The global plastic waste crisis is primarily characterized by the staggering production of around 350 million tons of plastic each year, with approximately 300 million tons ending up as _____.

The global plastic waste crisis is marked by the production of about 350 million tons of plastic each year, and roughly 300 million tons of that material ends up in landfills and oceans. Most of this waste is not recycled because many plastics are not easily processed and the infrastructure to handle them is limited. As a result, plastic piles up in landfills where it can take hundreds of years to break down, and it also leaks into waterways, eventually reaching the seas. For example, a single plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose in a landfill, while the same bottle can travel across oceans and harm marine life. This overwhelming waste stream highlights the urgent need for better recycling systems and reduced plastic use.