Payload Logo

A week’s worth of plastic trash, generated by families around the world

By Johnny Simon
Published

Plastics, in bag, box, straw, and carton form are a cheap staple of modern living, but a scourge on the environment. According to the United Nations, 8 million tons of plastic waste finds its way into the world’s oceans every year.

While some states and cities have taken steps to eliminate or tax throwaway items items like bags or straws, much of the world still relies on cheap, disposable plastic for daily convenience. Reuters recently asked families around the world to document the plastic they throw away in one week. Here’s what they found:

Read more: Sharks don’t deserve their reputation

If oceans stopped absorbing heat from climate change, life on land would average 122°F

The surreal swirls of ocean plankton blooms, seen from space

​​

​​

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.