World Environment Day Trivia Quiz!

1. Over 90% of all seabirds have PLASTIC pieces in their stomachs.

True

False

So much plastic trash is flowing into the oceans that 90 percent of seabirds eat it now and virtually every one will be consuming it by 2050. That finding, revealed in a new study published this week, tracks for the first time how widespread plastics have become inside seabirds around the world says Chris Wilcox, a research scientist with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and lead author of the study.

Explanation

So much plastic trash is flowing into the oceans that 90 percent of seabirds eat it now and virtually every one will be consuming it by 2050. That finding, revealed in a new study published this week, tracks for the first time how widespread plastics have become inside seabirds around the world says Chris Wilcox, a research scientist with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and lead author of the study.

2. Unless incinerated, most plastics never completely breakdown.

True

False

Sunlight and ocean waves cause plastic to break down into smaller and smaller particles, but they never completely biodegrade. (Source: 5 Gyres)

Explanation

Sunlight and ocean waves cause plastic to break down into smaller and smaller particles, but they never completely biodegrade. (Source: 5 Gyres)

3. What you can do to help stop plastic pollution?

Refuse single-use plastic bottles, straws, to-go containers and coffee cup and lids

Bring your own reusable bags wherever you go shopping or just need to carry stuff

Ask merchants, restaurants and other establishments you frequent to consider using plastic-free

All of the above

For more information on living plastic-free, and to keep up on the movement to rid the world of single-use plastics, go to plasticpollutioncoalition.com/plastic free times

Explanation

For more information on living plastic-free, and to keep up on the movement to rid the world of single-use plastics, go to plasticpollutioncoalition.com/plastic free times

4. Which of the following snacks come individually wrapped in plastic?

Prunes

Pickles

Jelly belly's

All of the above

You can also find individually plastic-wrapped potatoes, bananas, avocados, pre-sliced apples and much more. What next-raisins?

Explanation

You can also find individually plastic-wrapped potatoes, bananas, avocados, pre-sliced apples and much more. What next-raisins?

5. Where does the majority of plastic waste end up?

Oceans

Burned for energy

Landfills

Recycled

Plastic waste ends up in the oceans due to improper disposal and lack of recycling infrastructure. This is a major environmental issue as it pollutes the marine ecosystem, harming marine life and disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. Plastic waste in the oceans can also break down into microplastics, which can enter the food chain and pose a threat to human health. Efforts are being made to address this problem through increased recycling, waste management, and awareness campaigns to reduce plastic consumption and promote sustainable alternatives.

Explanation

Plastic waste ends up in the oceans due to improper disposal and lack of recycling infrastructure. This is a major environmental issue as it pollutes the marine ecosystem, harming marine life and disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. Plastic waste in the oceans can also break down into microplastics, which can enter the food chain and pose a threat to human health. Efforts are being made to address this problem through increased recycling, waste management, and awareness campaigns to reduce plastic consumption and promote sustainable alternatives.

6. Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from ships at sea.

True

False

Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from land, and is washed out through lakes, rivers and storm drains when it rains.

Explanation

Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from land, and is washed out through lakes, rivers and storm drains when it rains.

7. What happens to plastic waste?

It is a biodegradable material so it eventually disintegrates

It never fully goes away, it just breaks into little pieces

There is no such things as plastic waste, all plastic is recycled

It is dumped in the ocean for fish to eat

Plastic waste does not fully biodegrade, meaning it does not break down completely into natural substances. Instead, it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years and can be found in various ecosystems, including the ocean, where they can be harmful to marine life. Therefore, plastic waste never fully goes away, it just continues to break down into smaller pieces.

Explanation

Plastic waste does not fully biodegrade, meaning it does not break down completely into natural substances. Instead, it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. These microplastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years and can be found in various ecosystems, including the ocean, where they can be harmful to marine life. Therefore, plastic waste never fully goes away, it just continues to break down into smaller pieces.

8. What is the most ubiquitous type of "litter" on the planet?

Cigarette butts

Plastic straws

Candy wrappers

Coffee cups/lids

Cigarette butts comprise half of all littered objects, and they are consistently the most common litter found on beaches during the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day (source: The Ocean Conservancy).

Explanation

Cigarette butts comprise half of all littered objects, and they are consistently the most common litter found on beaches during the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day (source: The Ocean Conservancy).

9. Which item is the least recyclable?

Cigarette butts

Plastic Straws

Candy Wrappers

Coffee cups/lids

Cigarette butts contain multiple materials including cellulose acetate, a plastic, as well as a host of toxic chemicals (source: Clean Virginia Waterways).

Explanation

Cigarette butts contain multiple materials including cellulose acetate, a plastic, as well as a host of toxic chemicals (source: Clean Virginia Waterways).

10. What is the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch"?

A landfill that spans the Central California coast from Santa Barbara to Salinas

A Charlie Brown movie starring Snoopy and Pig-Pen

A huge island of plastic debris swirling in the ocean that is roughly the size of Texas

A concentrated area in the North Pacific of mostly tiny particles of plastic that you cannot easily see

Capt. Charles Moore of Algalita Marine Research Foundation discovered concentrated plastic debris caught in the remote North Pacific Gyre in 1997. Later, researchers at 5 Gyres characterized the pollution as a "plastic smog" because most of the particles suspended throughout the water column are barely visible.

Explanation

Capt. Charles Moore of Algalita Marine Research Foundation discovered concentrated plastic debris caught in the remote North Pacific Gyre in 1997. Later, researchers at 5 Gyres characterized the pollution as a "plastic smog" because most of the particles suspended throughout the water column are barely visible.