Thanks CuriosityStream for sponsoring this episode! Go to http://bit.ly/whatif-curiositystream for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and nonfiction series. Enter the promo code ‘whatif' during the signup process and your membership is completely free for the first 30 days.

In the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, there's a growing, "floating island" of trash that's twice the size of Texas, and three times the size of France. It's just another example of how we're treating our planet like a dumpster. Experts say that every year, we throw away enough plastic to circle the Earth four times. At that rate, by the year 2025, there will be more trash in our oceans than there are fish.
So how can we stop being so wasteful?

Transcript and sources: https://whatif.show/what-if-we-created-no-waste/

Watch more what-if scenarios:
Planet Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-HhCwYD7rc&list=PLZdXRHYAVxTJCzxwmCq0NNpYq9N9wyb2l
The Cosmos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfuJyVkMH_g&list=PLZdXRHYAVxTJno6oFF9nLGuwXNGYHmE8U
Technology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS3bBO05fpU&list=PLZdXRHYAVxTIeRY3JtgXgoGqSEB7kDdKO
Your Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmXR46TrbA8&list=PLZdXRHYAVxTJNsV9FFeNAKl2ySsHj8GZO
Humanity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCDQIyXGnw&list=PLZdXRHYAVxTIFnvmOeWbv-Mt8zFxSCSvZ

Tweet us your what-if question to suggest an episode: https://twitter.com/WhatIfScience

What If elsewhere:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatif.show/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatIfScience
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/What.If.science

Suggest an episode (detailed): http://bit.ly/suggest-whatif
T-shirts and merch: http://bit.ly/whatifstore

Feedback and inquiries: https://underknown.com/contact/

What If is a mini-documentary web series that takes you on an epic journey through hypothetical worlds and possibilities. Join us on an imaginary adventure — grounded in scientific theory — through time, space and chance, as we ask what if some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence were different.