EN:Drowning in Plastic Since the 1950s, the manufacturing of plastics has grown exponentially because of its variety of uses, such as food packaging, consumer products, medical devices, and construction. While there are significant benefits, the negative implications associated with increased production of plastics are concerning. Plastic products do not readily break down, are difficult to dispose of, and only about 9 % of plastics are recycled [1]. Effects can be seen by the approximately 4-12 million tons of plastic waste that enter the oceans each year [2,3]. Plastic waste has severe