Every minute of every day, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean.

This staggering amount of pollution is threatening the future of the planet, and it’s likely to get worse, with plastic use expected to double by 2040.

However, Earth Day is hoping to change that. Held on April 22nd every year, Earth Day is a global event dedicated to protecting the planet for a more sustainable future.

Planet vs Plastic

With this year’s theme of Planet versus Plastic, Earth Day hopes to inspire the world to commit to a plastic-free future. We can start by reflecting on how plastic use is impacting the planet.

Plastic pollution is a growing danger to wildlife, affecting even small animals like hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs carry around a shell that shelters and protects them. These shells are normally old snail shells.

However, some hermit crabs have been observed using artificial shells. Scientists from Poland have reviewed photos of hermit crabs posted on social media and other digital platforms. They found 386 photos of hermit crabs using shells made of plastic, metal and glass. The most common shells were plastic bottle caps.

The scientists are unsure how these pollutants are impacting hermit crabs, but it’s happening on a global scale, with more than half of land-based hermit crab species using artificial shells.

One way to reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean is to stop it from entering rivers in the first place. To do that, we first need to know where along the river the trash is coming from.

Scientists from Australia are using artificial intelligence, or AI, to monitor trash in waterways. They have installed camera sensors underneath bridges to detect trash as it flows down rivers and streams. The video footage is analyzed by AI in real time. The AI can accurately identify the amount and type of trash. For instance, it can recognize a plastic bottle.

Communities can use this data to better manage their waste. By understanding where trash is flowing down the river, they can stop ocean pollution at its source.

Earth Day reminds us of the issues facing our planet, but it’s also a reminder of the solutions and actions we can take for a brighter future.

Thanks for watching this week’s episode of Twig Science Reporter.

To find out more about plastic, watch “The Future of Plastic” on the Imagine Learning channel.

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