Globally, we’re producing around 400 million metric tons of plastic each year. Nearly half of that is single-use: everything from cutlery and clamshell cases to plates and produce bags. Life is so ...

Since the 1950s, as plastic has become a go-to material for dishes, utensils, food storage containers and more, we've produced more than 8 billion tons of it around the world. There's just one problem ...

Bridget Cevero of the Maritime Aquarium, left, and Annalisa Paltauf of Save the Sound, hold up the 35.75 pounds of trash collected by volunteers at the cleanup at Sherwood Island State Park last year.