Top 10 Facts About Plastic Pollution

As we know that synthetic plastic goods accumulate in natural settings, posing a threat to animals and people alike. One of the major causes of global warming is single-use plastics that cannot recycle in bottle depots. Additionally, plastic harms marine life in landfills and the water since it is practically hard to degrade. As a result, waste management cannot successfully recycle most plastics in the nearest bottle depots. By reading this article, you will be amazed by knowing the ten facts about plastic pollution.

The Ten Most Important Facts About Pollution Caused By Plastic

Plastic is an inexpensive and adaptable material that may use in various ways. Although these features have made it a problem for the environment, In our “disposable” society, half of all plastic is thrown away after one use without recycling it at bottle depots in Calgary and elsewhere, according to estimates. As consumers, we have a responsibility to be aware of the following environmental consequences of our plastic usage. 

1. Plastic was first synthesized in 1907

Because plastic is an artificial product, it does not occur in nature. Leo Baekeland, a Belgian scientist, was the first to discover it in 1907.

2. Fossil fuels are used to produce plastic

Compounds, such as fossil fuels and gasoline make plastics.

3. Researchers are developing natural plastic

Plastic created from fossil fuels is harmful to the environment, so researchers are testing plastic manufactured from maize and cotton.

4. 40% of plastic is being used once and then discarded

Recycling old water bottles, avoiding plastic shopping bags at the grocery store, and eschewing plastic straws are all beneficial to the environment. As a result, we throw away a large portion of the plastic we produce, beverage bottles, and plastic wrap.

5. Recent research found 5 trillion plastic pieces in our waters

It’s not like we can recycle all plastic at bottle depots, and therefore some of it winds up in our seas when people dispose of it. Animals are in danger because of this. Make an effort to decrease the amount of plastic you use, but always recycle what you do. 

6. Plastic bag fees have reduced their usage

Because the government instituted the 5p fee on single-use plastic bags in England, the country has seen a 95% decline in sales. To get people to quit using plastic bags, the government instituted a fee in October 2015; the good news is that it succeeded!

7. Over half of the UK’s plastic is not recycled

The United Kingdom dumps out 7.7 billion plastic water bottles and other plastic debris per year, including food packaging, toys, etc. Only 45 percent of plastic waste in the United Kingdom is recycled, although we use so much of it.

8. A plastic island three times the size of France has developed

The Pacific Ocean’s Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of floating trash. Three times larger than France, it has a surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers. In addition, it’s growing in size as additional trash from the ocean joins it.

9. By 2050, rubbish will outweigh fish

There might be more plastic than fish in the water in 30 years if the rate at which plastic enters the ocean continues to rise. However, it is possible to prevent this by reducing our use of plastics, recycling, and cleaning up the seas.

10. Nine of the ten main rivers dump 90% of plastic into the ocean

The ocean receives hundreds of thousands of tonnes of plastic debris each year from ten rivers, almost all of which originate in Asia.

Conclusion

Despite the distressing facts presented before, there is still a chance this calamity may be averted by recycling plastics at bottle depots. For instance, there are many reasons to have a positive outlook. We always have the resources, technologies, and capabilities necessary to reduce our use of plastic, gather it for recycling at the nearest bottle depots, and find new services.