{"id":4682,"date":"2019-02-10T22:13:52","date_gmt":"2019-02-11T06:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/?p=4682"},"modified":"2019-02-11T18:38:59","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T02:38:59","slug":"plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic Pollution \u2013 The Toxic Debris Taking Over our Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Killing_and_endangering_animals\" title=\"Killing and endangering animals\">Killing and endangering animals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Deteriorating_human_health\" title=\"Deteriorating human health\">Deteriorating human health<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Polluting_the_earth\" title=\"Polluting the earth\">Polluting the earth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Polluting_the_air\" title=\"Polluting the air\">Polluting the air<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Polluting_the_groundwater\" title=\"Polluting the groundwater\">Polluting the groundwater<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Polluting_water\" title=\"Polluting water\">Polluting water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Plastic_interferes_with_the_food_chain\" title=\"Plastic interferes with the food chain\">Plastic interferes with the food chain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#Tourist_distraction_and_economic_loss\" title=\"Tourist distraction and economic loss\">Tourist distraction and economic loss<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#1_Stop_using_disposable_plastic\" title=\"1. Stop using disposable plastic\">1. Stop using disposable plastic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#2_Dont_buy_packaged_water\" title=\"2. Don\u2019t buy packaged water\">2. Don\u2019t buy packaged water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#3_Ditch_the_microbeads\" title=\"3. Ditch the microbeads\">3. Ditch the microbeads<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#4_Cook_food_instead_of_buying\" title=\"4. Cook food instead of buying\">4. Cook food instead of buying<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#5_Buy_second-hand\" title=\"5. Buy second-hand\">5. Buy second-hand<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#6_Recycle\" title=\"6. Recycle\">6. Recycle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#7_Support_a_bag_tax_or_bag_ban\" title=\"7. Support a bag tax or bag ban\">7. Support a bag tax or bag ban<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#8_Buy_things_in_bulk\" title=\"8. Buy things in bulk\">8. Buy things in bulk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#9_Spread_the_Word\" title=\"9. Spread the Word\">9. Spread the Word<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/#10_Participate_in_a_Beach_Clean_Up\" title=\"10. Participate in a Beach Clean Up\">10. Participate in a Beach Clean Up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>Many people are still unaware of the devastating effects of plastic pollution.<\/strong> Some don\u2019t think about the ocean or the wildlife in it when sipping on sodas and where those plastic bottles can end up if they aren't careful. But the reality is, <strong>this kind of nonchalant behavior will result in a disaster.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>More and more <strong>sea animals die<\/strong> because of consuming or getting stuck in plastic products. Landfills keep getting bigger because <strong>plastics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is <strong>a scary reality &#8211; but it\u2019s very much our reality.<\/strong> As a species,<strong> we can do a lot to change that.<\/strong> If united, it's possible <strong>we can undo some of the damage<\/strong> &#8211; just imagine if everyone in the world would just quit producing and using plastic disposables. However, since that will never happen, <strong>you can do a lot as an individual,<\/strong> starting from giving up plastic to influencing other people.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for more information on plastic pollution and <strong>how to stop it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4692\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution.jpg\" alt=\"Plastic Pollution\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-384x192.jpg 384w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-561x281.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-364x182.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-758x379.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-608x304.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-Pollution-313x157.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>What are the Effects of Plastic Pollution?<\/h3>\n<p>Because of its widespread usage, <strong>plastic is one of the greatest threats<\/strong> to our environment. It\u2019s also very durable and it always ends up causing danger in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wildlife habitats<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Seas and oceans<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Rivers<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Lakes<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Forests and nature trails<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Marine animals as well as land wildlife<\/strong> often confuses plastic waste for food. Since most of the plastic is toxic when consumed, <strong>this is highly dangerous for them.<\/strong> Humans are also affected by the toxic chemicals in plastic.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the impacts that plastic has on us and our planet:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Killing_and_endangering_animals\"><\/span>Killing and endangering animals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As mentioned, <strong>animals often mistake plastic for food<\/strong>, especially the sea animals. Many dead specimens have been <strong>found with stomachs full of plastic.<\/strong> Plastic fills their digestive system and it can either <strong>poison them or block their digestion<\/strong>\u00a0system. This <strong>can cause them starvation.<\/strong> They can <strong>also get trapped in plastic<\/strong> and thus become more <strong>exposed to predators or die of starvation.<\/strong> Plastic is also <strong>highly dangerous for land wildlife.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deteriorating_human_health\"><\/span>Deteriorating human health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, not only are we poisoning the nature, environment and the planet in total, but <strong>we are also poisoning ourselves.