Ocean Pollution Prevention: Recycle Your Plastic!

Plastic pollution is one of the most talked about environmental issues of our day, and with good reason. With global plastic production exceeding 400 million tons annually and only about 9% of that being recycled, the need for responsible plastic recycling practices is more urgent than ever before. Improperly disposed of plastics contribute to environmental degradation, threaten wildlife, and worsen the climate crisis. Plastic waste negatively impacts our oceans and fuels climate change, but recycling can be a powerful tool in the fight for a healthier planet for us all.

The Effects of Plastics on Ocean Pollution

The majority of plastic waste produced ends up in the world's oceans, where it has devastating and long-lasting effects on marine ecosystems, including marine animals, fish, and plant life. More than 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. This waste includes products like single-use plastic bottles, plastic shopping bags, microplastics, and fishing gear, all of which can harm marine life in many different ways. For example, sea turtles often mistake floating plastic shopping bags for jellyfish and ingest them; this leads to blockages and death. Seabirds, fish, and whales also consume bits of plastic, which accumulate in their bodies and disrupt the food chain. Plastic pollution also damages coral reefs by smothering them or poisoning them with toxic chemicals leached into the water. These disruptions contribute to the death of our oceans and threaten the biodiversity and health of entire marine ecosystems.

How Does Plastic Waste Contribute to Climate Change?

Plastic is made primarily using fossil fuels, specifically oil and natural gas. Its life cycle contributes in a big way to greenhouse gas emissions, which eat away at Earth's atmosphere. From extraction to production, transport, and disposal, every stage of plastic's life cycle produces carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases. A 2019 study conducted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) estimated that by 2030, plastic production and incineration could emit 1.34 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually. That is the pollution equivalent of more than 295 new 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants.

How Does Recycling Help Fight Climate Change?

Recycling plastic is essential for the health of our planet. It significantly decreases the demand for new plastic production and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of single-use plastic waste that ends up in our landfills or incinerators. By building circular economies, we can minimize waste by using materials that have already gone through one production cycle. Circular economies, in contrast to linear economies, which follow a "take, make, dispose" production model, use less raw material and minimize the harm that production and manufacturing do to the planet. By prioritizing recycling, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower emissions, and slow the rate at which climate change negatively impacts Earth's ecosystems.

What Can I Do to Combat Climate Change?

Everyone is capable of reducing plastic pollution and combating climate change. Actions both big and small matter when we're talking about climate change and the health of our planet. Here are some actionable steps you and your community can take:

• Properly Recycle Plastic Items: Learn what types of plastic your local recycling facility accepts and make sure items are clean and dry before placing them in the bin. It might seem odd to wash plastic bottles before you put them in the bin, but there is a good reason for it: If plastics are too dirty or wet, they can't be properly recycled and may end up being discarded. Clean recyclables are more likely to be accepted and turned into new items. Processing clean plastics helps to keep the machines needed to do so clean and efficient. Contaminated recyclables covered in leftover food or liquids may instead be moved to landfills in order to avoid further contamination.
• Avoid Single-Use Plastics Whenever Possible: Opt for reusable bags, bottles, and containers. Stainless steel lunchboxes and drink bottles are great options, as are glass containers. Reusable silicone bags are a great alternative to disposable zip-top bags. Beeswax paper and fabric covers are also great options for wrapping foods.
• Support Legislation and Businesses That Make Sustainability a Priority: Advocate for bans on single-use plastics and extended producer responsibility laws, and support companies that are actively committed to reducing plastic waste in their production processes.
• Spread the Word: Share information about the importance of recycling plastics and their impact on the environment and climate.
• Reduce Your Personal Carbon Footprint: Make recycling part of your everyday life, reduce the amount of energy you use at home, and make green choices whenever possible; this extends to how you get around, the things you buy, and the personal practices that you integrate into your daily routine.

By committing to better, greener habits and supporting environmental policies that protect our planet, we can each do our part to protect our oceans, wildlife, and climate. Every recycled plastic bottle and every piece of waste kept out of the ocean contributes to a cleaner, healthier future for our planet.

Additional Resources

• Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics
• Do You Know What to Throw?
• Facts and Figures About Plastic Waste
• Recycling in the U.S. Is Broken: How Do We Fix It?
• A National Bottle Deposit Fee Could Make a Difference in Reducing Plastic Waste
• Harmful Effects of Single-Use Plastic Straws
• Seven Things You Didn't Know About Plastic and Recycling
• Step-by-Step Plastic Recycling
• Plastic Production, Not Recycling, Is the Real Problem
• Why Is So Little of the World's Plastic Being Recycled?