Eight Million Tons of Plastic Dumped in Ocean Every Year

A new study lead by Jenna Jambeck, who is an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia, shows that at least eight million tons of plastic waste is being generated into the ocean every year.  Prior studies conducted in order to measure the amount of plastic garbage specifically concentrated in the "garbage areas" of the world's oceans, or rather the surface regions in which trash concentrations are the highest.  But, this new study took samples of all areas in the world with coastal regions in order to more effectively measure the waste accumulation in relation to a larger testing capacity of the earth's water bodies.  This more comprehenzive studies showed that for every coastal foot of land, there wood be five grocery bags of trash to compliment.  Not only this, but the study showed that the rate of increase pertaining to waste within the ocean is just at detrimental.  Jambeck even noted that by 2025, the ratio of grocery bags to every coastal foot would increase to ten bags compared to the current five.  The study that was conducted also incorporated the countries with the most waste production and output.  Among those with the largest production, include China (number one), Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, various other Asian countries, a total of five African countries, and Brazil.  What with the recent waste management and human population debates performed in class, it is not necessarily surprising that the countries with the most waste output, are also developing countries.  Wealthier countries import their waste to developing countries that have productive industires in waste management and incineration, which is cause for this direct correlation to plastic water pollution.  Both developed and developing nations must take provisions and responsibility for the future of our aqautiv environments.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150212-ocean-debris-plastic-garbage-patches-science/