Published: Dec. 14, 2020 By

It takes upwards of 1000 years for plastic to decompose. This means every plastic bottle, straw and container that has been thrown away is still intact and somewhere on Earth. The plastic problem is affecting every part of the planet, from the very top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Marianas trench. 

The Plastic Problem:

Single-use plastics are made primarily from fossil fuel based chemicals, making them not only polluters of our natural spaces and eye-sores, but also a contributor to climate change.

Plastic does not decompose, it breaks up into smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are practically everywhere on Earth and pose a deadly problem for wildlife. If too much microplastic accumulates in an animal it can cause punctured organs or intestinal blockages. 

There is a massive floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas that is growing quickly. 

Plastic pollution affects the most vulnerable communities first. Developed countries, such as the United States, are able to send their plastic to developing countries to be processed. Eventually, the amount of plastic can become so overwhelming that these communities run out of ways to dispose of it and become covered in plastic trash. 

 

We live in a world that prioritizes convenience over what is best for our environment. This is why nearly half of all plastic produced is single-use. Reducing the amount of single-use plastic you use is the best way to help stop the plastic problem.

Some Ways to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Use

1. Cook at home instead of getting takeout food which comes extra plastic packaging 

2. Bring reusable bags to the store

3. Bring tupperware to restaurants for collecting leftovers

4. Buy food in bulk to avoid individually packaged foods

5. Use a reusable water bottle

6. Support local plastic bans 

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