For nearly 80 years, the colossal issue of littering has plagued our biosphere. Since the end of World War II, plastic pollution has inundated our oceans, with approximately 11 million metric tons of plastic ending up there each year. An astounding 200 million tons of plastic currently circulate in marine environments. Plastic pollution exerts a devastating toll on marine environments, wreaking havoc on delicate ecosystems and marine life. Once discarded, plastics find their way into water bodies, where they persist for hundreds of years, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate the oceans. These tiny plastic particles infiltrate the food chain, as marine organisms inadvertently consume them. As a result, marine species, including fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, suffer from ingestion and entanglement, leading to injury, starvation, and even death.
To combat this, stringent action is imperative to reduce waste. Many countries are utilizing legislation as a pivotal method to curb plastic consumption, with over 100 nations now implementing partial or complete bans on plastic bags. Proposing even stronger legislation and enforcement is vital in our battle against plastic pollution.
Depending on where you live, you can make a difference in how your community responds to plastic pollution. Methods like contacting local governments and bringing awareness to this issue could help more people realize the importance of keeping our environment clean.
Another method to making an impact on plastic pollution found in oceans is to conduct research and experiments to find innovative solutions that may help remove the plastic that is already found in oceans. The more importance that is given to this issue, the more success we will find with solutions to help resolve this problem. Therefore, I believe that while awareness is an important factor in bringing change, creating innovative solutions is even more important to bring real change in the sector of plastic pollution in oceans.
“Plastics in the Ocean - Ocean Conservancy.” Ocean Conservancy, 21 July 2023, oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean.
Rollason, Jennifer. “The History of Litter.” Bristol Waste Company, Mar. 2023, bristolwastecompany.co.uk/history-of-litter/#:~:text=It's%20no%20coincidence%20that%20litter,a%20growing%20mountain%20of%20waste.
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