Why has plastic production increased?

As of 2017, 7 billion of the 8.8 billion tons produced globally over that whole period have become waste. The industry attributes future growth to two factors: the increasing global population and demands for more plastic consumer goods, fueled by the increasing buying power of a growing middle class.

How has Covid affected Plastic Pollution?

However, the estimated waste volume reached over 530 Mt in the first 7 months of the COVID-19 outbreak (December 2019–June 2020), suggesting plastic waste totals for 2020 would be at least double those of 2019. Plastic pollution has been labeled as a driver of environmental change.

What happens to the plastic that is floating in the ocean gyres?

In the ocean, the sun breaks down these plastics into tinier and tinier pieces, a process known as photodegradation. Most of this debris comes from plastic bags, bottle caps, plastic water bottles, and Styrofoam cups. Marine debris can be very harmful to marine life in the gyre.

Why is plastic pollution increasing?

The visibility of plastic waste is increasing because of its accumulation in recent decades and its negative impact on the surrounding environment and human health. Plastic waste mainly enters the environment when it is poorly managed, such as through open dumping, open burning, and disposal in waterways.

Why is litter such a problem in developing countries?

Improving solid waste management practices and policies in developing countries requires handling of difficult topics such as littering. Disgust and fear of sickness were the most significant reasons among the psychological reasons for littering.

Why is it called Covid 19?

This name was chosen because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003. While related, the two viruses are different.

What is beach litter?

Marine debris – man-made objects that enter the marine environment through careless handling or disposal, intentional or unintentional release, or as a result of natural disasters and storms – is one of the ocean’s most pervasive, yet potentially solvable, pollution problems.

Why is it important to remove litter from the environment?

Litter also reduces air quality due to the smell and toxic/chemical vapor emanating from the trash. A polluted environment can encourage the spread of diseases.

Why is plastics litter a threat to the environment?

Plastic litter is another threat to the environment and its inhabitants. It has often been mistaken for food by both land and marine wildlife. When consumed by animals, they reduce the stomach capacity since they cannot be digested. In the long-term it affects the animals’ eating habits, eventually killing the animals.

How many animals die from littering each year?

Much of marine wildlife including birds, whales, dolphins and turtles have been found dead with plastic and cigarettes found in their stomachs. An estimated 100,000 sea mammals are killed by plastic litter every year.

Do penalties for littering affect behavior?

However, authorities cannot fine someone unless they actually see them litter and it is impossible to control every street. Undoubtedly, penalties have a real effect on littering behavior, but education and raising awareness is crucial in guaranteeing long-term results.