Answer: Plastic bottles are typically used to store liquid such as water, soft drinks, juice, milk, etc. They appear harmless. But although plastic bottles seem useful in our everyday lives, they pose a threat to the ecosystem. Humans repeatedly buy plastic bottles everyday because they are easy to drink from on the go, and fairly cheap, but we must consider the damage they have caused or may cause to the earth in the future. Not only can water bottles cause pollution, but they can harm marine life, severely. Today, you can find hundreds and thousands of water bottles on the streets and in garbage cans, landfills, and bodies of water, such as, our ocean, lakes, ponds, and streams. Many people improperly dispose of their water bottles after use. Instead of recycling, most people throw their bottles away in the regular garbage, if disposing of them at all. When plastic is dropped in the ocean, animals like turtles, fish, and birds often mistake it for food and consume it, which could very likely lead to sickness or death. Even plastic from the shore eventually gets blown into the ocean, causing the same problems over and over again. Another issue that the buildup of plastic has caused is that over time, the chemicals from the plastic will pollute the water that we drink.
In the North Pacific, an estimated 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic ended up being swallowed or ingested by fish each year. We need to change this, and we can! It is quite simple, changing your life style drastically will not be necessary. All you must do is buy one reusable water bottle, instead of using the disposable bottles. You can also make sure that all of your plastic goes into your recycling bin, if one is in your possession and you could make sure that you pick up any plastic bottles you see on the streets or in your home, to prevent further damage.
