Because plastics are not biodegradable, they accumulate over time in landfills.

In California, 1 billion of plastic bottles are trashed each year.

Only 16% of plastic bottles are recycled, leaving the 84% in landfills

About 11% of the contents of landfills are plastic

Two types of Greenhouse Effects Naturally occurring Man made Global temperature has risen over 1.4

degrees since 1880

When there are too many plastic in landfills, they are often destroyed in incineration factories. Consequently, it:Contributes to Greenhouse EffectCauses Lung CancerContaminates Soil

A lot of plastic waste is also found in the ocean. This is caused by ship dumping wastes off the coast and dumping off the land.

The ratio between plastic and plankton is 6 to 1 who the fundamental source in the food chain.

Animals mistaken the plastic as food.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?• Reduce- Limit the use of plastic materials• Reuse- Try to find ways to make plastic reusable• Recycle- Throw plastic materials into the recycling bin

REDUCE

• Buy things that are in bulk or economy sized.• Do not buy over packaged goods • No disposable goods• Buy durable products

REUSE

• Reuse products until it no longer functions.• Do not throw away old clothes and appliances• Use containers instead of plastic wrap

RECYCLE

• Buy recycled products• Check collection centers• Recycle Plastic Bottles (CRV)

BibliographyBriney, Amanda. “Trash Islands”. Accessed July 11, 2011. http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/trashislands.html

Environmental Protection Agency. “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Accessed July 12, 2011. http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/

Marine Research Foundation. “Research North Pacific Gyre Plankton Sample Analysis ‘07-08’”. Accessed July 12, 2011http://www.algalita.org/research/np_gyre_sample07-08.html

Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “ The Three R’s: Reduce, Reduce, Recycle”. Accessed July 12, 2011. http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/pubs-reports/threers.htm

Moore, Shelly. “What are the Dangers of Burning Plastic Bottles”. Accessed July 10,2011. http://www.ehow.com/list_5926080_dangers-burning-plastic-bottles.html

Project Greenbag. “How does Plastic get into the Ocean? Accessed July 12, 2011. http://www.projectgreenbag.com/how-does-plastic-get-into-the-ocean./

Weather Street. “What is Greenhouse Effect?. Accessed July 9, 2011. http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_the_greenhouse_effect.html

Wilson, Ed. “Plastic Water bottles Not being Recycled”. Accessed July 10, 2011. http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/news/2003%20News%20Releases/Pages/NR2003-13_Water_Bottle_Crisis.aspx

Photo SourcesLandfill: http://bitemewhitworth.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/landfill.jpg

Greenhouse Effect: http://www.weatherquestions.com/greenhouse_effect.jpg

Incineration factory:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Sopf%C3%B6rbr%C3%A4nningsanl%C3%A4ggningen_p%C3%A5_Spillepengen%2C_Malm%C3%B6.jpg

Heron caught in plastic ringhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r74vxoo9V2U/TBeo6s8T79I/AAAAAAAAA50/gnGe2baBhyk/s1600/Great-Blue-Heron_plastic_001.jpg

Plastic attached to turtle: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aP4lcWPQwz8/TPxtfZrTFZI/AAAAAAAAAYg/JovkGhZ_ICA/s1600/turtle-plastic-bag-photo.jpg

Bird Trapped by Bag: http://www.citizenscampaign.org/images/bag_and_bird.jpg

Turtle Caught in Plastic:http://www.sail-world.com/photos/std_Gyre%20turtle%20caught%20in%20plastic.jpg

Turtle Caught in Net:http://www.dotheblue.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Turtle-caught-in-net1.jpg

Garbage Patch: http://www.mnn.com/sites/default/files/user-59/gyre.jpg

Reduce Reuse Recycle: http://www.greenschoolsinitiative.com/img/RRR.jpg

Reduce: http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/episode3/images/reduce.gif

Reuse: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZLd457r0yo4/S9TY0_1y91I/AAAAAAAAAHs/ETmiO-d5OvQ/s1600/242Reuse00.jpg

Recycle: http://sustainableperalta.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/recycle.png

Earth and recycle logo:http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/recycle-earth.jpg

Other photos:

http://urbancanteen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/plastic-water-bottle.jpghttp://www.krittersinthemailbox.com/animals/dolphins/repl157t.jpg

http://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/landfill.jpg

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/smithore/smithore0902/smithore090200032/4310095-image-showing-earth-sinking-in-heavy-water-pollution-with-tons-of-plastic-containers.jpg

http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb-media//79/102979-050-6D9F5B50.jpg

http://www.corbisimages.com/images/42-20359968.jpg?size=572&uid=400b9c52-9b4d-42e0-8865-efd4966dcf95&uniqID=1e2b9c00-7557-47cf-b4a5-7016e442facc

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/123cn/123cn0904/123cn090400839/4654031-woman-picking-up-plastic-bottles.jpg