A Plastic Tide
46 min • Nature & Environment, Politics & World Affairs • 2017
Approximately 320 million tons of plastic are manufactured annually, but 40 percent of this is single-use items. Only five percent of plastics are effectively recycled, which means that the remaining 95 percent remains on the planet - and 8 million tonnes of that ends up in our seas and oceans. It takes centuries to break down. It's eaten by marine creatures and it's now in our food chain. Scientists don't yet know what effects it has on our health. This documentary examines the growing problem of plastic pollution in our waters. Starting in Mumbai, India, a city beach once used for swimming and playing is now completely covered in plastic waste. Surprisingly, it's not from direct littering, but from the ocean tide; every day brings a fresh layer of plastic waste, which could come from anywhere on the planet.