"Each year in the United States, more than one billion plastic toothbrushes are discarded. Globally, it is estimated that over 23 billion toothbrushes are thrown away annually. Think about it - can you remember how many toothbrushes you have thrown away in your lifetime? Most of us start brushing our teeth within the first year of life, and according to the American Dental Association, it is recommended to replace your toothbrush every three months."
"Let us do the math: an average 30-year-old has already discarded 90 toothbrushes in their lifetime. Imagine a family of five using about 20 toothbrushes a year, and multiply that by five families; we are looking at 100 toothbrushes a year. For a different perspective, consider a single K-12 school with 500 students - that is around 2000 toothbrushes every year."
Daily use of plastic toothbrushes generates massive waste, with over one billion discarded annually in the United States and more than 23 billion globally. Recommendations to replace toothbrushes every three months lead individuals to discard many over a lifetime, and households and institutions contribute thousands each year. Toothbrush handles are often made of mixed plastics and nylon bristles, making them non-recyclable; nearly all end up in landfills or oceans where they take centuries to break down. Plastics fragment into micro- and nanoplastics that contaminate soil, water, food, and have even been detected in human blood, posing environmental and health risks.
Read at Earth911
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]