The Problem
The US is known to be the world's largest generator of plastic waste. The average American uses 220 pounds of plastic each year. Now imagine this number being multiplied by Atlantic City’s population, which is about 38,000 right now! That is around 8.3 million pounds of plastic each year in Atlantic City alone. Plastic is a synthetic material made primarily from polymers, designed to be molded and hardened into countless forms. While convenient, its environmental cost is staggering. From releasing greenhouse gases during production and breakdown, to being ingested by wildlife, plastic pollution threatens human health, animal welfare, and entire ecosystems. Specifically, plastic pollution poses a serious threat to Atlantic City’s coastal ecosystem. Discarded plastic bags, bottles, and packaging often end up in the ocean, where they break down into microplastics that contaminate the water and harm marine life. Local wildlife, including fish and seabirds, can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, leading to injury or death. As a coastal city, Atlantic City faces direct consequences from this pollution, making it critical to reduce plastic waste before it reaches the shore.