<\/strong> Chemicals from plastic upset the endocrine system, thyroid hormones and it can be extremely dangerous for women and young children.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polluting_the_earth\"><\/span>Polluting the earth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Plastic has destroyed the quality of land in many ways. Some of the examples of that are the landscape, possibility of use, support for life forms and so on. Plastic can also cause<strong> serious problems for people within the range of landfills.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polluting_the_air\"><\/span>Polluting the air<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When humans burn plastics, it <strong>leads to air pollution<\/strong> because it releases poisonous materials. It can cause respiratory problems.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polluting_the_groundwater\"><\/span>Polluting the groundwater<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Plastics from landfills release<strong> chemicals which are washed down into the earth<\/strong> when it rains. This pollutes our water sources and poisons the water we drink.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polluting_water\"><\/span>Polluting water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lakes, oceans, rivers and so on aren\u2019t left out on this list. Plastic debris is <strong>causing animals to die and hazardous chemicals released poison us.<\/strong> Frightening piece of data is that 40% of our waters are covered in plastic.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plastic_interferes_with_the_food_chain\"><\/span>Plastic interferes with the food chain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Small animals like <strong>plankton, worms, fish, and insects<\/strong>\u00a0intake plastic in some form at one point or another. Then <strong>when larger animals consume them, this plastic is transferred to them<\/strong> and so on &#8211; this goes all the way up to the top of the food chain right back to us. This causes animals to have less offspring which <strong>disrupts the food chain<\/strong> even more.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tourist_distraction_and_economic_loss\"><\/span>Tourist distraction and economic loss<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the least important elements on this list (but one that might make people reconsider what they are doing because<strong> they are losing money<\/strong>) is the fact that<strong> plastic pollution makes beautiful places look ugly.<\/strong> It also makes people lose a lot of money on cleaning the plastic debris.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4693\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution.jpg\" alt=\"Top 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-384x192.jpg 384w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-561x281.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-364x182.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-758x379.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-608x304.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Top-10-Ways-to-Reduce-Plastic-Pollution-313x157.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Top 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution<\/h3>\n<p>Oceans have become soups of garbage. Our land and air are polluted. And all of it is<strong> because of plastics<\/strong> and industries that create it, <strong>as well as us who buy it.<\/strong> And while some may not care about the sea creatures nor the environment but <strong>plastic also causes numerous health problems<\/strong> for humans.<\/p>\n<p>It's uniquely problematic because it's <strong>not biodegradable<\/strong> which means that <strong>it will stay here for years and years to come.<\/strong> Our grand-grand (many grands) children will even be able to see it. Just imagine &#8211; you could <strong>throw a bag of chips in the street<\/strong> right now and <strong>hundreds of years later, people will be able to see it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But how do we stop plastic pollution?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Good news &#8211; there are <strong>many small ways<\/strong> you as an individual could <strong>make an impact.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4691\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose.jpg\" alt=\"How Long Does it Take for Plastic to Decompose\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-384x192.jpg 384w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-561x281.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-364x182.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-758x379.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-608x304.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Long-Does-it-Take-for-Plastic-to-Decompose-313x157.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Stop_using_disposable_plastic\"><\/span>1. Stop using disposable plastic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Do you know <strong>how much litter<\/strong> comes from disposable plastics? <strong>Ninety percent.<\/strong> So, this means that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grocery bags<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Plastic wrap<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Straws<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Coffee cups, lids, stirrers\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Disposable cutlery, cups, plates, etc.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>are <strong>the major culprits<\/strong> for all of the damage. Now imagine how much disposable plastics you produce. A lot, right? Well, you could<strong> change that by simply replacing disposables<\/strong> with something more durable. So, <strong>take a bag to the store<\/strong>, bring some silverware to your office and\u00a0<b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0or in a travel thermos.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Dont_buy_packaged_water\"><\/span>2. Don\u2019t buy packaged water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Water bottles are another huge problem. But, instead of buying plastic, you should <strong>carry a reusable bottle<\/strong> in your bag and refill it. Water issues in your area? <strong>Invest in a water filter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Ditch_the_microbeads\"><\/span>3. Ditch the microbeads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You know those <strong>scrubby beads<\/strong> in your favorite scrub or exfoliator? Those are <strong>usually made of plastic.