How Bad is the Problem of Plastic Pollution?
Cheap, Sterile and Convenient, when it was discovered plastic started a revolution.
“But this wonder of technology has got a little out of hand. Plastic has saturated our environment, It has invaded the animals we eat and it’s finding its way into our bodies.”
9% of plastic is recycled
12% is burned
79% is still around.
In various forms, in smaller and smaller pieces.
Plastic pollution is an enormous problem around the world, on land, in waterways and oceans. Just one example is the plastic garbage patches recently discovered in oceans around the world. There are 5 such garbage patches, the biggest one is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is twice the size of Texas and three times the size of Spain. It is a swirling vortex of macro and micro plastices and is over 9 feet deep. This is just one of 5 plastic patches that have been discovered, and they are growing every day.
Plastic garbage is comprised of what used to be essential plastic products – bags, toys, bottles, food packaging and other items that we simply cannot do without in our daily lives. Ocean cleanup is a seemingly insurmountable task and scientists and governments are seeking out ways to address it.
Our use and discard mindset is to blame for this plastic problem. And we can do our part to stem the tide. Small changes in our choices to move away from the throwaway culture can help us bring down the sheer volume of single-use, disposable plastics that is choking us and our planet.
The video from UNEnvironment.org is a little long but a definite must-see