Summary Scientists have recently calculated the total amount of plastic produced which equates to 8.3 billio
With plastic playing a significant role in the modern day age, concern over the environmental hazards it poses has for long been debated and researched upon. Owing to its ease of use that too, in a diverse range of areas, plastic has proven to be a remarkable material. But just how much of it has been produced over the years?
According to a research paper published recently, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced to date. This weight has been equated to 25, 000 Empire State buildings, the weight of which is 330, 000 tonnes approximately. As if that comparison wasn’t visual enough, another weight estimate by University of Georgia equates that to 1 billion elephants, with each weighing approximately 7.5 tonnes.
The study which appears in the Science Advances journal details not just the production figures but also its use and how it has been disposed of over the years. The paper indicates that half of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced in just the past 13 years with just 9% of the discarded plastic having been recycled.
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