The world produced nearly 7,000 million tonnes of virgin plastic in 2015, and only 9 percent is recycled. The rest goes to landfills, is incinerated or leaked into the environment, according to the OECD’s Global Plastics Outlook.
When we throw away plastic items (think: shopping bags, water bottles, straws, food packaging), they break down slowly in the sun’s UV light, rain and currents. When that happens, it releases methane and ethylene gases.
Why is plastic waste a problem?
This is a major contributor to climate change as well as pollution in the oceans handle it by using rubbish removal Birmingham. It also poses an enormous threat to marine life, as they ingest and get tangled in it.
We’ve been exposed to all kinds of plastics for decades now. And we still don’t know how they affect our health and ecosystems.
Plastic can be contaminated with chemicals that could have harmful effects on humans and animals. It’s also a big source of toxic air pollution, as it can leak into the atmosphere and release harmful substances.
Recycling is a great way to cut back on plastic waste. But it’s not always easy to sort out the different types of plastic, which are often mixed together in recycling bins.
Littering and careless disposal of waste are the main sources of plastic leakage into rivers, seas and other waterways. Despite some efforts, like plastic bag bans and better recycling infrastructure in some countries, the problem is still widespread. That’s why it’s important to take action.
