http://www.surfrider.org/

When did plastics become so popular?

Post-war boom in plastics production

Throwaway Living

1950s

What’s Made of Plastic?

What is Plastic Made of?

SY

NTH

ETIC

BIODEGRADEABLE

How many plastic beverage bottles get used every year in the US?

Q:

Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan

We use 50 billion plastic beverage bottles

every year in the US

DETAIL

50,000,000,000

How many plastic bags get used every minute in the worldwide?

Q:

Chris Jordan

Chr

is J

orda

n 1 million plastic bags get

used every minute worldwide.

1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

ACUTAL SIZE

“But I Recycle…”

.

What percentage of plastic gets recycled in the U.S.?

Approximately 5-10% recycled…So where does the rest go?

CIWMB White Paper

(California Integrated Waste Management Board, “Plastics White Paper” 2003)(California Integrated Waste Management Board, “Plastics White Paper” 2003)

Landfill 50%

Recycled 5%

Durable Goods 20%

Unaccounted for 25%

Where our plastic waste goes

The “missing” 25%

The Beach After The Rain

Ballona Creek Algalita

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

• A Gyre is a system of rotating currents in our oceans• Plastic waste that makes its way into the ocean,

accumulates in these currents • The North Pacific Gyre is roughly twice the size of the US• 80% of the debris in the gyre is PLASTIC

5 Gyres where plastic accumulates

• Algalithey • Algalithey

Source: Algalita Marine Research Foundation

This Rainbow Runner had 17 pieces of plastic in its stomach

REPLACE THIS SLODE WITH THE ONE FROM 5 GYRES

How does plastic waste impact

our oceans?

21

All of this (more than a half-pound of plastic) was removed from the stomach of

an albatross, a large sea bird

86%

44%43%

(Derraik, 2002)

PHOTO: Ecocensorium

• In Mumbai, a cow was found with 60 lbs (30 kgs) of plastic in its stomach

• According to The Hindu, studies at TANUVAS Center show that 10% of cows are diagnosed with excessive plastic consumption

Annual plastic use per person India = 4.4 lbs / 2 kg in

Europe = 132 lbs / 60 kgs US = 176 lbs / 80 kg

How do plastics affect our

health?

Plastic ParticlesPlastic Particles

This pellet has This pellet has absorbed absorbed

chemicals, chemicals, including: DDT, including: DDT, pesticides, PCBs pesticides, PCBs

and other and other pollutants.pollutants.

Plastic Particles absorb chemicals Plastic Particles absorb chemicals out at sea that do not mix with out at sea that do not mix with water. water.

Plastic in your sushi?

17 pieces of plastic in the stomach of a fish caught in the middle of the Pacific.

Toxic Plastics

Plastics Leach the Chemicals They Are Made Of

Bisphenol A (BPA)• Plastic hardener• Used in DVDs, canned food

lining, baby bottles, water bottles

• Chemical found in 93% of Americans over the age of 6

Phthalates• Plastic softener • Found in toys, food

packaging, shower curtains, nail polish, hair spray and shampoo, baby teething rings

These Chemicals are ‘hormone mimickers’ that affect the

Endocrine System.

How can you be the solution to these

problems?

BRING YOUR OWN• WATER BOTTLE

(stainless steel)• BAG• CUP• TUPPERWARE• SILVERWEAR• REUSE A GLASS JAR

THINK TWICE•Do you really need a bag for your bag of chips?•Ask the waiter to wrap in foil instead of styrofoam•Ask for “no straw”•Don’t buy things with excess packaging•Buy the can instead of the plastic bottle•Shop at the local farmer’s markets•Bring your own salsa/jam jar to parties. Its free!

REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE… then RECYCLE

BIOPLASTICSPlant based, biodegradable plastic

We can change the material design of plastic

35 35

SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO BAN DISPOSABLE PLASTICS

BAGS, BOTTLES, AND STYROFOAM

Encourage “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR)

Companies that make and package products are held responsible for the end life of these products - collection and disposal.

EPR Motivates producers to reduce the waste they produce, and make products more recyclable.

Adopted by Germany in 1991

Packaging waste reduced by 14% in first four years

Recycling rose to 75%!

Spread the Word…with a SMILE

Share what you’ve learned

• Lead by example

• Ask your friends and family to join you

• Speak to city council

• Write letters to government officials

• Get your school involved

Go home and Inspire

•Go to( www.plasticsareforever.org) to see how to give this presentation•Download this PowerPoint and customize to fit your audience.•Outreach to schools, businesses, organizations, etc. to spread the word.