Only 9% of the plastic waste the world has ever produced has been recycled, according to the United Nations. Most of it ends up in landfills, dumps, or in the environment. This has major consequences for our planet’s wildlife. Studies published by the Washington Post estimated that more than half the world’s sea turtles and a staggering 90% of seabirds had ingested some form of plastic. Plastic and other debris, including discarded fishing lines and nets, threaten marine animals in other ways as well. Sharks, whales, and mantas that get tangled up in fishing gear either suffer life-threatening injuries from their attempts to escape or they simply remain trapped, eventually drowning to death. This problem can’t be solved by any one person or organization, but efforts to recycle our trash; repurpose plastic waste; carry reusable water bottles, cutlery, and shopping bags; and develop policies to eliminate single-use plastics all help to reduce the amount of waste we produce. ​​Recycling helps keep our oceans clean while protecting our forests by reducing carbon emissions. Our actions, no matter how small, make a difference for wildlife, our oceans, and the planet. #NationalRecyclingDay 📸: @sergioizquierdophoto / @ilcp_photographers