Feature Image by Julie Larsen Maher
SUMMER 2018 BOX PARTNER
We all know that plastic has a negative impact on our environment, but exactly how harmful is it to throw away a single-use plastic straw or plastic bag? Studies have shown that roughly nine million tons of plastic from land (yes, you read that right) end up in the ocean every year. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to a dump truck full of plastic every minute. Pretty crazy, right?
Below we’re sharing five additional facts you probably didn’t know about plastic waste:
Ocean life has ingested tons of plastic
To be exact, an estimated 71 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of turtles have been found with plastic in their stomachs — and it’s often fatal.
Single-use plastic straws are one of the main offenders
Surprisingly enough, single-use plastic straws are one of the most common items found during beach cleanups. It doesn’t help that straws often can’t be recycled. However, it’s one of the easiest changes you can make in your everyday life. Join Wildlife Conservation Society and make a pledge at giveasip.us to give up single-use straws and receive a complimentary metal straw.
Straws don’t biodegrade
Plastic straws break up into smaller and smaller pieces in the ocean, which lingers for years in the water and makes it easier for ocean life to ingest.
There might be more plastic in the ocean than fish
At the rate our world is polluting, there may potentially be more plastic in the ocean by weight than fish by 2050.
Plastic is harder to recycle than you think
It’s very costly for recycling plants to separate individual types of smaller plastic (like straws) and even more difficult to compress it for transport.
Head to Wildlife Conservation Society to learn how you can get further involved in making the world more environmentally-friendly.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
