The world has a plastics problem. And not just with bottles. Straws (吸管), toothbrushes, toys—all kinds of plastics are placed in landfills. There are 5 billion tons of plastic waste in the world. Landfills have a large part of it. By 2050, they could have 13 billion tons.
Much of plastic rubbish finds its way into the ocean. Scientists say 165 million tons of plastic pieces are floating around out there. And most plastic won't disappear itself. It will remain in the ocean forever. Whales get caught in plastic fishing nets. Birds die because of eating plastic straws and bottle caps. It endangers ocean life. Plastic rubbish even ends up in the food we eat.
Governments are realizing that recycling may not be enough. They are taking more actions. Though it is hard work, it is still a solvable problem. In Britain, people are not allowed to use plastic bags except in hospitals. Scotland and several coastal cities in the US stop people from using plastic straws as well. The US alone throws away some 500 million plastic straws a day. That's enough to circle the Earth twice. "Saying no to a plastic straw is an easy way to make a big difference," Diana Lofflin who started www.strawfree.org said. "'Do we really want to pass on to our children a world harmed by plastic?"
People have found some tasty ways to reduce waste. A company in India made the first-ever spoon that people can eat. You don't have to eat the spoon. You can throw it away. It decomposes (分解) in just a few days. David Edwards, a scientist at Harvard University, designed an eatable bag which can protect the food or drink inside. It is a delicious replacement for plastic ones.
