Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced for multiple reasons. At least 8 million tons of plastic reach our oceans every year. There are now over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our ocean that weighs as much as 593 million pounds. Since this number is so high, we should be careful about the about of waste we produce and what might end up in the ocean.
Plastic pollution is harmful to a lot of wildlife including birds, fish, turtles, and other mammals. Many animals are being hurt by swallowing or getting trapped in plastic. Some of the wildlife can be rescued, but others could die from the plastic. Each year millions of animals die because of plastic pollution.
There are many ways to help. You can help individually or help with a group of people. You can find many different websites to join the fight against plastic pollution. As one example, Surfers Against Sewage is a great website to look at for information about protecting the ocean. The site includes a bunch of ways to get involved including beach clean up, education about the subject, and even petitions to get the government involved.