The cost to send the trash to Asia was only $35 per ton. "European Parliament Votes for Single-Use Plastics Ban." Plastic pollution is the most hazardous and most impactful pollution on earth. Several million tonnes of debris end up in the world’s oceans every year, and much of it is improperly discarded plastic litter. A study published in 2017 estimated between 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enters the oceans via rivers annually, with peak months being between May and October. Plastic pollution is created by the many companies that package their products in plastic, as well as oil and chemical companies that fabricate plastics, including Exxon, Shell, and Dow. Orangutans and bonobos at the San Diego Zoo have received a coronavirus vaccine, Nat Geo has learned, after some zoo gorillas tested positive in January. Its use reduces food waste, and its lighter weight lowers the consumption of fuel in transportation.. Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution—it's time for change! If approved, the legislation would phase out many single-use plastics, such as utensils, by Jan. 1, 2022. Plastic and other forms of pollution are ending up in our marine life, and it’s … Many European countries are burning plastic in a growing number of waste-to-energy (WTE) plants. The plants use the heat to make steam to generate electricity. 127 Countries Now Regulate Plastic Bags. As a commodity, it is used on a large scale all around the world. "Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: A Global Evaluation of Sources," Page 21. Download English PDF. For example, the city of Berkeley, California, must spend $75 per ton of plastic scrap to send it to a local recycler. Only half of it is clean enough to be recycled. Plastic has been a popular material because it is flexible, lightweight, and strong. America's Grungy 'Recycled' Plastic Is Creating Wastelands in Asia. How Renewable Energy Can Save Us from Climate Change, The True Cost of Air Pollution and What to Do About It, How Living Organisms Are Used to Clean Our Environment, American Express Green Card Review: Compelling Travel Rewards, How Deforestation Costs You and Steps You Can Take Today, Why Floods Are a More Dangerous Threat Than Terrorism, Rising Sea Level and What You Can Do About It, 9 Global Warming Solutions You Can Do Today. Billions of pounds of plastic can be found in swirling convergences that make up about 40 percent of the world's ocean surfaces. Plastic pollution is defined as the accumulation of the different types of plastic material on land, as well as in water bodies like rivers, oceans, canals, lakes, etc. Blame the pandemic. The conveniences plastics offer, however, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: today, single-use plastics account for 40 percent of the plastic produced every year. U.S. Congress. [14] Crustaceans tested at the ocean’s deepest point, Mariana Trench, had ingested plastic. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics. The consequences of plastic pollution on sea lions are a bit different from those of other marine animals. Incredibly vast and deep, the ocean acts like a huge sink for global pollution. Accessed June 30, 2020. This drastically affects the sea environment, killing thousands of marine life like marine mammals, sea turtles, and sea birds. Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography. Plastic Pollution’s Effect on the Economy and Environment, The Rising Costs of Pollution and What Can Be Done About It, The Effects of Each Additional Degree of Global Warming. Plastic pollution affects at least 700 marine species and some estimates suggest that at least 100 million marine mammals are killed each year by it. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g. Seven charts that explain the plastic pollution problem Whale sharks feeding in the Sea of Cortez off Mexico's Baja Peninsula, which is an important breeding … An article discussing how plastic breaks down in the ocean and is ingested by sea birds, asserts that humans will as well be affected by the toxins. The report outlined the current global and national plastic issue, and called on Canada to create a national waste strategy that builds a circular economy and achieves zero plastic waste by 2025. The solution is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place, many scientists and conservationists—including the National Geographic Society—say. Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. Waste 360. These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough. This web article speaks specifically to the Atlantic garbage patch and plastic pollution in the ocean. Recycling Plastic: Complications and Limitations, European Parliament Votes for Single-Use Plastics Ban. Read more How to help: Take steps to reduce your plastic footprint Plastic pollution is a complex issue and there is no one single action that’s going to change the tide. On Jan. 1, 2018, China stopped accepting used plastic for recycling. It did this because most of the recyclables received from other countries like the U.S. were contaminated, which overwhelmed China’s recycling facilities and threatened its environment. How ancient astronomy mixed science with mythology, Video Story, Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Use the share button in the top corner of the video to share online, and hashtag it #ZeroPlasticWaste! Plastic pollution has its effects on land, water, and air along with plants and animals. Where to see northern California’s most spectacular waterfalls, Invasive grass is overwhelming U.S. deserts—providing fuel for wildfires, Playing it cool: these artists make music with ice, These 9 memorials trace the global impact of slavery, America’s newest national park is a haven for hiking, climbing, and rafting, From ‘Herbie the Love Bug’ to punch buggy, the Beetle remains iconic in Mexico, ‘It really is like flying.’ Explore wild skating on nature’s ice, The legendary community that fought for its freedom in Jamaica. This could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics. Everest, to the Mariana Trench, the deep point in our oceans. In these massive heaps, as plastic breaks down, the release harmful toxins into groundwater which negatively affects everyone. Is U.S. Nuclear Power the Answer to Climate Change? They were carried to the South Pacific by the South Pacific gyre, a circular ocean current. The ocean is contaminated by 8.3 million pieces of microplastics per cubic meter of water. Analysis has found that between 15% to 31% of all the plastic in the oceans comes from primary sources—small particles released from household and industrial products. Of this, 35% is from synthetic textiles, such as nylon and fleece. When these materials are washed, the fibers make their way through water treatment facilities and into the ocean. The priceless primate fossils found in a garbage dump, The U.S. may soon have a third vaccine. All rights reserved, See photos of animals in a world of plastic. A whale shark swims beside a plastic bag in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen. When these microbes die, they stop producing oxygen, creating dead zones and suffocating sealife. What's Being Done? Plastic pollution - Plastic pollution - Plastic pollution in oceans and on land: Since the ocean is downstream from nearly every terrestrial location, it is the receiving body for much of the plastic waste generated on land. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. The World. Accessed June 30, 2020. Once in the ocean, it is difficult—if not impossible—to retrieve plastic waste. Plastic pollution is currently one of the biggest environmental concerns. Accessed June 30, 2020. Alarmingly, most plastic is not actually being recycled and instead accumulates in landfills. It is even in the air we breathe.. Production, Use, and Fate of All Plastics Ever Made. Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates. United Nations Environment Programme. Ancestry travel on pause? Humans have produced huge amounts of plastic over the last 60-70 years, and because plastic is made to be durable and last a long time, it will potentially stay around for hundreds of years eventually ending up in the ground and sea. Most of the deaths to … The Balance uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. She is the President of the economic website World Money Watch. However, statistics show that it’s still prevalent, especially in the waters. American Association for the Advancement of Science. To address this pervasive problem, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) launched the Clean Seas Campaign. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. "A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health," Page 10. These microplastics get into the ocean via road runoff (66%), wastewater (25%), and wind (7%)., More than 1,000 metric tons of microplastics fall from the sky, along with dust and rain. Even rainwater in Rocky Mountain National Park has microparticles, primarily blue fibers invisible to the human eye.. The only way to permanently eliminate it is by incineration. The proposed Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 in the U.S. would put the responsibility for plastic waste management on producers. The law, if enacted, would establish a national Pigouvian tax on carryout bags and refund customers who return beverage containers.