To Be Fantastic, Don’t Litter With Plastic

Right now, about 70% of Earth’s water is polluted. And each year, it’s getting worse…by eight million tons of plastic.

Two-thirds of this plastic that end up in our oceans come from waste being left on the beach or litter going down drains from towns or cities. The remainder comes from containers or fishing gear that go overboard. Humans are using more plastic than ever before in history, and many of us are not aware of how it is negatively impacting our planet.

When disposed, plastic doesn’t break down the way organic materials do. Instead, plastic breaks down into smaller microscopic pieces. There are about 51 trillion tiny pieces of plastic currently in our ocean. Together, they are estimated to weigh approximately 269,000 tons.

One hundred thousand aquatic animals, sea turtles, and sea birds die each year from plastic pollution. These animals often mistake plastic for food or end up getting tangled in it. Many dead seabirds are found with plastic filling their stomachs.

Studies show that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in our oceans than there are fish. If we are to prtoect the planet, people need to be more aware of how crucial it is to learn how to reuse plastic and even possibly stop using most plastic items such as straws, plastic bags, and even plastic bottles.

“Water pollution is horrible and disgusting,” says sophomore Christian Lara. “People need to understand that we can get bad diseases due to the contaminated water.”

“Ocean pollution is a big issue and people should take it seriously,” says freshman Mikayla Martin. “People in this world know that we need clean and fresh water to shower in and drink, and yet people still think it is okay to litter and throw food and garbage in the ocean.”