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Plastic is everywhere in our lives, yet its simple use comes at a cost to our planet and health. In this post, we will look at ten key facts concerning plastic, from its widespread presence in our seas to its effects on wildlife and human health. These results underline the critical need for ethical habits and solutions to combat plastic pollution.
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Low Recycling Rate
The worldwide recycling of plastics rate is extremely low, with just around 9% of the total plastic manufactured getting recycled. A large amount of plastic trash ends up in dumps or waterways, leading to pollution and environmental degradation.
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Excessive use
Plastic bags are used in shocking numbers, with nearly 2 million bags used per minute throughout the globe. In the United Kingdom, introducing a minor fee for plastic bags resulted in a large drop in their usage, indicating the successful outcome of policy measures in reducing the use of plastic.
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One-time-use Plastic Bans
To address the detrimental impact of single-use plastics, nations like Kenya have passed strict laws, such as bans and steep fines. Other countries have followed the trend, adopting different rules to minimize the use of single-use plastic items. These efforts are part of a global effort to reduce plastic pollution and its negative impact on the ecosystem.
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Sea Pollution
Plastic waste contributes greatly to ocean pollution, with tons dumped into the ocean each minute. This has an influence on marine life and contributes to the formation of large rubbish patches over the oceans. To keep plastic out of the oceans, global coordination and effective waste management are essential.
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Littering at the beach
Plastic garbage pollutes coasts all around the world, making up approximately 73% of total beach litter. This affects not only the overall attractiveness of beaches but also the health of coastal and marine ecosystems. Cleaning up the coasts and minimizing waste are essential measures in combating this problem.
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Using plastic bottles
Plastic bottle use is extraordinarily high, with one million bottles sold per minute globally. Despite the growth of recycling sites, a large proportion of these bottles remain in landfills, damaging the environment. Increasing the use of recyclable bottles and boosting recycling rates are essential steps toward decreasing the impact of plastic bottle waste.
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Fish against Plastic
The overall amount of plastic present in the marine environment is rapidly increasing, with some projecting that by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish. This highlights the crucial need for quick action to reduce the effect of plastic and protect marine life.
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River Pollution
A large amount of ocean plastic pollution comes from only ten rivers, primarily from Africa and Southeast Asia. Improving waste management systems in these regions is necessary to minimize plastic pollution, as rivers transport contaminants from inland to the ocean.
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Effect on Animals
Plastic pollution is harmful to wildlife, with an estimated 99% of seabirds consuming plastic by 2050. Marine animals and birds commonly mistake plastics for food, resulting in poisoning and entanglement, which can be fatal. Protecting animals from plastic contamination requires global efforts to reduce plastic consumption and introduction into habitats that are natural.
Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen – Unsplash
Microplastic Intake
Microplastics are little bits of plastic that are common in our environment and have been detected in food chains. Every year, an average individual consumes more than 70,000 microplastics, raising concerns about their potential health risks.
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