So, there’s plastic in the ocean – are we the problem? Keep reading to unwrap how plastic ends up in our waterways and what we can do to help clean it up.
Anyone else remember the uproar that followed the cancellation of straws? Many restaurants stopped handing out straws altogether, or some switched to cardboard and you found yourself with a straw that disintegrated within a few sips. Let’s be real, cardboard straws were not a hit. While some places have returned to plastic straws, others have gotten more creative. But we’re still left with the original question: are plastic straws really damaging the environment? Turns out that straws are just a small piece of the greater plastic problem in our oceans.
There will be more plastic (by weight) in the ocean than fish by 2050 while one million marine animals die from plastic every year!
If you’re already convinced that plastic is a problem (thanks for being Nemo’s best friend!), scroll to the end of this post for five ways you can help end plastic pollution.
The Plastic Ocean Predator
Now people in landlocked Kansas might wonder how their used plastic fork could possibly end up in the ocean at all. I understand the confusion! That’s why I hope you’ll join me for a simple break down of how plastic makes it from our hands to the ocean. And that’s just it – plastic doesn’t break down, which creates a huge problem for our marine animal friends. Maybe there really is something to “skip a straw, save a turtle.” Keep reading for small ways we can help fight the plastic predator our turtle pals are facing. After all, we’ve created the problem so we should be responsible for its clean-up!
The Path of Plastic: From Hand to Ocean
Time to map it out. There’s a variety of ways that plastic makes it from human hands into the ocean. In order for us to better understand how to stop the deadly cycle, we have to know how it’s getting there in the first place. First of all, over 80% of ocean plastic comes from land-based sources. So, don’t be fooled into thinking that large industries (like the fishing industry) are fully to blame for the plastic problem. Let’s dive into the top ways plastic pollution happens.
Litterbug
“Don’t litter” and “pick up your trash” feel like fundamental parts of my childhood. And this is a great way to start talking to kids about the environment. While “carbon emissions” might be too much to grasp (for me too!), teaching respect for the earth can start at any age. Unfortunately, littering is one of the ways that plastic ends up in our water sources.
Wind and rain easily carry litter into storm drains or other water sources. Even more deadly is all the littering on beaches, which heads straight for the ocean. I don’t think any of us are looking to sunbathe or swim in litter!
Lavatory
When Finding Nemo first came out, there were some children that decided to flush their fish because “all drains lead to the ocean.” Unfortunately, the toilet ride is not the best amusement park ride for fish. However, there is truth to the fact that all drains lead to the ocean. While fish may not survive the flushing journey, plastic certainly can. One of my misconceptions of plastic in the ocean was that plastic pollution just meant old water bottles and fishing line floating in the ocean. Turns out that microplastics are a tiny but deadly foe.
Microplastics= tiny pieces of plastic (less than 5 mm in length) harmful to aquatic life.
These microplastics can come from our clothing, skin care products, sanitary wipes, and more. Ever used a facewash with microbeads? Those are actually plastic. The main problem with microplastics is that they’re just too small for water companies to filter out, so they end up in the ocean.
Lazy Recycling
While microplastics might be a new topic for a lot of us, I know I have been very guilty of lazy recycling in the past. It can be quite the head-scratcher to figure out exactly what plastics my recycling company even accepts. But recycling does matter!
While a majority of Americans do support recycling, only about 34% actually recycle. Even worse, only about 9% of plastic will be recycled. When plastic isn’t recycled, it ends up in a landfill. Landfills are quite problematic for ocean plastic pollution.
Landfill
My nose automatically wrinkles at the thought of a landfill. Even though most of us would say that landfills are bad, the average person still contributes almost five pounds of waste to landfills every day (yikes!). Ultimately, landfills are no better news for the ocean either. As we all know, landfills are outside and exposed to the elements.
One of the reasons plastic is popular is because it’s durable and lightweight. But that creates a problem when it comes to plastic in landfills. That lightweight plastic easily blows from the landfill into a waterway and heads straight for the ocean. It’s easy to think of our garbage as “out of sight, out of mind.” But honestly, we might as well dump our trash on our own front lawn. Sure, that’s gross, but it would have the same impact on the planet and maybe we would think twice about what we throw in the garbage.