<\/strong> Not only can they be <strong>harmful for your skin<\/strong> but they are also very small and <strong>easy to slip through the water<\/strong> treatment plants. They also<strong> look like food to animals.<\/strong> Instead, buy products with <strong>natural exfoliants.<\/strong>\u00a0Even better, <strong>make your own scrub<\/strong> with oatmeal, salt, sugar and other safe alternatives.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Cook_food_instead_of_buying\"><\/span>4. Cook food instead of buying<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This will be <strong>healthier for you and much better for the environment.<\/strong> Takeout usually <strong>comes with a lot of waste<\/strong> in the form of plastic and paper. When you do order food, tell them you don\u2019t need cutlery or bring your own food containers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Buy_second-hand\"><\/span>5. Buy second-hand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Instead of buying fresh and new electronics, furniture and other items, it\u2019s always better to buy second-hand. Look for garage sales, thrift shops or online. You\u2019ll save money too.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Recycle\"><\/span>6. Recycle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Did you know that less than 14% of plastic is recycled? If you want to start <strong>being more responsible with your recycling<\/strong>, learn more about which plastics can be recycled in your area.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Support_a_bag_tax_or_bag_ban\"><\/span>7. Support a bag tax or bag ban<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is a simple thing you can do next to carrying your own bag to the store. Urge your officials to <strong>enforce a plastic bag ban or tax.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Buy_things_in_bulk\"><\/span>8. Buy things in bulk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Tiny packages result in more plastic waste. Buy in bulk, especially things that you use often.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4695\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic.jpg\" alt=\"Different Types of Plastic\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-384x192.jpg 384w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-561x281.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-364x182.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-758x379.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-608x304.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Different-Types-of-Plastic-313x157.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Spread_the_Word\"><\/span>9. Spread the Word<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Share these tips and your own recycling hacks with friends and family. <strong>Encourage others<\/strong> to practice your good habits!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Participate_in_a_Beach_Clean_Up\"><\/span>10. Participate in a Beach Clean Up<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Help save marine lives by helping out in a beach clean up. No waves near you? <strong>Organize to clean<\/strong> up a park, forest, lake; anywhere that could use a little help.<\/p>\n<h3>How Long Does it Take for Plastic to Decompose?<\/h3>\n<p>This is a <strong>really important<\/strong> question. We need to be aware of what a single bottle we throw away can do &#8211; let alone all of the waste we create.<\/p>\n<p>For one, the rate of the decomposition will depend on what the landfill is like.<\/p>\n<p>Plastic waste takes a staggering amount to decompose in general &#8211; in fact, it <strong>can take up to 1,000 years<\/strong> for a piece of <strong>plastic to decompose<\/strong> in an average landfill.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Plastic bags take from 10 to 1,000 years to decompose while bottles take 450 years or more. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Disposable diapers take 250-500 years to decompose. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Other items which contain plastic can take just as much.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is the <strong>big problem<\/strong> with plastic. <strong>Paper products<\/strong> are often used wastefully, but it takes<strong>\u00a0about three months to decompose<\/strong> and it\u2019s not as toxic. Not to mention that it\u2019s<strong> more widely recyclable.<\/strong> But<strong> plastic stays for centuries.<\/strong>\u00a0We should all keep that in mind when trying to reduce the amount of plastic you produce.<\/p>\n<p>Less consumption and more enlightened population hopefully means that the manufacturers will eventually stop producing disposable plastic.<\/p>\n<p>Wouldn\u2019t that be an amazing change?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4698\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale.jpg\" alt=\"Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale.jpg 900w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-561x374.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-364x243.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-758x505.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-608x405.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Plastic-ocean-pollution-Whale-313x209.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>How Many Animals are Killed by Plastic?<\/h3>\n<p>From corals to whales,<strong> marine species are by far the most endangered<\/strong> by our plastic pollution. <strong>More than 700 species are being killed<\/strong> by plastic ingestion or getting trapped in plastic. This results in more than 100 million deaths a year which are recorded, <strong>more that we don\u2019t know of.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sea turtles are the most endangered.<\/strong> More than 50% of them eat plastic and <strong>50-80% of all dead turtles are found with plastic<\/strong> in their stomach.<\/p>\n<p>Ocean and sea mammals like <strong>whales, dolphins and seals<\/strong> are also under impact. More than 100,000 marine mammals get killed by plastic.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In 2018, a whale was killed by 80 shopping bags. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>A juvenile sperm whale was found in Spain with 30 kg of plastic in its stomach.