Every year, at least 8.8 million tons of plastics make their way into the ocean, which is the equivalent of dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute.
Additionally, at least 80 percent of plastic flows into the oceans from land, and at current rates, there will be more plastic by weight than fish by 2050.
We all know this – almost everything we use day-to-day is packaged in, surrounded by, carried in or drunk out of plastic. From those plastic-lined coffee cups, to the ubiquitous supermarket bag, to straws & soy sauce, fish & bottled water. It’s inescapable. You may not know that it has now made it to the bottom of the deepest sea, to the inside of humpback whales & even inside people (11,000 microplastic particles a year for seafood eaters!). You may not be aware of quite how huge this problem is, with virtually every piece of plastic ever made still in existence and more microplastic in the ocean than stars in the Milky Way.
“What makes the plastic pollution issue so positive is that we have all the solutions that we need already. Plastic itself is not an inherently evil material, but the way we’re using it… It’s just stupid”
– Alice Forrest / Marine Biologist
IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE.
- Refuse any single-use plastics that you do not need (e.g. straws, plastic bags, takeout utensils, takeout containers).
- Buy and carry with you reusable grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, and dry cleaning garment bags.
- Pack lunches and snacks in reusable containers or wraps.
- Bring your own reusable containers to restaurants. Some will let you use your own container for takeout or to pack leftovers.
- Vote for legislation that bans single-use plastic use.
- Use a laundry bag, ball or filter to capture and reduce microfibers that make their way to wastewater and into rivers and the ocean.
- Participate in (or organize) & support a clean up of your local beach or waterway.
Support organizations addressing plastic pollution including Stand Up To Trash, Shark Stewards, Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, Algalita, Plastic Soup Foundation, and others.