plastic waste describes plastic objects which have not been recycled properly. between one and eight million tons of plastic waste enters the earth's oceans every year, and the world economic forum predicts this will double by 2030 if no action is taken. thin plastic objects such as plastic bags can be accidentally blown away by the wind. this can cause drainage problems on land and pollution at sea. some countries banned plastic drinking straws in response to a video showing a turtle with a straw stuck up its nose. paper straws are a proposed alternative as they break down after a long time in seawater.