Plastic Pollution
Hinton 1
Bridgette Hinton
Professor Ouwehand
English 110/120 MW 2:20
Research Paper
16 April 2012
Essay III
How Plastic Pollution is Out of Control Many individuals underestimate the amount of plastic we use each day. According to the article “Plastic Bags Wars”, “the world consumes 1 million plastic shopping bags every minute”. Plastic bags, along with many other types of plastics, have become a leading source of pollution worldwide (Doucette). Captain Charles Moore, founder of the Algalita foundation states that we use two million plastic bottles in the United States every five minutes. Discovered by Charles Moore in 1997, the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” is a prime example of the amount of plastic pollution that enters the ocean from land. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been described as a filthy plastic collage of discarded cups, straws, lids, bags, and food container’s. These giant patches of plastic debris have also been identified as the nation’s most significant marine debris problem (Murphy). This enormous amount of plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans is harming humans and marine life; therefore, to stop this global issue, we must prevent plastics from entering our oceans. The Center for Marine Conservation, an environmental group based in Washington, states that the number one source of debris on beaches from Santa Monica
Hinton 2 to Miami is plastic trash (Murphy). In the past, ships out at sea have been the main cause of plastics in the ocean, dumping 14 billion pounds of garbage into the ocean every year (Amaral). Before the use of plastic, trash dumped overboard consisted of natural materials that would sink to the bottom biodegrade quickly (Amaral). Today, Plastic that is thrown into the sea floats on the surface and can remain so for 400 years (Amaral). Although there is now a law making it illegal to dump plastics into the ocean, it is difficult to enforce and ensure that ships are not polluting our oceans.
Bridgette Hinton
Professor Ouwehand
English 110/120 MW 2:20
Research Paper
16 April 2012
Essay III
How Plastic Pollution is Out of Control Many individuals underestimate the amount of plastic we use each day. According to the article “Plastic Bags Wars”, “the world consumes 1 million plastic shopping bags every minute”. Plastic bags, along with many other types of plastics, have become a leading source of pollution worldwide (Doucette). Captain Charles Moore, founder of the Algalita foundation states that we use two million plastic bottles in the United States every five minutes. Discovered by Charles Moore in 1997, the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” is a prime example of the amount of plastic pollution that enters the ocean from land. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been described as a filthy plastic collage of discarded cups, straws, lids, bags, and food container’s. These giant patches of plastic debris have also been identified as the nation’s most significant marine debris problem (Murphy). This enormous amount of plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans is harming humans and marine life; therefore, to stop this global issue, we must prevent plastics from entering our oceans. The Center for Marine Conservation, an environmental group based in Washington, states that the number one source of debris on beaches from Santa Monica
Hinton 2 to Miami is plastic trash (Murphy). In the past, ships out at sea have been the main cause of plastics in the ocean, dumping 14 billion pounds of garbage into the ocean every year (Amaral). Before the use of plastic, trash dumped overboard consisted of natural materials that would sink to the bottom biodegrade quickly (Amaral). Today, Plastic that is thrown into the sea floats on the surface and can remain so for 400 years (Amaral). Although there is now a law making it illegal to dump plastics into the ocean, it is difficult to enforce and ensure that ships are not polluting our oceans.
Cited: Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. #1 Doucette, Kitt Search Premier. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. #1 Kostigen, Thomas M 26. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. #1 Moore, Charles “More Abused Than Used.” Economist 390.8612 (2009): 8-10. Academic Search Premier