For a moment we want to invite you to think about the ocean. Not that beautiful blue thing you see in commercials or the view from above. Think about what is in our oceans and what increases every day. Think about what it is doing to us and to all life on this planet. Now, there is a way you can help clean up the ocean!
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a real phenomenon, recognized and documented. It is growing every day as more and more plastic is dumped into our oceans. (See links to articles about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch below.)
“The size of the patch is unknown, as is the precise distribution of debris because large items readily visible from a boat deck are uncommon. Most debris consists of small plastic particles suspended at or just below the surface, making it difficult to accurately detect by aircraft or satellite. Instead, the size of the patch is determined by sampling. Estimates of size range from 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) (about the size of Texas) to more than 15,000,000 square kilometres (5,800,000 sq mi) (about the size of Russia).” ~ Wikipedia
The patch is made up of millions and millions of pieces of non-biodegradable plastic, large and small. Some pieces are easily seen, floating on the top of the water. But other pieces are not as visible because they are below the surface of the water or, worse yet, because the plastic particles are so small that they are virtually invisible to the naked eye.
By the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Much of this plastic will be micro-plastics. These plastic particles eaten by fish are then passed on to us when we eat seafood harvested from the ocean. Once in our bodies, these particles cause all types of illness and disease.
It is estimated that more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals die every year from ingesting plastic. And, this is not the only way that plastic is killing them.
Other types of plastic in the ocean also threaten the lives of the birds, fish, and mammals. Plastic nets trap them, they swallow plastic bags and straws and have their natural habitats over-run with plastic that kills their food. All in all, it is an unhealthy cycle that will not naturally reverse itself.
There is hope. While people are not recycling their plastic bottles like they used to, it is human behavior and we can change that. And, we can make recycling plastic bottles do more than returning the plastic the recycling cycle.
Regional Recycling is committed to our oceans and to helping to heal our waters. All of our locations have donation bins where you can donate your beverage container refunds to help clean up the ocean. For the next few months, the funds collected from our donation bins will be donated to the Ocean Legacy Foundation – an international non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning up our oceans.
Let’s work together to make a difference! You can create good in this world by not only reducing your plastic consumption but by donating your beverage containers to the Ocean Legacy Foundation at any of our 8 Regional Recycling locations. All funds from donated beverage containers will support the cleanup of our oceans and beaches.
Join us and be the change we want to see in this world! Help clean up the ocean by donating your beverage containers.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Articles & Resources: