The area of the Pacific Ocean dubbed The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 1,700 miles of floating plastic trash --think bigger than Texas. In fact, some say it stretches from the coast of California to China (an area estimated to be larger than the Continental U.S.) For arguments sake, let's just say it's beyond BIG - it's almost unfathomable. The vast majority of trash is Styrofoam and plastics - things that aren't biodegradable.
Awareness is the first step -- but certainly not enough to change or remedy the situation. That's up to us. It's up to us to dramatically reduce not only our plastic consumption, but also the amount of plastic waste that goes straight to landfills, and ultimately ends up in the Garbage Patch.
Feel like getting involved? Check out these resources and stories of other eco-activists that are hoping to make a difference:
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is Worse Than We Thought - Inhabitat.com
Stop Trashing The Ocean: The Great Garbage Patch Facebook Page
Plastiki - Boat Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles Set Sail to Raise Awareness
2 comments:
This is incredibly disturbing! Thank you for sharing -- I had not heard of this - but it's terrible, awful - and I'm certainly going to be sharing this with my friends and family.
Thanks for stopping by Teresa. I'm happy that you'll be sharing the story with others. Awareness is the first step!
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