Litter by Industries
But wait, you say, isn’t some of this out of our hands? In some ways that’s true. Large corporations and industries are certainly to blame for plastic in the ocean. To be fair though, these corporations are transporting waste that we’ve created, fishing for the fish we will eat, or carrying us for a cruise. I think we still have skin in the game and a level of control.
Researchers estimate that about 75% of the plastic waste in the ocean is the result of uncollected plastic. That means that 25% is a result of the waste-management system. A failure in the waste-management system could be a problem with the collection to begin with, the waste site itself, or the transport of the waste. And as I said before, less than 20% of plastic waste originates from marine sources (ships, oil rigs, etc.). While we want these industries to clean up their acts, we also support them with our business. I’d highly recommend checking out where your fish comes from – if your fish is eating plastic, so are you! I get my fish through TC Farms in partnership with Superior Fresh Farm.
Plastic in the Ocean: The Clean-Up
Oh man, that was some heavy stuff, wasn’t it!? For being so light, plastic certainly creates a heavy burden. Let me cheer you up with a quick rundown of some key organizations doing the tough job of protesting ocean plastic pollution and participating in its clean-up. And these are just a few of the well-known ones. There are so many more. It’s not too late, my friends! We can solve this problem together and in cooperation with organizations and our communities.
Oceana
Oceana knows that oceans are a vital part of our ecosystem, and they are the largest organization focused simply on ocean conservation. But it’s not simple – saving the ocean is vital to the survival of marine life and to feeding the globe. And that’s why Oceana advocates for fishermen, marine life, and those who rely on the ocean for food.
They are actively looking for practical solutions to protect the ocean. And that’s why Oceana relies on scientific reports, running campaigns for change, and working with talented people across a variety of fields. It seems to be working as they’ve already protected four million square miles of ocean.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace has its fingers in a few more environmental pies, but ocean conservation is one of their bigger talking points. If you’re looking for information, scientific research, and many blog posts, they have the resources you need to learn about plastic ocean pollution.
As a global campaigning organization, Greenpeace works to change the world by protecting the environment. And they do this by encouraging governmental change and empowering individuals to research, protest, and volunteer. Greenpeace provides a form that you can send corporations protesting the use of single-use plastics. The more corporations hear from us and don’t receive our business, the more likely they are to change their ways!
Surfrider
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy our beaches and oceans, and that is exactly why Surfrider is setting out to protect them. It’s for the good of animals and humans alike. Surfrider actively campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, protect the ocean, preserve the coast, allow fair beach access, and protect a clean water supply. Aside from working and communicating with the government, they also have chapters around the world made up by a network of volunteers.
Fellow Minnesotans, Surfrider has a chapter on the North Shore with volunteer opportunities. Maybe I’ll see you at a beach clean-up!
Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy is all about connecting average people like me with science and policymakers for lasting environmental change. They want to tell the real story of the state of the ocean while inspiring change. But in order to see change, they know that the ocean needs both advocates who are experts and also people like you and me! Since 1986, this organization has collected almost 340 million pounds of trash with the help of 16 million volunteers.
And it’s not just about cleaning up the trash, but about stopping the trash from getting there in the first place. They even have a pledge for you to sign saying you’ll “skip the straw” when offered!
Personal Pledge to End Plastic in the Ocean
This might seem like a pretty big problem to conquer all on your own. After all, the ocean does cover 71% of the earth! I think we all need to take a deep breath and realize that this burden does not sit on our shoulders alone. The more I learn about environmental issues, the more I find myself empowered, but also overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. Anyone else in that boat (water pun intended…)?
Friends, environmental change is all about awareness, taking steps for change, and supporting organizations who are out there doing the work. So, let’s step out of the boat and look into just FIVE small ways we can individually stop the plastic pollution problem. It starts with you and me!
