How does plastic get into the ocean

Poor sewage conditions also lead to spillages into rivers and other bodies of water. Poorly managed plastic debris can also affect the health of communities, as plastic waste often collects water, allowing disease-bearing mosquitoes to breed. Tourism is another sector negatively impacted by inadequate waste management, as no one wants to sunbathe next to old straws and swim among a sea of plastic bags.

Our friends at Preserve are committed to reducing ocean plastics through their Preserve Ocean Plastics Initiative POPI where they create products out of plastic rescued from coastlines and waterways. The 5 Gyres Institute is based in Los Angeles and aims to reduce plastic pollution through scientific research and engagement.

Since , the organization has led 19 expeditions across the globe to drive impact, community outreach, and citizen science all in the name of fighting plastic pollution.

In , a group of local Texans who had been tracking plastic pollution in their local bar took their complaint to the courts. The judge ruled that Formosa Plastics—a petrochemical manufacturer—was guilty of illegally dumping billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants directly into Lavaca Bay, Texas. Big win for the good guys! Instead, it will all go to efforts and organizations to improve the environmental status of the polluted area previously damaged.

Not all polluters are brought to justice like they were in this Texas case despite there being many companies out there doing the same. If you do have a similar situation in your community, take action and write letters to your local council or your regional representatives and demand change and stricter laws to ban these practices. The micro trifecta is, at the moment, one of the biggest challenges we face in terms of plastic pollution.

Besides ending up in the seas and being swallowed by all sorts of marine life, microplastics are highly absorbent, especially when it comes to harmful toxins and chemicals. These nanoparticles then get into the bodies of marine animals and accumulate in their fat cells, resulting in damaged tissues and irregular organ function. Plastics affect humans in the same way. Needless to say, none of this bodes well for our health either. They might have been larger plastic items that broke down due to prolonged sun exposure making plastic easier to break.

But they could also be an ingredient in your daily facial exfoliant or everyday toothpaste microbeads. Or they may be released when you use your washing machine to wash your clothes which are often made with synthetic and plastic-based fibers.

Yup, microplastics are a real threat because they seem to be in all sorts of things you use on a day-to-day basis. The good news is that due to public demand, microbeads have been banned from cosmetics and other products in the United States and several other countries. Your voice was heard and now you can enjoy your body scrub with peace of mind.

At this point, the best approach to save the oceans , our planet, and our species is… prevention! That means that the most effective way to stop producing plastic trash, well… is to stop consuming plastic in the first place. Yes, it sounds like an almost daunting task, but the best way is to start small and incorporate easy changes into your life.

A few tips to get started: take a room-by-room approach. Avoid single-use plastics, such as straws, plates or disposable cutlery. If you go shopping, remember to take a fabric bag-for-life or a shopping trolley.

Don't throw chewing gum on the ground, bin it because Buy more food in bulk and fewer packaged products. Replace plastic Tupperware with glass or stainless steel containers. When hanging out washing use wooden pegs instead of plastic ones. Avoid using cosmetics with microplastics and also opt for biodegradable clothing. Choose to recycle and reuse some of your packaging too. Skip to main content.

You are in Environment How does plastic get into the sea? Share in Twitter. Share in Facebook. Whatsapp Whatsapp. Where does the plastic come from that inundates our oceans? Source: Nature. Even if you live hundreds of miles from the coast, the plastic you throw away could make its way into the sea. Once in the ocean, plastic decomposes very slowly, breaking down in to tiny pieces known as micro plastics that can be incredibly damaging to sea life.

Where is it coming from? There are three main ways the plastic we use every day ends up in the oceans. Plastic you put in the bin ends up in landfill. From there, it can eventually clutter around drains and enter rivers and the sea this way.

Rainwater and wind carries plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Drains lead to the ocean! Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contributor — illegal dumping of waste adds greatly to the plastic surge in our seas. Many of the products we use daily are flushed down toilets, including wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products. Microfibres are even released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine.