Plastic waste facts for kids

Plastic waste describes plastic objects which have not been recycled properly. Between one and eight million tons of plastic waste enters the Earth's oceans every year, and the World Economic Forum predicts this will double by 2030 if no action is taken. Thin plastic objects such as plastic bags can be accidentally blown away by the wind. This can cause drainage problems on land and pollution at sea. Some countries banned plastic drinking straws in response to a video showing a turtle with a straw stuck up its nose. Paper straws are a proposed alternative as they break down after a long time in seawater.

Images for kids

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  Beach cleanup in Ghana

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  A man and woman dragging a bag of plastic waste collected from the beach in Ghana]]

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  Volunteers clearing gutters in Ilorin, Nigeria during a volunteer sanitation day. Even when there is adequate infrastructure for sanitation, plastic pollution can prevent drainage and impede sewage flow.

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  The site where the refuse is being recycled in Ghana

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  Household items made of various types of plastic.

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  Waste generation, measured in kilograms per person per day

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  Say no to polythene. Sign. Nako, Himachal Pradesh, India.

See also

In Spanish: Contaminación por plástico para niños