Basic info about ocean plastics and how it affects the environment

Each day, eight million pieces of plastic find their way into our oceans. 100 million marine animals such as sharks, fish, turtles, and birds are killed each year due to this plastic. This begs the question, how do plastics end up in the ocean in the first place?

On a yearly basis, 260 tonnes of plastic are thrown away worldwide. Only 12% of that waste is recycled. Most of the plastic that isn't being recycled ends up in the ocean. According to Laurent Lebreton, most plastics enter through various rivers. They then float through the rivers and end up in the oceans.

Once plastics enter the ocean, the waves and currents turn them into microplastics which make it even easier for a small animal like a turtle to swallow or ingest them. The microplastics also find their way (through the currents and waves) to huge floating islands such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

This garbage patch measures 1.6km squared and it weighs 80,000 tonnes.

In summary, plastics are a big factor for pollution and global warming. If we all work together, we can help solve this problem.