"It wasn't completely surprising, although it was very disappointing..."

Diver reaches record ocean depth — and finds a plastic bag

Trench Trash

When Victor Vescovo broke the record for deepest ocean dive, he noticed what he believes was a plastic bag and some candy wrappers in the deep sea.

Diver Reaches Record Ocean Depth — and Finds a Plastic Bag

The Mariana Trench shouldn't resemble a strip mall parking lot.

But the nation won't be exempt from the rules it establishes.

United States refuses to join plastic waste pact

Invitation Declined

More than 180 nations, not including the United States, have agreed to new rules controlling the movement of plastic waste globally.

United States Refuses to Join Plastic Waste Pact

The U.S. will now have a tougher time dumping waste in developing nations.

It's taking a stand against "throwaway society."

Germany just unveiled its plan to fight plastic waste

Stepping Up

One of the most powerful nations in the world has a five-part plan to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced by its residents.

Germany Just Unveiled Its Plan to Fight Plastic Waste

It's setting an example for other nations to follow. 

Plastic bags have decreased in the waters around the UK, but numbers of other plastics are rising.

Shocker: efforts to make oceans cleaner are working (when you aren’t sabotaging them)

Earth & Energy

Recent research show some that the number of plastic bags on the UK seafloor has declined over the last 25 years, though other items increased.

Shocker: Efforts to Make Oceans Cleaner Are Working (When You Aren’t Sabotaging Them)

Phasing out plastic bags is finally starting to work. 

Basking sharks and baleen whales are accidentally ingesting tiny plastic particles that could be toxic.

Whales and sharks are the new victims of our plastic waste, study finds

Bottles and six-pack rings aren't the only plastics that harm marine life. A new study shows microplastics are just as dangerous for some whales and sharks.

Whales and Sharks Are the New Victims of Our Plastic Waste, Study Finds

The ocean's largest creatures are at risk from the tiniest plastic particles.

China previously recycled 51 percent of the world's plastics. Where will it all go when this screeches to a halt?

China is officially enacting a plastic waste import ban

In January, China will stop accepting imported plastics for recycling. The plastic waste import ban could spell bad news for the environment.

China Is Officially Enacting a Plastic Waste Import Ban

We'll need to find somewhere else to recycle our plastic.

"Turtles aren't stupid, [but] it's really difficult to tell the difference between plastics and jellyfish, and it may be impossible for a turtle to learn."

UN asserts that we have entered "a planetary crisis"

Plastic waste poses real and lethal threats to sea life, but commitment from governments, firms, and individuals could put a stop to it.

UN Asserts That We Have Entered a "Planetary Crisis"

Plastic waste in the ocean is almost indistinguishable from jellyfish, a major food source for sea turtles — a mistake that can prove fatal.

UN Asserts That We Have Entered a “Planetary Crisis”

The study suggests people could be ingesting 3,000 to 4,000 microparticles of plastic in tap water annually.

Tap water could be swimming with tiny plastic particles

Researchers have found micro-particles of plastic in 83 percent of tap water samples gathered from 14 countries around the world.

Tap Water Could Be Swimming With Tiny Plastic Particles

Eighty-three percent of samples from 14 countries, including the US, contained plastic.

Kenya joins dozens of countries that have restricted, levied, or banned the use of plastic bags.

Plastic bags have become an epidemic in Kenya, but as of today they are banned from use in the country by one of the most stringent laws in the world.

/ / plastic-waste