Since the advent of plastic in the early 20th century, its production has surged tremendously, leading to a staggering accumulation of waste. By 2019, the world had produced around 460 million metric tons of plastic, contributing to approximately 7 billion metric tons of waste over time; tragically, a large portion of this waste ends up […]
Tag: plastic pollution
5 Tips for Sustainable Living for College Students
As a college student, you are at a critical point in your life when it comes to establishing healthy habits that will benefit you in the long run. Adopting sustainable living practices is one area where you can make a significant impact. These practices not only help you reduce your environmental impact, but they can […]
Plastic pellet pollution can end through coordinated efforts, report shows
The building blocks of almost all plastic items on the planet are little lentil-sized petrochemical-derived pellets, called nurdles, that are melted together and shaped to create larger plastic products. These nurdles are the raw material for making water bottles, automobile parts, food containers and countless other products we use in daily life. These pellets pose […]
Acid test: Are the world’s oceans becoming too ‘acidic’ to support life?
Hours after being born, oysters are already working to form their protective, chalk-layered shells. Drawing calcium and carbonate from seawater, they combine the two to form hardened shells. But as humans have pumped voluminous sums of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, this ancient process has come under threat. It’s estimated that the global ocean absorbs […]
More Than 30 Endangered Green Sea Turtles Found Stabbed on Japanese Island
Police are investigating the mysterious injuries of more than 30 endangered green sea turtles on the remote Japanese island of Kumejima. The turtles – discovered by locals July 14 – had been stabbed in their necks and flippers and were lying motionless on the beach, The Asahi Shimbun reported. The locals then alerted employees at […]
Another Dead Whale Washed Ashore Found to Have 33 Pounds of Plastic in Stomach
A dead whale washed up on the shores of Greece and was found to have 33 pounds of plastic in their stomach. The cuvier’s beaked whale washed up on Kremasti beach in Rhodes at the end of April. The magnificent 16-food creature likely died a traumatizing and painful death due to the mounds of plastic […]
Nurdles: the worst toxic waste you’ve probably never heard of
When the X-Press Pearl container ship caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean in May, Sri Lanka was terrified that the vessel’s 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil would spill into the ocean, causing an environmental disaster for the country’s pristine coral reefs and fishing industry. Classified by the UN as Sri Lanka’s “worst […]
As the rest of world tackles plastics disposal, the U.S. resists
For the first time ever, international shipments of plastic waste came under global control this year. That’s because disposable plastic — a major pollutant of the world’s waters and atmosphere, fodder for incinerators, occupier of overflowing landfills, and material for costly recycling — was added to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements […]