The Impact of Plastic
Did you know that the effects of plastic pollution have damaged our environment nationally? Many people do not know that there are 7 different types of plastic of which only 2-3 are actually recyclable. Additionally, the lifespan of many plastic products are over 300 years before they decompose. Once certain plastic products are made, they are immediately destined for the landfill. In 2017 according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), out of 35,370 plastic items that were generated, 26,820 ended up in the landfill. That means 76% of the plastic that was created in 2017 went straight to the landfill. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/plastics-material-specific-data. That number is sure to have increased now in 2020.
How can we make a difference? Educate yourself on sustainable practices and know that your small efforts can have a ripple effect on the quality of the environment.
THE PLASTIC PROBLEM
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-plastic-problem
BEYOND PLASTIC
https://marylandpirg.org/feature/mdp/beyond-plastic
FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR
https://www.footprintnetwork.org/resources/footprint-calculator/
THE SEVEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLASTIC
https://waste4change.com/7-types-plastic-need-know/
THE TRUTH ABOUT RECYCLING
