Estancia High School contributes to the pollution in the oceans

            Daily, plastic water cups are provided to students during nutrition and lunch for the convenience and luxury of the students to stay hydrated. Even though there are water fountains  and refillable water stations, the water cups are still put into place. It is estimated that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans. 
             The thing about plastic is that it is super durable and long lasting which is a reason it is used worldwide but those are also the same reasons it is so harmful to our environment. The durability makes it impossible to decompose, normally taking plastic bags up to 10,000 years In landfills and water bottles taking up to 450 years to decompose. But most of that garbage and plastic will end up in our oceans washed up ashore, in rivers and in our food chain.
          The cafeteria staff at our school provides  at least 500 water cups daily and 100 plastic straws or more. According to Greenpeace, only 9 percent of the plastic in the world  gets recycled. Americans use 500 million plastic straws every single day. The fact that our school contributes to the pollution in the oceans is disgusting when it can easily be prevented. 
             Small pieces of plastic are eaten by fish, turtles and seabirds, often resulting in their death. Animals and birds can also become tangled up in plastic debris, leading to serious injuries and fatalities
              To lessen your impact on the environment reduce your use of plastic by shopping with reusable grocery bags, using reusable silverware and straws,  carrying reusable water bottles, and recycling whenever possible. Be aware of our planet the next time you pick up a plastic water cup because there is no planet b. 

Reporter: Claudia Arce