Some plastics float once they enter the ocean, though not all do. That means plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.
Unlike some other kinds of waste, plastic doesn’t decompose. If this waste isn’t properly disposed of or managed, it can end up in the ocean. Many plastic products are single-use items that are designed to be thrown out, like water bottles or take out containers. Just think about all the plastic items you use daily: the toothbrush you grab first thing in the morning, the container your lunch comes in, or the bottle you drink water from after your workout.Īll these things get used and, eventually, thrown out. These plastics come in many different forms. That’s the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers, and the problem continues to grow. While it’s tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, scientists think about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010.
