CALL TO CHECK PLASTIC POLLUTION

OCEAN PLASTIC: NEED TO CHECK PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic has devastating effects on the marine ecosystem and we are now aware that plastic pollution is growing big. But it is actually much bigger than we think. We need to know how much plastic reaches the water bodies and its adverse effects on marine life. Why? Because we are responsible for the killer polymers in oceans by our careless and thoughtless disposal of non-degradable trash into it.

What are the statistics on Plastic Pollution?

According to the United Nations stats on plastic waste,

●     About 300 million tons of plastic waste is produced every year, which is approximately equal to the weight of entire human population.

●     More than 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic is produced since the 1950s and about 60% of it has ended up polluting the environment.

●       Every year for about 8 million tons of plastic is reaching the world's oceans.

●       And only 21% of the total plastic waste is being treated either by burning or recycling it. The rest of 79% is being dumped into the water bodies.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, 90% of seabirds and one in every two turtles bear plastic in their stomachs. Thousands of fish, sharks, seals, dolphins and other marine organisms are directly getting affected by this.

What is our role in curbing plastic pollution?

Plastic has its deadly effects not only on marine life, but it flows through the food chain and reaches human bodies in small amounts. Now it is high time we all should act to protect our oceans. Some nations already imposed a ban on plastics. Many nonprofit organizations are working towards the solutions, local governments are making reforms. But we can create impact only when each and every individual makes a pledge to limit their plastic usage which would reflect in reducing oceanic plastic pollution. We should all gather in large groups and join our hands to achieve UN’s call to beat plastic pollution by 2030. And the only solution is Plastic recycling against which we need to raise our voice.