The Plastic Tide Nobody Sees

Every year, millions of tons of plastic flow into the ocean.

Most of it does not float on the surface where people can see it.

Instead, it sinks or breaks into tiny pieces called microplastics.

These pieces are smaller than a grain of rice, so they are almost impossible to collect.

Fish and seabirds often eat them by mistake, and the plastic slowly moves up the food chain.

Scientists say that cleaning the sea is much harder than stopping the waste at its source.

However, many countries still lack good systems for collecting rubbish.

Even when people want to recycle, the cost of sorting plastic is often too high.

Some governments have banned thin plastic bags, which has helped a little.

Yet plastic production keeps rising, and cheap products are everywhere.

Experts believe that real change requires both better laws and new materials.

Without action, the amount of plastic in the sea could double by 2040.