Plastic waste is costing society billions, Duke study finds

Plastic waste is costing society billions, Duke study finds

By Will Atwater When it comes to the American landscape, litter is nearly as ubiquitous as trees and waterways.  Now new research indicates it’s expensive too. A recent Duke University study estimates that litter costs society between $400 million and $1 trillion every year, once public health, environmental and economic damages are factored in. Unlike traditional litter studies that focus mainly on cleanup costs, the Duke research seeks to meas…

Plastic waste costs billions, Duke study says

New research tallies the hidden health, environmental and economic impacts of litter - and why upstream fixes matter.