Helena Joyce
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects our ecosystems, climate, and health. It is caused by the use of plastic materials that are designed to resist natural decay processes, making them largely nonbiodegradable and persistent in natural environments. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of this waste, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries, that leads to plastic pollution. This mismanagement includes the failure to recycle, incinerate, or properly dispose of plastic waste, which can then leak into the environment. Additionally, around 80% of marine plastic pollution originates on land, swept in from coastlines or carried to rivers during heavy rain. To address plastic pollution, it is essential to reduce plastic use, especially for throwaway items like grocery bags, plastic wrap, and disposable cutlery, which account for half of all plastic produced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic is used for | Throwaway items such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids |
| Plastic is | A polymeric material, a material whose molecules are very large, often resembling long chains made up of a seemingly endless series of interconnected links |
| Plastic is | Non-biodegradable |
| Plastic pollution is caused by | People dumping their garbage overboard |
| Plastic pollution is caused by | Land-based sources, such as streets, coastlines, rivers, storm drains and sewer overflows |
| Plastic pollution is caused by | Poor waste management infrastructure in low-to-middle-income countries |
What You'll Learn
- Plastic is used in throwaway items like grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee-cup lids
- Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person
- Mismanaged waste is at risk of leaking into the environment, which is more common in low-to-middle-income countries
- Plastic is a polymeric material, meaning its molecules are very large and often resemble long chains
- Synthetic plastics are largely nonbiodegradable, so they persist in natural environments
Plastic is used in throwaway items like grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee-cup lids
Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of this waste that is most important for plastic pollution. Mismanaged waste is at risk of leaking into the environment, and this tends to be higher in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure. As a result, most plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.
Around 80% of marine plastic pollution originates on land, swept in from coastlines or carried to rivers from streets during heavy rain. To reduce plastic pollution, it is important to learn how to reduce plastic use and keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream.
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Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person
Although plastic is a useful material, it is also a major contributor to pollution. Plastic pollution is caused by plastic that has been thrown away and not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but the amount of waste that is mismanaged is more important for plastic pollution. Mismanaged waste is at risk of leaking into the environment, and this tends to be higher in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure. As a result, most plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly across Asia.
Around 80% of marine plastic pollution originates on land, either from the coastline or from streets during heavy rain, carried to rivers via storm drains and sewer overflows. Plastic is pervasive throughout our ecosystems and even our clouds, and its persistence in natural environments poses a danger to terrestrial animals, our climate, and our health.
To reduce plastic pollution, it is important to learn how to reduce plastic use. Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items that are used once and then discarded, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee-cup lids. By reducing our use of these items and keeping as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream, we can help to keep our earth a cleaner place.
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Mismanaged waste is at risk of leaking into the environment, which is more common in low-to-middle-income countries
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with around 80% of marine plastic pollution originating on land. Synthetic plastics are largely non-biodegradable, meaning they persist in natural environments.
Mismanaged waste is at risk of leaking into the environment. This is more common in low-to-middle-income countries, which tend to have poorer waste management infrastructure. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of this waste that is most important for plastic pollution. This mismanagement includes waste that is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills. As a result, most plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly across Asia.
The average consumer comes into daily contact with plastic materials that have been developed to defeat natural decay processes. These materials are derived mainly from petroleum and can be moulded, cast, spun, or applied as coatings.
Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items that are used once and then discarded, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids. This waste can be swept in from coastlines or carried to rivers from streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows.
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Plastic is a polymeric material, meaning its molecules are very large and often resemble long chains
Today, the average consumer comes into daily contact with all kinds of plastic materials that have been developed specifically to defeat natural decay processes. These materials are derived mainly from petroleum and can be moulded, cast, spun, or applied as coatings. Since synthetic plastics are largely non-biodegradable, they tend to persist in natural environments.
Around 80% of marine plastic pollution originates on land, either swept in from the coastline or carried to rivers from the streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows. Rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but what's most important for plastic pollution is how much of this waste is mismanaged. Mismanaged waste tends to be much higher in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure.
The first step towards a plastic pollution solution is learning how to reduce plastic use. Half of all plastic produced is for throwaway items that are used once and then thrown away, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee cup lids.
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Synthetic plastics are largely nonbiodegradable, so they persist in natural environments
Rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but it is the mismanagement of this waste that is the most important factor in plastic pollution. Mismanaged waste tends to be much higher in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure. As a result, most of the plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.
Around 80% of marine plastic pollution originates on land, either swept in from coastlines or carried to rivers from streets during heavy rain. This plastic can then be ingested by marine animals, causing harm to their health and the wider ecosystem. It can also enter our food chain, posing risks to human health.
To reduce plastic pollution, it is important to learn how to reduce plastic use and keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream. This can be done through recycling, incineration, or sealed landfills, as well as by reducing the use of single-use plastics and opting for reusable alternatives instead.
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Frequently asked questions
By using throwaway plastic items that are used once and then thrown away, such as grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws and coffee-cup lids.
By not recycling, incinerating or disposing of plastic waste in sealed landfills.
Plastic pollution is also caused by plastic being swept in from coastlines or carried to rivers from the streets during heavy rain via storm drains and sewer overflows.
By using plastic products that have been developed specifically to defeat natural decay processes, such as materials derived mainly from petroleum that can be moulded, cast, spun or applied as a coating.
