The Daily Plastic Waste Weighing Down Our Planet

Plastic is a cheap, versatile and nearly indestructible material. Humans are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and it's estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans annually. Plastic products are often single-use items that are designed to be thrown out, like water bottles or take-out containers. In this paragraph, we will explore how much plastic by weight is discarded every day.

Plastic bottles: one million purchased every minute worldwide

Plastic bottles are one of the most common plastic products, with one million purchased every minute worldwide. This amounts to 50 billion water bottles per year in the US alone, or 13 bottles per month for every person in the country.

The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. Humans are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes. This means that plastic is used for just a few moments, but remains on the planet for at least several hundred years.

The problem of plastic pollution is particularly acute in the world's oceans. It is estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans every year, with some reports putting the figure at 14 million tons. This plastic comes in many different forms, from plastic bags to cigarette butts, and it is tough to say exactly how much is in the ocean. However, scientists think about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010, which is the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers.

Many countries lack the infrastructure to prevent plastic pollution, such as sanitary landfills, incineration facilities, and recycling capacity. In addition, the management and disposal of waste systems are often inadequate. As a result, 79% of the plastic that has ever been made still sits in landfills or the natural environment.

Plastic bags: five trillion used annually

It is estimated that between 8 and 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. This is the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers.

Plastic bags are a major contributor to this problem. Up to five trillion plastic bags are used annually, with an average 'working life' of 15 minutes. In 2015, about 730,000 tons of plastic bags were generated in the United States alone, with more than 87% of these items never being recycled and ending up in landfills and the ocean.

The plastic used in bags contains chemical additives such as endocrine disruptors, which are associated with negative health effects including cancers, birth defects and immune system suppression in humans and wildlife. Birds often mistake shredded plastic bags for food, filling their stomachs with toxic debris. Sea turtles are also unable to distinguish between jellyfish and floating plastic bags, and fish eat thousands of tons of plastic a year, transferring it up the food chain to bigger fish and marine mammals.

The problem of plastic pollution is only getting worse, with the fossil fuel industry planning to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea.

Cigarette butts: 9.7 billion littered in the US each year

It is difficult to say exactly how much plastic is discarded every day, but it is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010, and that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year. Humans are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes.

Cigarette butts are a significant contributor to plastic pollution. An estimated 9.7 billion cigarette butts are littered in the US every year, with 4 billion of these ending up in waterways. They comprise nearly 20% of all litter. Cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic. When they are littered, they can leach toxic chemicals into the environment, including nicotine, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds. These chemicals can be harmful to both human health and the environment. In addition, the plastic fibres in cigarette butts can take years to break down, contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution.

Plastic in the ocean: 8 million metric tons entered the ocean in 2010

It is difficult to say exactly how much plastic is discarded every day, but it is estimated that 5 trillion plastic bags are used each year, and Americans alone throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups. In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used.

The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. Humans are addicted to this nearly indestructible material. We are producing over 380 million tons of plastic every year, and some reports indicate that up to 50% of that is for single-use purposes.

It is estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year. In 2010, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean. That's the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers. The vast majority of it is underwater, floating at the surface, accumulating on the seafloor, making its way into the bellies of organisms and even becoming incorporated into rocks.

In 2010, 192 coastal countries generated 275 million metric tons of plastic waste, with 4.8 to 12.7 million of that entering the ocean.

Plastic foam: 26 million US tons produced annually

Plastic foam is a material that is nearly indestructible, yet humans are addicted to it. We produce over 26 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) every year. That's the equivalent of 50 billion water bottles or 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups discarded by Americans alone.

Plastic foam is a significant contributor to the growing problem of plastic pollution. While it is challenging to determine the exact amount of plastic in the ocean, scientists estimate that about 8 million metric tons entered the ocean in 2010. This figure continues to increase, with some reports indicating that up to 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans annually.

The proliferation of plastic products has been extraordinary in recent decades. We are producing over 380 million tons of plastic yearly, and half of that is for single-use purposes. These single-use items, such as water bottles and take-out containers, are designed to be thrown out after just a few moments of use but remain on the planet for several hundred years.

The impact of plastic foam on the environment is concerning. With 79% of plastic ever made still sitting in landfills or the natural environment, it is clear that we need better waste management systems. Many countries lack the necessary infrastructure, including sanitary landfills, incineration facilities, recycling capacity, and circular economy infrastructure, to address this issue effectively.

To reduce the environmental impact of plastic foam, individuals can make conscious choices, such as using reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones. By making small changes, we can collectively make a significant difference in reducing plastic waste and protecting our planet.

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