20 Let’s Talk Trash! MAY/JUNE 2018
©2018 The Keenan Group, Inc
Have you ever asked yourself why so many people stress: reuse, reduce, and recycle? Well this may help you find the answer. There is 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans! For one piece of plastic it takes 450 years to decompose. That
By Haley Belk
is not the only thing that is wrong with trash in our ocean and waterways. 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to litter. Sea turtles and other marine life are consuming or getting stuck in littered trash causing them injury or even death. There is a bunch of really awesome things you can do to help even if you don’t live near a beach. Starting with, • remember the three R’s reuse,reduce, and recycle. • You can clean up trash around your town, • Lastly DON’T LITTER! There is a website at www.4ocean.com a website that offers bracelets made from plastic found on our beaches. Let’s work as a team and teach others the danger of trash in our beautiful oceans and waterways. This can be one step closer to making our earth a beautiful place and a healthier environment for everyone.
. Litter weighing less than five pounds is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50, imprisonment up to 30 days, or both, and up to 40 hours community service. The court may also require work in a recycling center up to eight hours. . Litter weighing between five and 10 pounds is a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, six months imprisonment, or both, and up to 80 hours community service. The court may also require work in a recycling center up to eight hours. . Litter weighing more than 10 pounds or for any commercial purpose is a class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500, imprisonment up to 11 months and 29 days, or both. . If third conviction in any amount exceeding 10 pounds or upon the second conviction in any amount exceeding 1,000 pounds or in any amount for any commercial purpose, class E felony. Imprisonment between one year and six years, and possible fine up to $3,000. The court must also require community service litter removal for up to 160 hours. (see §40-35-111) Litter Laws in Tennessee
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