years for plastic products to decay or decompose, yet humans come in contact with plastic for only a fraction of plastics total lifespan. Humans use plastics for their own purposes, perhaps use them again, but after that they are disposed of, where they take up space in landfills,sewers or oceans. Because they take so long to decompose, plastics are slowly strangling the planet, and both people and the environment are paying the ultimate price. Single use plastics are being used too often and aren't being recycled as much as they should. Irresponsible disposal of plastics harms people and wildlife. This is caused by wastefulness and lack of a greener environmental alternative to plastics. Until people change their mindset to think more 'green' about plastic disposal, the problem will continue to grow.
Plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources such as oil, gas and coal. According to the 2002 Nolan ITU Report they explained that 8.7 plastic checkout bags contain enough petroleum energy to drive a car 1 kilometre. Plastic bags are recyclable, although if plastic is not recycled, this petroleum energy is being lost in plastic bags.
Plastic is an extremely chemically influenced material used in the manufacturing of durable products. Plastic is used to make items such as clothing, eyeglasses, shopping bags, toothbrushes, water bottles, electronics, utensils, toys, and packaging. Plastic pollution is created when people throw away unwanted or even unused plastic items instead of recycling.
DID YOU KNOW:
- The average person uses an average of $350 of plastic each year.
- Less than 10% of plastic produced is recycled.
- Mass production of plastic began in the 1940's because it was economical to make.
- Many plastics are made from petroleum, which is a fossil fuel.
- Plastic in waterways allows foreign species such as barnacles, tubeworms, and algae to travel on the debris to new locations threatening the local area's biodiversity.
- Roughly 200 billion water bottles are produced globally each year.
The plastic bottle industry is creating a huge environmental problem which is unreliable and could result in a plummet in the global communities environmental biodiversity.
Compared to other wastes, such as paper or metals, the rate of plastics recovered for recycling is fairly low. The EPA report indicates that approximately 8% (which is 2.4 million tons) of all plastic waste generated is actually recovered for recycling.
Over many recent years our society has come up with a way in which to make disposable plastic products, however this is not enough. The rate at which humans are demanding plastic items is increasing rapidly and is unsustainable. Most plastic is manufactured in a very short time and is disposed of quickly.
Wikipedia, 18 of October 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution
Teenink, 14 September 2014 http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/297345/Plastic-Pollution-and-Wastefulness/
Nolan ITU, 2002 http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Campaigns/plastic-bag-facts.html
Techno Kids, 2014 http://www.technokids.com/documents/intermediate/environment-plastic-pollution-fact-sheet.pdf
Plastic Waste Solutions, october 2014 http://plasticwastesolutions.com/plastic-litter/
Plastic2oil, 2014 http://www.plastic2oil.com/site/problem
Plastic Waste Solutions, october 2014 http://plasticwastesolutions.com
Teenink, 14 September 2014 http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/297345/Plastic-Pollution-and-Wastefulness/
Nolan ITU, 2002 http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Campaigns/plastic-bag-facts.html
Techno Kids, 2014 http://www.technokids.com/documents/intermediate/environment-plastic-pollution-fact-sheet.pdf
Plastic Waste Solutions, october 2014 http://plasticwastesolutions.com/plastic-litter/
Plastic2oil, 2014 http://www.plastic2oil.com/site/problem
Plastic Waste Solutions, october 2014 http://plasticwastesolutions.com