Pollution is a big problem in North Carolina. Just in 2015 the North Carolina government spent 7.5 million dollars to pick up 3750 tons of roadside litter. This is an issue because it not only hurts our environment which we rely on but it also increases crime rates. We are interested in this issue because we do not want our community to do well. We should all care for this because pollution increases crime crate, causes respiratory illness,cancers, and decreases water quality. According to the NCDPS, Clean streets and a clean neighborhood send a signal that people care about where they live and work, and indicates they don't have any tolerance for disobedience or criminal activity. When someone litters, others think it is ok and soon more litter accumulates. Before you know it, you or your community is covered in trash. (NC DPS 2016). Eventually, if we do nothing litter will accumulate exponentially and this will make North Carolina an unlivable place. The issue is only getting worse. In 2013 299 million tons of a plastic was produced. Which is a four percent increase from 2012. This might not seem that bad however, there was a 126% increase in plastic litter (Lytle 2017). This problem is extremely serious because it causes health problems for not only animals and plants but also humans.The increase in diseases caused by litter can in often cases cause death. For example over 100,000 marine mammals are killed, of those 30,000 are seals or turtles alone(Headifen 2012). Also, we are making 200 billion water bottles are made every year. Another reason animals are dying is because we use 10 million plastic bags a minute and a trillion a year (Headifen 2012). Even though a lot of people recycle only 14% of the plastic bags used are recycled. While most people clean up, there are some who don’t. Those who want to stop the people who litter pass laws against littering. Which is a good start but there’s no real way to see if someone actually litters. The only chance Janis if a police car is behind a person who has littered, and if that unlikely situation happens the person who is going to litter they won’t because they see the police. Also they have done park clean ups. That’s what others have done but there are a couple ways for you to help. For example you could write to a senator, mayor or governor. Another thing you can do is pick up any litter seen or go with a group to clean up parks and/or public areas. One final but simple thing you can do is throughout your trash instead of leaving it because if you leave it then some animal might eat it, and the animal will probably die leaving the plastic inside its body. “We can change the world and make it a better place. It’s in your hands to make a difference” - (Nelson Mandela). I propose that we go to Laurel Hills park and pick up the trash. Which is going to a park and picking up any litter seen. This would help children see the amount of litter in parks. Also, it would benefit the parks by removing the litter. Another reason that doing a park cleanup would be good is you won’t have to pay that much money, if you want to go it’s free (After you fill out the application sheet )to enter and if you want an outdoor seating area its 12 dollars an hour. The main goal of this is to prevent animals in the Laurel Hills Park from dying from plastic litter. Also a goal is to expose kids to the outdoors and show them that they can help. A final goal to this is to give children exercise. Bibliography Author’s last name, first name. “Title of page.” Title of site. Editor (If available). Date of publication or of the last update. Date of access and <Full URL> Berg, Susan. “Negative Effects of Pollution.” Sciencing. April 24th, 2017. January 23, 2018 <https://sciencing.com/negative-effects-pollution-5268664.html > Headifen, Ross. “Plastic Litter.” Plastic Waste Solution. January 2018 <http://plasticwastesolutions.com/plastic-litter/> Kahn, Michael. “Common Plastics Chemical Linked to Human Diseases.” Reuters. Will Dunham. September 16th 2008. January 25th, 2018 <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chemical-heart/common-plastics-chemical-linked-to-human-diseases-idUSLF18683220080916> Lytle, Claire. “The Great Plastic Tide.” Coastal Care. January 2017. January 24th, 2018 <http://plastic-pollution.org/>
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