Does plastic effect our environment?

 

Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds that are malleable to create different shapes. Because plastic is not a natural resource it can take several years to decompose.

The decomposition of plastic is said to take anywhere from 10 - 1,000 years to decompose and because only 23% of plastic is recycled in the United States it leaves a lot of room for plastic pollution. Plastic pollution causes harm to humans, animals and plants through toxic pollutants and the damage to our environment are long-lasting. This affects organisms in the food chain from tiny species like plankton to whales. Over 1 million marine animals (including mammals, fish, sharks, turtles and birds are killed each year due to plastic debris found in the ocean.

Currently there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world as well as micro plastics, including streams, rivers, lakes and oceans making it easier to find in the water we drink and the fish we eat. Not disposing the plastic like reusable plastic bags and other debris properly can also create blockages to our storm drains and culverts and impeding the flow of water and worsening bank erosion..

Check up with the triple R Check list to help keep our environment clean:  Can I REDUCE the use of this material and how? Is this item REUSABLE? Can I RECYCLE this item?