Litter - 0 views
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common act of missing or failing to dispose of trash in the proper receptacle has a major effect
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The fact is Americans create a lot of garbage. To be exact, 340 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated each year (a large portion of which winds up on the ground ).
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• Cigarette butts, the single most littered item in America, is composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that can persist in the environment for 10-12 years! An estimated 4.5 trillion non-biodegradable cigarette butts are littered worldwide.
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• The next most significant offender is floatable litter that contains polystyrene. When ingested by animals who mistake it for food, polystyrene can poison and/or clog stomachs leading to death by either toxicity or starvation. Once released into the environment, polystyrene will NEVER decompose to a non-recognizable form. Entanglement occurs when animal becomes inextricably wrapped in or ensnared up by something. In many cases litter can entangle an animal swimming by. If the animal is unable to extricate itself, it can suffocate or drown.
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• Six packs rings are estimated to cause 6 million sea bird deaths a year and over 100,000 marine mammal deaths. The plastic used to create the rings takes 450 years to decompose! • Plastic shopping bags, which can result in both suffocation and drowning, take between 10-20 years to decompose
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• Not only is litter unsightly to the beaches and shores of the Sound and dangerous to aquatic life, it can create economic consequences. Long Island Sound contributes $6 billion per year to the bi-state region: $800 million in commercial fishing, $1 billion in recreational fishing, $3.3 billion in boating, $750 million in swimming/visiting the beach, and $150 million intrinsic value. These figures do not include real estate values, the importance of the Sound as a water highway for commercial boat traffic, or the sixteen seaports. Even with these figures the value that the culture and history of this costal region has, can never be evaluated- it is truly priceless
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• Purchase reusable canvas bags for your groceries and errands. Keep these items in your car so that they are handy whenever you might need them.
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When you visit a park or beach, remember to take out what you bring in. Keep trash and recyclables in a bag or backpack until you can put them in a litter basket.
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• At home, make sure garbage and recycling bags are tied securely so that loose papers and other items cannot fall out and become litter.
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• Remove flyers or take-out menus promptly from your front door or windshield before they are blown away and become litter.