Plastic pollution has significant negative impacts on the health and beauty of our streams and watersheds
Here are some facts about plastics:
- 99% of plastics is produced from fossil fuels and does not readily biodegrade.
- It is estimated 18 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the world’s oceans each year.
- Think of 1 garbage truck of plastic being dumped every minute!
- 42% of all plastics produced is single use.
- Plastic waste is the least recycled and recyclable of all persistent solid waste.
- More than half of all plastic that has ever existed was produced in just the last 15 years.
- Global plastic production is expected to double by 2040. Interactive Graph
- EPA has estimated plastic waste accounts for 18.46% of all material by weight taken to landfills (2018 estimates)
- Very little plastic is actually recycled or even recyclable. We CANNOT recycle our way out of this problem.
Make a Difference in your watershed
- Start using reusables for drinks and food.
- Bring your own bag to the grocery store or anywhere you shop.
- Pass on the straws
Get involved
- Join the state’s Show-Me Less Plastics initiative
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