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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q:
How much plastic is in the ocean?
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A:
A new study examined global plastics emissions from the world’s rivers into the ocean. The research estimated 1.15–2.41 million tons of plastic enters the ocean per year.1 But any amount of plastic in the ocean is too much. Fortunately, we know enough about marine litter to act now. Find out more about what is being done to prevent marine litter.
Q:
What are microplastics and where do they come from?
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A:
Microplastics refer to plastic particles between 0.33 and five millimeters in size.1 Microplastics originate from a variety of sources, including microbeads from personal care products, fibers from synthetic clothing, pre-production pellets and powders, and fragments degraded from larger plastic products. Learn more about microplastics and the research surrounding their environmental impact.
Q:
What do I do if I don't know if something is recyclable?
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A:
Plastic items are labeled with a little number with the recycling logo around it that indicates more specifically how the plastic was made. It’s called a resin identification number, or RIN. It runs from #1-7. Just because a package or bottle has a RIN or recycling symbol does not mean it is recyclable. Check with your city or town, but most cities and towns, plastics #1, 2, and 5 are good to go in the bin. Don’t just throw it in the recycling and hope it is recyclable, that is called wishcycling.
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