Day #7: Plastic Pollution

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Plastics are quite literally all around us. In fact, over 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced each year according to the UN Environment Programme. That is the equivalent to the weight of the entire current human population! To make matters worse, only a small percentage of plastic is recycled and remade into new products. The majority of plastic ends up in landfills and waterways - which then travel into the oceans. Within waterways and communities, plastics threaten the health of people, wildlife, and ecosystems. The time necessary for traditional plastic to decompose ranges from 20 to 500 years.

Around the world, groups are working to tackle this crisis through innovative alternatives, and advocacy. Tech. groups such as 2020 Billion Acts Awardee Genecis is hard at work converting food waste destined for the landfill into new forms of biodegradable packaging. Above, you heard from Madhvi Chittoor, a rising start within the environmental movement who has led several successful campaigns around plastic pollution. Her campaigns in Colorado schools have led to policies in over 155 schools that save over 7.6 million Styrofoam containers from landfills each year! Madhvi has also helped introduce several environmental bills to the Colorado Senate & has made proposals on global plastic policy strategy with US Vice President Kamala Harris. At the age of 6, Madhvi Chittoor founded Madhvi4EcoEthics to raise awareness against Plastic and Styrofoam Pollution, and Climate Change.

Education: