Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution has become a pressing global issue that is closely tied to our continuing extraction and use of fossil fuels. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes – used just once and then thrown away. Americans alone discard more than 30 million tons of plastic a year, of which only 8 percent gets recycled. Chemicals leached by plastics are now found in the blood and tissue of nearly all of us and can cause serious health issues, including cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption and other ailments. Since plastics don’t biodegrade, our planet is choking in plastic waste and plastics are now becoming part of the Earth’s fossil record and a marker of the Anthropocene.
March 23, 2023 – It’s time for Congress to protect marine mammals from dangerous plastic pollution.
October 13, 2021 – Consuming plastic debris can lead to “floating syndrome,” especially in juveniles. Without intervention, many will not survive.
July 1, 2021 – In just a decade, the Plastic Free July initiative has grown from a grassroots movement to a global campaign.
April 19, 2021 – A Swahili dhow known as the FlipFlopi shows that environmental innovation can coexist with tradition.
August 19, 2020 – Scientists warn prevalence of plastic pollution may pose risks to human and ocean health.
April 29, 2020 – The plastics industry is exploiting people’s fears of contracting Covid-19 to push its agenda.
February 26, 2020 – Lawsuit seeks to hold major food, beverage, and consumer goods companies accountable for plastic pollution.
January 1, 2020 – Since the 1950s, we have produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste.
November 18, 2019 – A recent court ruling in Texas reminds us that enforcement of the Clean Water Act is a crucial part of the plastics fight.
March 15, 2019 – How my art and love for the ocean inspired me to work on plastic pollution
March 5, 2019 – Experts say Congress could look to local policies to shape national legislation on throwaway plastics
August 6, 2018 – Ellen Sue Gerhart has been an outspoken opponent of the Mariner East 2 pipeline that is to run through her family’s land
June 18, 2018 – How citizen science informed a new study that revealed the extent of microplastic and microfiber pollution in marine ecosystems
May 14, 2018 – Research suggest that plastic-eating caterpillars and mutant enzymes could help break down trash
February 19, 2018 – The sampled fish may have originated from a particularly polluted patch of the Atlantic Ocean
February 15, 2018 – Recycling is not enough: We need bold solutions to deal with our plastic overproduction problem
December 22, 2017 – Simply recycling just doesn’t cut it; we need a major lifestyle shift. Here are some options
September 8, 2017 – Eighty-three percent of water samples worldwide tested positive for microscopic fibers
June 29, 2017 – World's plastic binge 'as dangerous as climate change,' say campaigners
October 11, 2016 – Proposition 67, facing fierce industry opposition, puts the issue before voters
February 23, 2015 – Threatened or near threatened species make up 17% of all marine animals impacted by manmade debris, says report
February 12, 2015 – Researchers warn that the trash could increase more than tenfold in the next decade
December 15, 2014 – Research shows that synthetic clothing sheds plastic microfibers, which end up back in oceans
November 13, 2014 – Big Plastic, which stands to lose big profits, wants to get a referendum on the November 2016 ballot
September 30, 2014 – Environmentalists celebrate, but say tackling widespread plastic pollution needs national and global-level action
June 6, 2014 – Plight of the flesh-footed shearwater in Australia illustrates how widespread the problem is
June 2, 2014 – These beads are so small they wash down the drain, escape wastewater treatment plants and are carried straight to rivers, lakes, and the oceans.
May 26, 2014 – Bill passed by state assembly sets a national precedent for holding companies liable for products that harm aquatic species
September 3, 2013 – Plastic Pollution Coalition: Beyond Plastic
June 21, 2013 – Think Beyond Plastic conference brought together thought-leaders and entrepreneurs from across the world
September 20, 2012 – City to extend ban to include retailers, bookstores, and clothing stores. Opponents vow to appeal
May 22, 2012 – An Excerpt from the New Book, Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too
August 22, 2011 – California state EPA allowed the American Chemistry Council, an industry group, undue influence over the drafting of the state’s new environmental curriculum.
March 23, 2011 – In a desperate attempt to stop the flow of information about the environmental and public health impacts of plastic, the industry is taking a few pages from the Philip Morris playbook.
June 16, 2010 – Downcycling slows the progress of plastic from your “recycling” bin to the landfill, but it doesn’t actually do much to solve the problem.