KATHMANDU, April 22: This year’s theme for the World Earth Day circles around plastic pollution and ending it.

World Earth day was first celebrated in 1972 on April 22. This year's Earth Day is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to eventually end plastic pollution. Many of us use or encounter plastic every single day, even if we don't realize it.

There's single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles, plates, utensils and straws. Only few of the plastics gets recycled. Plastic is made to last forever - it cannot biodegrade. Disposed plastic materials can remain in the environment for up to 2,000 years and longer, according to a 2009 article published in scientific journal Chemistry & Biology.

Plastic pollution is now an ever-present challenge. We can see plastics floating in our rivers, ocean and lagoons, littering our landscapes and affecting our health and the future of billions of children and youth. We have all contributed to this problem. Here, we bring you how plastics cover our rivers.

 
• pictures
 
• flowing
 
• plastics