The problem of plastic

Plastic Pollution

We all know plastic pollution is an issue, but let’s layout a few facts:

• About 11 million metric tons of plastic flow into our rivers, lakes and seas every year, and that could nearly triple by 2040 without action.

• By 2040, four billion people could be living without organized waste collection.

• Making plastic produces about four times the greenhouse gas emissions of the entire airline industry.

marine life impact

More than 700 marine species have been documented eating plastic, from seabirds and sea turtles to the fish that end up on our plates. Plastic can block an animal's stomach and make it feel full, so it stops eating real food and can starve. Microplastics may also carry toxic chemicals into the animals that eat them, giving those chemicals another route into the food chain.

The Neighbors Who Breathe It In

Of the 20 largest trash incinerators in the U.S., 16 are in communities with a higher share of people of color than the national average. Burning plastic isn't just expensive to run. It sends pollutants like lead and mercury into the air, and a 2023 study found incinerators produce more greenhouse gas per unit of electricity than any other power source, coal included.