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Four stranded sperm whales were found in Germany with car parts and other waste in their stomachs. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Another whale was found in California with 200 kg of fishing gear and plastic bags in its stomach. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are even more cases from earlier years.<\/p>\n<p>At least a <strong>million different species of fish are found dead<\/strong> of plastic each year. <strong>Two thirds of sea birds are affected;<\/strong>\u00a0sea birds like albatrosses<strong> feed their chicks with plastic<\/strong> which results in them dying.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coral species starve<\/strong>, blocked by microplastic. Almost <strong>half of all camel deaths<\/strong> is caused by plastic. Other animals like elephants and reindeer are also suffer negative impact. In fact, eight African elephants died in 2016 <strong>after consuming plastic bags.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4697\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS.jpg\" alt=\"PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS\" width=\"700\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS.jpg 700w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS-561x365.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS-364x237.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS-608x395.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/PLASTIC-POLLUTION-SAFE-PLASTICS-313x203.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Different Types of Plastic<\/h3>\n<p>There are several types of plastics:<\/p>\n<p><strong>PET or PETE<\/strong> &#8211; This type is found in cosmetics packages, household cleaner, water and juice bottles, salad dressings bottles, oil bottles and so on. While it\u2019s not as dangerous as other types, you should <strong>never reuse it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>HDPE<\/strong> &#8211; This type of plastic is found in toys, detergent packaging, milk jug, folding chairs and tables and so on. There are <strong>no known health concerns.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PVC<\/strong> &#8211; This is a type of plastic found in shower curtains, pool toys, anything inflatable, clothes, car interior and so on. <strong>It\u2019s highly toxic and you should avoid it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>LDPE\u00a0<\/strong> &#8211; This type you\u2019ll find in plastic bags, some packaging and so on. There are <strong>no known health concerns.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PP<\/strong> &#8211;\u00a0 This is used in yogurt tubs, plastic cups and baby bottles, kitchenware and microwave plastic. There are <strong>no health concerns but you shouldn\u2019t reuse it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>PS<\/strong> &#8211; This type is used in disposable cutlery, CD and DVD cases, foam cups and to-go packaging. <strong>Long term exposure is bad for your health.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Plastic #7, Other<\/strong> &#8211; This is tricky because it can have BPA or not. Commonly labeled as PC. You can find it in CD or DVD cases, baby bottles, reusable bottles and so on.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4694\" src=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers.jpg\" alt=\"What are the Safest Plastic Numbers\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-192x96.jpg 192w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-384x192.jpg 384w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-561x281.jpg 561w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-364x182.jpg 364w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-758x379.jpg 758w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-608x304.jpg 608w, https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/What-are-the-Safest-Plastic-Numbers-313x157.jpg 313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>What are the Safest Plastic Numbers?<\/h3>\n<p>No plastic is truly safe but if you are looking for the safest option, go for <strong>HDPE, LDPE, PP or PETE.<\/strong> However, don\u2019t heat it or expose it to chemicals.<\/p>\n<p>Plastic pollution is a <strong>real problem<\/strong> in the world. However, <strong>we can decrease it if we all make an effort<\/strong> to ditch plastic and replace it with something healthier and better for us and the environment.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have any <strong>great plastic pollution solutions<\/strong>? Please feel free to share them in the comments down below!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.babygreenthumb.com\/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.babygreenthumb.com\/p-122-safe-plastic-numbers-guide.aspx<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aquarium.co.za\/blog\/entry\/the-plastic-problem-how-does-plastic-pollution-affect-wildlife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.aquarium.co.za\/blog\/entry\/the-plastic-problem-how-does-plastic-pollution-affect-wildlife<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancesmb.com\/how-long-does-it-take-garbage-to-decompose-2878033\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.thebalancesmb.com\/how-long-does-it-take-garbage-to-decompose-2878033<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eartheclipse.com\/pollution\/fatal-effects-of-plastic-pollution.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.eartheclipse.com\/pollution\/fatal-effects-of-plastic-pollution.html<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people are still unaware of the devastating effects of plastic pollution. Some don\u2019t think about the ocean or the wildlife in it when sipping on sodas and where those plastic bottles can end up if they aren&#8217;t careful. But the reality is, this kind of nonchalant behavior will result in a disaster. More and [&hellip;] <a class=\"g1-link g1-link-more\" href=\"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/plastic-pollution-the-toxic-debris-taking-over-our-planet\/\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,30],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/How-Does-Plastic-Affect-Animals.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4682"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4707,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4682\/revisions\/4707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturalwire.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}