The Real Killer
- AJ
- Apr 21, 2025
- 2 min read
We all know that plastic pollution is incredibly bad and very detrimental to the Earth. One of the most popular moments for ending plastic pollution was the viral anti-plastic straw movement to “save the turtles”. While this movement in 2020 may have impacted some individuals to use paper or metal straws, we have failed to account for the bigger picture of plastic pollution.
In 2015, it was estimated that there is 19 billion pounds of plastic in our oceans, and that number was projected to double by 2025. One of the best examples of this pollution is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. But, plastic permites every inch of the ocean including microplastics in the food chain.
Scientists found that 90% of seabirds have plastic in their belly. Recently, at a beach in Spain, a 13,000 pound sperm whale washed up onto a beach. Scientists found that the cause of his death was 64 pounds of plastic throughout the mammals stomach and intestines :(
We produce so much plastic on this planet that waste and recycling centers cannot keep up. Simply just banning plastic straws and bags is not enough to solve this plastic crisis. In order to fix this problem, we need to work globally to not only dispose of plastic but to also limit its production.
Consumers hold the power, if individuals around the world stopped using plastics so rapidly and began to learn better ways to reuse and recycle these plastics to limit the environmental impact.
But, in order to truly have an impact, an international agreement (similar to the Montreal Protocol) must be made. Globally, we can agree to impose caps and trade bans on plastic production as well as enforcing requirements for plastic waste management.
We know how to solve this crisis and are the only ones who can and we must do it now.
Thanksss :)
-AJ
4/21/25
References:
Comments