Why plastic-free?

With the average person using 0.34 kg of plastic every single day, humanity produces an astonishing 460–500 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. To put that into perspective, that’s the weight of 3,700 to 4,000 Statues of Liberty (with pedestal and base) made entirely of plastic trash—every single year.

Unlike organic matter, plastics don’t break down into harmless byproducts like CO₂ or water. The very properties that make plastics so useful—durability, flexibility, and resistance to degradation—become deeply problematic after disposal. Instead of disappearing, plastics simply fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming what we call microplastics (MPs, <5 mm).

 

Over time, these MPs can be inhaled or ingested by animals and humans, where they may lodge in tissues, trigger inflammation, and cause long-term health risks. Even worse, plastics act like sponges in the environment—absorbing heavy metals and “forever chemicals” like PFAS, which they then transfer to any organism unlucky enough to consume them.

 

With only about 10% of plastics ever recycled, our plastic future looks grim unless we choose a different path. But here’s the paradox: plastics are also woven into the fabric of our daily lives. They keep blood sterile in hospitals, extend the shelf life of food, and provide unparalleled convenience.

 

This love–hate relationship with plastics is at the heart of our mission. At Plastic-Free Pals, we empower students and adults alike to understand the plastic problem and discover how everyday lifestyle changes and collective action can help turn the tide against plastic pollution.

Learn More - MPs in the Soil (ArcGIS Storymap)
Turning a Creek into a Classroom: How Cobbs Creek Is Inspiring the Next Generation of Water Stewards

 

For years, Cobbs Creek—a winding urban waterway along the western edge of Philadelphia—has been labeled an “impaired stream.” But what, exactly, has been impairing it? Until recently, there were surprisingly few data to answer that question. That gap is now being filled by a growing, community-powered initiative called the Cobbs Creek Stream Team, and the impact extends far beyond water chemistry.

 

Spearheaded by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the project brings together local volunteers, high-school students, and university scientists to investigate the health of the creek using real scientific tools. What began as simple volunteer test strips has evolved into a full-scale monitoring program equipped with laboratory-grade analyses and real-time water-quality sensors capable of measuring dissolved oxygen, conductivity, turbidity, and temperature every 15 minutes.

 

Early data reveal a more nuanced story than many expected. On normal days, Cobbs Creek fares better than its “impaired” status suggests. But after heavy rains—when stormwater surges through the city’s aging infrastructure—the creek receives pulses of sewage, trash, and runoff that send dissolved oxygen plummeting. These rapid swings endanger aquatic life and reflect deeply rooted environmental-justice challenges that disproportionately affect urban neighborhoods.

 

Yet what makes this project remarkable is not just the data—it’s the community. Students and residents are out in waders collecting samples, learning how watersheds work, and building environmental literacy through hands-on discovery. The Stream Team is also expanding into new research areas, including the detection of microplastics and associated contaminants, giving participants a window into emerging environmental science.

 

Cobbs Creek is becoming more than a waterway; it is a living, learning laboratory. It’s a model for how science, education, and local engagement can converge to better understand and protect the natural spaces woven through our cities. And perhaps most importantly, it shows how empowering communities with knowledge can spark the next generation of environmental stewards.

 

Read more: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/inspiring-interest-water-quality-cobbs-creek?utm_content=Faculty&utm_source=Penn+Today+-+Newsletters&utm_campaign=27cd716449-10-13-25-living-learning-lab-cobbs-creek&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-e715cebb4c-45979140