Imagine taking a walk with a plastic water bottle in your hand. You finish drinking and are searching for a trash can to put the empty bottle in. After a while of searching, you can’t find one so you decide to leave the bottle on the ground, thinking that it will do no harm. What you have just done is litter. Many people say that littering is wrong and should not be done, but still, why do so many people litter? 

 Today, two-thirds of the trash that is left in the ocean has come from, “garbage left on a beach, flowing out of sinks of drains, or being swept by a river into an estuary” (Santa Cruz Works). The remaining third has come from fishing boats.  This is why there are, “an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans” (RTS). 75-199 million tons of plastic are in the ocean. At this pace, by the year 2050, there is expected to be more plastic in the ocean than fish in the ocean. The ocean is supposed to be a place where animals can live without dying because of human mistakes. 

Marine animals like fish, whales, and dolphins are the primary victims of littering. In fact, over, “100,000 marine animals die every year thanks to litter making its way into their natural habitats” (World Animal Foundation). 100,000 helpless animals should not be losing their lives every year because someone can not find a trash can near them. 100,000 helpless animals should not be mistaking plastic water bottles for food. Marine animals are not the only animals that are affected by people littering though, “birds can die from ingesting poisons from moldy food, cigarette butts, and other harmful substances” (North Carolina Government). No animal should be dying because of mistakes made by humans. No animal should be dying because humans have decided to not throw their cigarettes away or throw their beer bottles on the ground.

Animals are not the only living things that are affected by people littering. Humans who litter are hurting themselves as well as other people as well. Littering could lead to, “water and land pollution, litter can also pollute the air” (Texas Disposal Systems). Polluted water means toxic drinking water which could lead to outbreaks of diseases, and polluted air means that people will be breathing in toxic air, which could lead to many respiratory diseases, heart disease, and possibly even lung cancer. 

Many say that there should be more trash cans outside because many people litter because, “there isn’t a trash can nearby” (Potomac). While it is true that there are not trash cans available in many places, that still does not make a valid reason to litter. If there are no trash cans nearby, just put the wrapper, or bottle, or whatever needs to be thrown out in your pocket or just carry it around until you find one.

Sign this petition to raise awareness for littering. Signing will stop spreading thoughts of littering and save animals. Signing will lower the amount of plastic that gathers in the ocean and will influence you to stop littering. And I assure you, signing will make a difference.