Here’s How Much Plastic Ends Up In the World’s Oceans
Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans, it’s equivalent to five grocery bags filled with plastic for every foot of coastline.
Where Has All the (Sea Trash) Plastic Gone?
When Spanish scientist Andres Cozar Cabanas compiled the first ever global map of ocean trash last July, he inadvertently uncovered a mystery. Much of the plastic he expected to find bobbing in the oceans, given a quadrupling of plastic production in recent years, had “disappeared…”
What a Waste: Study Finds Big US Brands Stuck on Disposable Packaging
Lagging behind the rest of the developed world, American brands continue to opt for the worst packaging materials, according to a report released Thursday.
Great Lakes Teeming With Tiny Plastic Fibers
Scientists who have reported that the Great Lakes are awash in tiny bits of plastic are raising new alarms about a little-noticed form of the debris turning up in sampling nets: synthetic fibers from garments, cleaning cloths and other consumer products.
New York City To Ban Use Of Plastic Foam Containers
New York City will become the largest city in the country to ban restaurants from using plastic foam containers, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.
Confusion Over Enforcing Smoking Bans on Queensland Beaches
It’s been illegal for years, but actually enforcing smoking bans on Queensland beaches seems a bit of a drag.
269,000 Tons of Plastic Pollution Floating in World’s Oceans
Nearly 269,000 tons of plastic pollution may be floating in the world’s oceans, according to a new study.
New York City Council Hearing on Fee for Bags Becomes Heated
For years, the plastic bag has doubled as a sort of urban tumbleweed, sweeping across New York City sidewalks and encroaching ominously on its waterways, clustering on subway tracks and drifting airborne to the tree limbs of residential blocks.
EU Confirms Plastic Bag Reduction
The new EU law will require governments to cut annual use of lightweight plastic bags. This represents a reduction from current use of 50% by the end of 2019 and 80% by the end of 2025. This is an historic moment for all of Europe.