Plastic waste, including plastic bags, are a huge issue for marine life. In just the last half-century, the world has dumped over 14 trillion pounds of plastic into the oceans, much of this pollution comes from developing Asian countries. Still, plastics play an essential role in society, and should not be overlooked, so more emphasis should be focused on plastic recycling programs. Unfortunately, the structure and financial backing of the plastic recycling industry is a mess, and needs to be changed.

Key Takeaways:

• A majority of the plastic produced annually will be used in disposable products that will then, depending on circumstances, go into a landfill or the ocean.
• Despite high public support for recycling plastic, most current plastic recycling programs are not economically viable.
• The Plastics Industry Association is seeking more federal financial support for research into better ways of recycling plastic.

“Most marine plastic waste comes from Asia, and overwhelmingly from China, India and Thailand.”

Read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/Here-s-where-most-plastics-pollution-starts-13968978.php