Research Paper on Plastic Overwhelming Oceans: 18 Billion Pounds of Waste Flows Annually

Introduction

By 2020, plastic in our oceans will outweigh the fish, predicts a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum. According to Parker, 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year from coastal regions! Though there is a percentage of people that care immensely about our world, there are people that don't entirely worry or pay attention to this principle issue. Wind, water, streams, and rivers transport these plastics to the oceans. Imagine exposing our families and ourselves to the microscopic plastic that fish swallow. According to Moore (2014), the plastics in the oceans have accumulated to form gyres that constitute 40 percent of the ocean surface. A majority of us already have consumed this microscopics plastic, so keep worrying. But don't lose hope, there are solutions to this sad truth. It is time to individually, and as a group, take action by recycling, volunteering, and showing a little more respect to our mother earth. We should invest money in garbage scows, which clean up approximately 110,000 pounds of trash from rivers each day (Tucker). Plastics in our oceans are killing sea life at an alarming rate, contaminating our food and water, but it is fixable.

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The Problem of Ocean Pollution

Have you seen pictures of fish caught in the plastic that holds a six-pack of soda together? Imagine 18 billion pounds of that; that's how much plastic waste flows into the oceans every year. It's an incredible amount that's devastating wildlife and killing many fish. According to UNESCO, plastics lead to the death of more than a million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals. Apart from entanglement, when marine animals ingest plastic, it leads to the blockage of the intestinal tract leading to infections, starvation, and eventual death (Sebille et al. 6). Marine life is critical to the ecosystem and thus the need to protect these animals from plastics.

The cause of all this is a lack of concern from us, the people of Earth. We produce all this plastic to help us in everyday life, but many of us don't think about what happens after it has served its purpose. We throw the plastic away and forget about it. Of course, many people know and care about the impacts of such waste, but there aren't enough of them. There are even people who know about plastic waste's devastation, but they still don't change their behaviors. They continue to throw their plastic into the trash bin.

Furthermore, the pollution of oceans by plastics has led to the loss of tourism as water bodies are contaminated and unfit for recreation. This has had a negative economic impact on countries that are affected. Additionally, countries now have to bear the economic burden of cleaning the oceans. Therefore, there is a need to curb the pollution of oceans by plastics before the situation escalates further.

Not only does all this plastic kill fish and destroy their ecosystems, but the microscopic plastic particles soak into the fish's scales and meat as well as them mistaking it as other fish or food. These particles contaminate the meat; they contaminate our food sources, but we continue to eat these contaminated fish. We consume the very plastic we threw away. How's that for ironic?

Solutions to Ocean Pollution

Recycling of Plastics

One very obvious solution is to recycle. The more we recycle, the less plastic will reach the oceans and kill fish. If people don't care about the lives of fish, then they should think about how the plastic contaminates our food sources. To take it a step further, instead of just recycling their plastics, people should volunteer to clean up beaches and recycle other people's plastics. I know many people will read that and not think about it again, but there are a few who will read that, and become inspired and motivated to step outside their houses and take action against plastic pollution.

Use of Garbage Collection Boats

Another solution is to invest in garbage collecting boats called scows. These boats can clean up approximately 110,000 pounds of trash from rivers every day (Tucker). This investment would have a huge positive impact on the amount of pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans. And they would collect the garbage before it has a chance to reach the oceans.

Efficient Waste Collection

There is also a need for an improvement in solid waste collection, especially in developed countries where the amount of waste generated is high. One of the reasons why plastics are eventually deposited in oceans is due to poor waste collection. According to Simmons, more than fifty percent of the world's population is not served by frequent trash collection. As a result, people discard their wastes leading to unattended garbage sites.

Despite having a lower population than China, the United States produces the highest waste with 624,700 metric tons per day (Simmons). Due to such high levels of waste generation, there is a need for elaborate systems of waste collection. There is a need for more garbage cans, especially along beaches and in major shopping centers. After placing garbage cans in strategic locations, there is a need to ensure that the waste is collected regularly.

Legislative Action

Another remedy to save the oceans from the ongoing pollution is the introduction of harsh policies. People are oblivious to the dangers of ocean pollution. When a person throws an empty water bottle on the roadside, they are not aware of the consequences. The first step is to create awareness and to urge the public to recycle and be mindful of the environment. Then, there is a need for enactment of strict policies that will impose heavy fines and imprisonment for people responsible for littering the environment with plastics. These policies will help deter the unnecessary littering of the environment that eventually leads to ocean pollution.

Plastic Ban

Finally, if all attempts fail, governments need to ban the use of plastic bags and bottles. There are alternatives to the use of plastics, including biodegradable materials that will not harm the oceans. The food industry needs to move from the use of plastics to the use of these alternative forms. To aid this process, governments need to ban the use of plastics in certain industries. According to the Economist, 90 countries have placed restrictions on the use of plastics. Other countries need to follow this trend to help preserve oceans.

Conclusion

So, while there are enormous amounts of plastic reaching our oceans, there are steps we can take that'll help us move in the right direction, a direction with less impact on wildlife and a cleaner Earth. There is a need for every individual to take responsibility. The media needs to educate the public on the dangers of plastics. Governments need to ensure efficient waste collection and, if necessary, ban the use of plastics. The world should unite in the fight against plastics as it has in the quest to curb global warming.

Works Cited

"Ever More Countries Are Banning Plastic Bags." The Economist, 24 June 2019, https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/07/24/ever-more-countries-are-banning-plastic-bags. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

"Facts And Figures on Marine Pollution." UNESCO, 2019, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/focus-areas/rio-20-ocean/blueprint-for-the-future-we-want/marine-pollution/facts-and-figures-on-marine-pollution/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

Moore, Charles. "Choking the Oceans with Plastic." New York Times, 25 Aug. 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/opinion/choking-the-oceans-with-plastic.html. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

Parker, Laura. "Fast Facts about Plastic Pollution." National Geographic, 20 Dec. 2018, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/05/plastics-facts-infographics-ocean-pollution/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

Sebille, Erik, et al. "The Ocean Plastic Pollution Challenge: Towards Solutions in the UK." Graham Institute, Vol. 1, no. 19, 2016, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/Grantham-institute/public/publications/briefing-papers/The-ocean-plastic-pollution-challenge-Grantham-BP-19_web.pdf. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

Simmons, Ann. "The World's Trash Crisis, And Why Many Americans Are Oblivious" Los Angeles Times, 22 April 2016, https://www.latimes.com/world/global-development/la-fg-global-trash-20160422-20160421-snap-htmlstory.html. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

"The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics." World Economic Forum, 2016, http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.

Tucker, Ethan. "The Ocean Cleanups Latest Invention Collects 110,000 Pounds of Trash from Rivers Each Day." Architectural Digest, 8 Nov. 2019, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/ocean-cleanups-collects-110000-pounds-trash-rivers-each-day. Accessed 14 Dec. 2019.