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What Can Be Done?

Prevention

Learn more about prevention of plastic pollution

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Solutions

Find out how you can help with current plastic pollution

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Fix Current Pollution



THE CURRENT SITUATION

Around 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean annually with an estimated 5.25 trillion plastic pieces.
These pieces of plastic take hundreds of years to degrade, destroying marine creatures
and our environment.

Great-Garbage-Patch

The Great Garbage Patch

The 'Great Garbage Patch' is a large collection of garbage in the ocean, pushed together by currents. The garbage patch is around 3 times the size of France, it expands rougly 1.6 Million km2. It contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. There are also 5 other large garbage patches in the ocean.

Macro/ Micro Plastics

Microplastics come from many sources including those formed from larger plastic items as they are broken down. Microbeads are tiny solid plastic particles used in cosmetics, healthcare and personal care products for example exfoliants and bulking agents. These microplastics aren't captured by water waste systems and so the particles end up in the rivers and oceans. The particles absorb and give off harmful toxins and take hundreds of years to degrade.

Microbeads
turtle

Marine Wildlife

Plastic is harmful to marine creatures and sea birds, destroying their habitat and killing hundreds of thousands each year from getting entangled or accidently eating plastic. Turtles for example often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, and many sea creatures are being found with plastic in their stomachs. With plastic entering the food chain this also effects humans who eat seafood who will in turn consume the plastic and toxins which can be released into people's bodies after the fish is eaten.


  • 4 Ocean
  • The Ocean Cleanup
  • Plastic Oceans
  • Marine Mega Fauna Foundation
  • Marine Conservation Society

How You Can Help...

There are a number of organisations helping to combat plastic pollution that you can support.
Click the logos to find out more or donate.

LEARN MORE


EVENTS

  • There are many cleanup events happening around the world. This is a great way to help get rid of plastic pollution in beaches, rivers and the ocean.
    Contribute by joining local cleanup events in your area or organise your own.

    • VIEW EVENTS

      beach cleanup cleanup

Prevention

Microplastic

HOW DOES PLASTIC END UP IN THE OCEAN?

    Littering

  • Plastic that is thrown away ends up getting washed down drains and going into rivers, streams and oceans.

    • Not Recycling

  • Plastic that isn't recycled and thrown away can easily blow away from landfill as it is light and can make it's way into rivers and the ocean.

    • Items Washed Down Drains

  • Items such as wipes and microbeads that are washed down drains end up in the ocean where they are mistaken for food and taken hundreds of years to degrade.

    • Discarded Fishing Gear

  • Fishing gear that is lost or discarded contributes to a large amount of ocean pollution, around 640,000 tonnes per year.


HOW TO PREVENT PLASTIC POLLUTION?


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Reduce

  • Reduce your use of single-use plastics, such as bags, water bottles, straws, containers, plastic cutlery.
  • Instead opt for non plastic alternatives and reusable items such as metal straws, coffee cups, paper or material reusable bags.
  • Don't purchase products with micro-beads such as Toothpaste, body washes.


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Reuse

  • Where possible repair items instead of throwing away and replacing them.
  • Try to buy second hand items, buy in bulk to reduce packaging eg. clothing, packaging, food, healthcare


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Recycle

  • Recycle plastic, collections, refund programs, donate, buy recycled products
  • Organise recycling at home for curbside collections


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Remove

  • Help with cleanup events at beaches and rivers in your local area or organise your own events.










Boxed Water 4 Ocean Recycling Cleanup