1. It is estimated that, worldwide,
around 675 tons of trash are thrown
directly into the ocean every hour, and
50% of this is plastic.
Americans use about 1 billion shopping bags every year,
creating 300,000 tons of landfill waste.
Every year, Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons
to circle the equator 300 times and enough ribbon to tie a bow around the earth!
So what can you do to help?
Don’t consume new products, buy reusable items such as shopping bags,
utensils, and bottles instead. Don’t use straws, cup sleeves, lids, or other
unnecessary plastics, and recycle what you do use.
Lauren O’Neill
Nora Hanley

2.  "Plastics." 19 November 2012. Environmental Protection Agency. 23 April 2013
<http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics.htm#facts>.
 "Vision." n.d. World Nature Organization. 23 April 2013
<http://www.worldnature.org/vision>.
 "Waste and Recycling Facts." n.d. Clean Air Council. 24 April 2013
<http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html>.
 Image 1. http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-
ash4/p480x480/269316_10151465657818818_772940403_n.jpg
 Image 2. http://www.onthemovewithus.com/siteimages/recycle.jpg