Today, millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans every year, making them a major dumping ground for plastic waste. Marine life such as fish, turtles, and seabirds are directly affected by this plastic waste, which also pollutes the water and damages marine ecosystems. These animals often mistake plastic for food, which can lead to a range of health problems and even death. Any kind of litter in the ocean will definitely detract from its natural beauty. In addition, marine debris dominated by plastic takes a very long time to decompose. So there will be a build-up of rubbish in the water as plastic waste continues to grow.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, plastic accounts for at least 85% of all marine pollution and is the most ubiquitous, dangerous, and persistent type of marine debris. Marine debris threatens marine life and damages ecosystems as it travels on the seafloor from the polar regions to the deepest, darkest troughs, along beaches and estuaries, on distant islands, on sea ice, and in giant eddies in the middle of the ocean.
Over the next 20 years, the 11 million metric tons of plastic already entering the ocean each year is expected to quadruple if no action is taken. This means that by 2040, between 23 and 37 million metric tons of plastic will be entering the ocean each year. This equates to 50 kilograms of plastic per meter of coastline worldwide.
