We have known about this patch (which is now the size of the
surface area of the United States) since 1997. It consists of chemical sludge,
plastic, metals and other waste products produced by humans. It is affecting
marine animals such as dolphins, whales, sea birds and many fish. They get
tangled in nets that have been left by fisherman and even ingest the chemicals
and other wastes. It is estimated that 80% of the garbage comes from land-based
sources and 20% from ships crossing the ocean. Countries such as China, India
and even America are adding to the patch. These countries are getting rid of
their wastes by dumping it in the ocean and letting the currents take it away.
What will happen if
this “patch” spreads even more, washing up on beaches and coastlines of
surrounding countries, infecting drinking water, and infecting thousands of
animals and plants that use that water source? It will
•compromise the health of humans, wildlife and the
livelihoods that depend on a healthy ocean
•threatens tourism
and recreation, and the critical dollars they adds to our local economies
•complicate shipping
and transportation by causing navigation hazards
•generate steep bills
for retrieval and removal.
What are we doing?
Environmental Cleanup Coalition collaborates with other
groups to identify methods to safely remove waste.
Project Kaisei is a project to study and clean up the
garbage patch launched in March 2009. In August 2009, two project vessels, the
New Horizon and the Kaisei, embarked on a voyage to research the patch and
determine the feasibility of commercial scale collection and recycling organic
pollutants from the oceans.
Other environment groups are trying to help with research
and cleanup, but cannot do much to help due to lack of funding. You can help!
Make sure that your unwanted things end up in the proper disposal container such
as recycling and composting. Did you know that Paper bus ticket: 2-4 weeks to
break down, a tin can take up to 100 years to break down and a plastic water
bottle can take up to 250 years to completely break down!? You can also help by
donating to or volunteering at ICCadmin@oceanconservancy.org
This blog really got my attention because I actually didn't know about the "garbage patch" I think/feel like i know everything about it now & I want to help.
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