"The United States Contribution of Plastic Waste"

This study is by Kara Lavender Law, Natalie Starr, Theodore R. Siegler, Jenna R. Jambeck, Nicholas J. Mallos, George H. Leonard. This study is about what the US is doing about the plastic problem and how much of a problem it has gotten. It’s clear that plastic is bad for the environment. Something has to be done in order to protect the homes of the animals. The US has to take action due to the fact that some of the activities people are doing are illegal. If the US government jumps in, people are sure to follow the law.

The research team found that the amount of plastic has increased globally by 26% over time. There are more actions needed in order to make the environment safer. But even with the laws in place, people still choose to do illegal activity.

Garbage and waste has come here in many different ways. Ways like exporting, importing, trash were just left behind by importing areas.

An example of the US law is that there are zones in the waters, and there are limits between the zones. I believe that this is great, because it gives further protection to these oceans from the people. Governments should make more serious laws as well as the punishment for breaking those laws. This is because more of the crimes related to littering have increased according to a 2010 analysis. There were also solutions to all of the garbage such as sanitary landfills and incarnation. Many factors have changed the amount of waste compared to the past.

Not just the US, but other countries also had increased plastic waste in the environment. The other countries are having the same effort as the US trying to clean up the environment. Despite all of the effort, it genuinely isn’t possible to get rid of all of the

cont'd >

by Eric An

California, USA

e waste. Since some of the methods right now are inadequate or not good enough, scientists are researching new and effective ways to manage waste.

Some of the methods such as incineration and recycling were able to manage 100 percent of the waste. Compared to the other countries, the US has the most waste production. The US probably has

Compared to the other countries, the US has the most waste production.

by Eric An

California, USA

cont'd >

the most illegal dumping, and other objects discarded and turned into plastic waste. Even though most of the waste can be recycled, people choose not to. The biggest probl= em is illegal dumping, because although littering is bad, it has a 2 percent rate while illegal dumping has a much higher waste production. More types of waste and more in quantity are included in illegal dumping. Items such as household items, car parts, and appliances can be seen at those sites. Some other methods that were used just released the waste into the environment instead of getting rid of it.

Works Cited/Image Credits

Lavender Law, Kara, et al. 2020.

“The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean. ” Science Advances 6 (44): 1-7. eabd0288

Both figures from Law, et al.

by Eric An

California, USA