1. Cut Back on Plastic
I mean this is just obvious, right? I feel a bit silly even bringing it up, but I do recognize how difficult it is to end plastic use. Just look around the supermarket, and you’ll realize that it takes preparation and thought to cut back on the amount of plastic you buy with your groceries. While you may not be able to avoid plastic altogether when grocery shopping (those darn berries!), cutting back where you can WILL make a difference. Here’s a non-comprehensive list of a few ways to avoid plastic reaching the ocean:
- Visit coffee shops and restaurants that use compostable to-go packaging
- Bring your own coffee cups and to-go containers (check out THIS blog post)
- Bring your own bags to the grocery store
- Say “no” to straws or use a reusable straw
- Purchase sustainable food containers (& stop plastic wrap use!)
- Be careful with your clothing fabric choices
- Switch to a menstrual cup or reusable pads (if applicable)
- Purchase earth-friendly makeup
- Use household products that avoid plastic
I’m sure I could go on for days, but this is a great beginning list that we can all incorporate into our lives and homes. Let’s protect the home of our marine animals by cleaning the plastic from our own homes first!
(Amazon has many reusable produce bags to choose from!)
2. Support Eco-Friendly Businesses
I mentioned this in my list above, but it deserves its own point. One of the biggest ways we can have an impact is with our purchasing power. Businesses rely on their consumers, and if we hold them accountable or stop buying from them, it’s going to make a difference. There are both big and small businesses moving toward sustainability, and those are the businesses I want to support with my dollars.
There are more eco-friendly businesses out there than you might think. This is about doing your research (Google knows all…), though I will keep highlighting as many as I can!
3. Recycling Rules
Now this has a double meaning. Recycling does rule (yay for reusing), but it’s also important that we follow the rules of recycling! The problem with the recycling system in the United States is that so many people don’t recycle properly. Our recycling companies are overwhelmed with products that are contaminated and un-recyclable, which can then contaminate products that could have been recycled. A few key recycling rules:
- Know what materials your local recycling company accepts
- Clean excess food and labels from any cans, bottles, etc.
- Break-down cardboard
- Soiled cardboard should be composted not recycled
The hard thing about recycling is that even if you follow the rules to a “T,” you can’t guarantee it’s going to be handled properly once it’s out of your hands. This is why TerraCycle is a hidden gem. By recycling with TerraCycle (read more here!), you can guarantee that your recyclables will be reused.
4. Get Your Hands Dirty (Volunteer!)
I am totally a do-er (anyone else an enneagram type 7?). Just give me a container and I will pick up some garbage. Or maybe that scuba diving certification will finally come in handy. There are so many volunteer opportunities for ocean plastic clean-up. And you might be surprised to find some right around the corner!
Did you know that most ocean plastic can be traced to just 10 rivers? While many of us may not live by oceans, we still have other water sources near us that eventually lead to the ocean. This means that plastic clean-up can start anywhere: your own backyard, neighborhood, city, river, etc.
5. Donate to End Plastic in the Ocean
I know that not everyone has the time to volunteer or is able-bodied enough to do ocean clean-up. There are many good causes to support, and I don’t want to downplay the volunteer hours you may already be doing! But if you have the means to do so, I highly recommend donating to an organization that is doing the work to end plastic pollution (maybe one of the ones I highlighted above!).
Sadly, this problem continues to grow. There is a patch of garbage in the Pacific Ocean (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch) that contains over 1.8 trillion pieces of trash and is the size of Texas! And this is just one of the five enormous patches of garbage in our oceans. A few dollars from each of our pockets can go a long way.
Plastic in the Ocean: A Wrap-Up
After unwrapping the plastic problem, I think it’s time to wrap this all up. I can safely say that this is the longest blog post I’ve written to date, which makes sense, as this is one of the largest environmental problems facing our planet today. If you’re a visual person (like me!), I would highly recommend watching a documentary or two. I found A Plastic Ocean (available on Netflix) really opened my eyes. It certainly empowered me to continue changing my plastic consumption.
I look forward to continuing to learn with you! It’s not about being right or doing everything perfectly, but about continued love and learning. And maybe also about giving up straws because turtles are amazing creatures. Questions? Thoughts? Comment below to connect with me!
Be Well. With Love.
Leave a Reply