Plastic Pollution What really happens to your bags and bottles?
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Plastic PollutionWhat really happens to your bags and bottles?
Some questions before we begin: How many plastic bags do you think we use per year around the world? A. 1 million B. 100 million C. 1 Billion D. 1 Trillion
Some questions before we begin: How many plastic bags do you think we use per year around the world? A. 1 million B. 100 million C. 1 Billion D. 1 Trillion
That’s almost 1 Million bags per minute!!!
100 Billion of these are just from the US!
1,000,000,000,000
Some questions before we begin: How long does it take a plastic bag to decompose in nature? A. 5-6 months B. 5-6 years C. 5-6 decades D. 5-6 centuries
Some questions before we begin: How long does it take a plastic bag to decompose in nature? A. 5-6 months B. 5-6 years C. 5-6 decades D. 5-6 centuries
That means a plastic bag from the time of the American Revolution would still be around for another 200 to 300 years!
Some questions before we begin: A lot of our plastic pollution in the ocean ends up in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. How big is the garbage patch? A. The size of Fresno County B. The size of California C. The size of Texas D. The size of the United States
Some questions before we begin: A lot of our plastic pollution in the ocean ends up in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. How big is the garbage patch? A. The size of Fresno County B. The size of California C. The size of Texas D. The size of the United States
Estimates put the patch between 270,000 sq mi and 5,800,000 sq mi
How Much Trash?•We waste about 185 pounds of plastic per person each year!
•This is enough trash to circle the Earth 4 times!
•Most of this trash is plastic water bottles and plastic bags.
•Nearly 100% of plastic can be recycled, but in the US only about 10% actually is.
Where does this trash go?RIVERS OCEANS
How does this affect me?•Plastic waste kills hundreds of marine animals every year.
•Plastic wastes destroy beaches and natural areas for future generations.
•Plastic breakdown releases hundreds of chemicals into the water.
•Trash clogs water runoff areas causing flooding.
•Oil used to make plastic products is an expensive and limited resource.
What can I do about it?•Help your family recycle plastic!•Ask your parents if you can put a recycling bin in the kitchen next to the trash!
•Try not to use plastic bags at the grocery store. Use paper bags or reusable bags instead.
•Help remove trash from the environment: Pick up litter, help on the river clean-up projects with the Pack and Troop.
•Use reusable plastic bags, bottles, and containers rather than disposable ones.
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