One Person’s Trash is… another Ocean’s Problem?
If you’re here and reading this, this should not be the first time you have heard of our global plastic addiction. Looking back, the attention on plastic waste has been growing steadily since the Story of stuff video came out in 2007 and has really picked up considerable attention in the last two years. From the turtle with a straw in its nose to photos from beach cleanups, they all show the alarming variety of items that get thrown out on a daily basis and end up all over the world. From plastics, food, and packaging, much of the materials that we consume end up in the landfill. Well, unfortunately not all of it ends up in the landfill. A lot ends up in the ocean too. We humans put about the equivalent of one dump truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. Did that catch your attention? Yeah, ours too. Let’s dive into the details!
I don’t see any plastic waste once it leaves my house, what’s the problem?
The problem with waste is that it never really goes away. We used to think that when the garbage and recycling trucks pick up our waste, the problem ends there. The expression “ignorance is bliss” rings true here. We’re discovering more about the far reaches of our plastic problem and the impact our lifestyles have on our planet. (Deep Dive: One of our favorite podcasts, Podship Earth, released Everybody’s Plastic.)
So what happens to our waste? To find out, National Geographic put together an amazing interactive journey of What happens to the plastic we throw it out. Essentially, it either reaches a landfill or collection point… or it doesn’t.
If it reaches the Landfill…
Landfills pile our waste on top of more waste, on top of more waste, on top of… With all the waste being packed close together even our food waste, which should decompose, doesn’t because it lacks the oxygen to do so. So instead, the lack of oxygen creates an anaerobic bacteria reaction whose byproduct is methane and carbon dioxide. Which we know, isn’t great… According to the EPA, landfills are the third largest producer of methane in the United States.
If it doesn’t (go into a) landfill…
Then it keeps floating around… and can end up in our waterways or oceans. When plastics are exposed to the elements, they don’t biodegrade like organic matter; they just fragment into smaller and smaller pieces over time called microplastics.
These tiny plastics have a nasty habit of ending up pretty much everywhere. Scientists found a record amount in the Arctic, and recently found a Plastic Bag at the bottom of World’s deepest ocean trench.
The big issue is that it’s affecting the entire marine animal food chain. The plastics are being ingested directly by whales, and sea birds, and indirectly as the plastics move up the food chain. Like many things, this is not only bad for the wildlife, but also for us. These toxic plastics can work their way up the food chain and onto our plates.
Where’s it all going?
The famous example of plastic ocean pollution is the “Great Pacific garbage patch.” It’s a concentration of trash about the size of Texas and growing. (You can’t see it on google earth, I checked). VICE’s Garbage Island story covers it well. The great pacific garbage patch gets the worst rap, but there are plenty more garbage “islands”.
Surely it’s not just coming from me, right?
A 2015 study found that Indonesia is one of five Asian countries that account for 60% of the plastic entering the world’s oceans. (WHAT!?!?) Turns out the problem isn’t just isolated to the Eastern hemisphere. Countries like the US have contributed more than their fair share! Not only does our trash end up in the ocean directly (10 tons of trash per day in LA alone), we’ve also been selling our trash to developing countries, which in turn ends up…in…the…ocean. Indonesia has even involved their military in efforts to stop trash from blocking their rivers. At our current pace, plastics will outweigh fish in the ocean by 2050.
But I thought we were just sending our Recycling to China?
Yes, we were. Where it would be processed and recycled into its next product. China was the world’s biggest recycler, importing more than 50% of the global trade for end-of-life plastic. China imported 69% of the US’s plastic waste and 87% of Japan’s plastic waste in 2016. That, however, changed recently when China, tired of being the garbage collector for the world, stopped taking everyone’s trash. (Rightfully so, I guess.) The 99 Invisible Podcast recently covered that really well, the name of the new China law, National Sword. Our hope is that this change spurs innovation in terms of ramping up local effort and helps us get better at recycling plastics (fingers crossed).
Don’t get down, there’s always HOPE! And actions YOU can do!
Heard of the Ocean Cleanup Project? Boyan Slat, a 23-year-old from the Netherlands, started the ambitious effort of cleaning up the ocean Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The organization has developed, tested, and with the help of $30 million in funding, launched its first full-scale device that will gather the plastic using ocean currents. They have since tugged it back in for refinement, but we’re sure they’ll figure it out.
Another ingenious invention by two Australian surfers is a bucket system, called the Seabin Project, that sucks up oil and trash and pumps out the filtered water. The system has already been placed in marinas throughout the world including San Diego.
Also, nerdy scientists are also working on some other solutions:
- Plastics which can continually be recycled
- Enzymes that break down plastic. Personal concern: We don’t have a great history of introducing a non-native species to control other invasive species. Example: a slew of examples.
So what can we do? How to take action:
These solutions are all great, but if a pipe burst in your kitchen, you’d turn off the water before attempting clean up (right?). Now apply this same logical thought process to the plastic epidemic. Yes, there are great initiatives and we need to clean up the garbage patch, but that’s a never-ending approach if we don’t fix the source. We can reduce our waste daily by not using single-use plastics, that is, plastics that don’t get recycled, and supporting organizations that are working to solve this problem. Breaking it down into the 4 famous R’s, reduce, reuse, recycle…Rihanna!
- Reduce:
It’s a critical first step in waste prevention. You can’t throw something out if you never had it… Reduction starts with a mindset so try simplifying your life as much as possible. Also, Stop buying crap, and companies will stop making crap lol.
2. Reuse:
Take our Waste Quiz to find out how you can replace your disposables.
Start with the essential reusables: water bottle, thermos, tote bag, utensils, and napkin. Then grow from there.
3. Recycle
It is extremely important to recycle since plastics are made out of petroleum. The manufacturing of plastics emits many toxins and harmful chemicals into the air, so ideally the more products that are made out of recycled plastic, the less we have to manufacture more of it. If you’re committed to the recycling process, the next step is to intentionally seek out products that are made from recycled materials, thereby promoting a circular economy. Completing the cycle by purchasing products that use recycled materials by brands like Seventh Generation help the whole process work. Seventh Generation was one of the first to use recycled plastic for their bottles from everything from cleaning spray, soap, paper towels, and trash bags.
4. Rihanna… Just kidding.
But seriously, supporting organizations that are working to clean up the ocean through different means like 5 Gyres and Plastic Bank will make a difference.
Also, just staying informed by reading, listening, and watching, and then talking about it helps spread awareness and encourages other people to start thinking about it. (Watch Albatross, a new documentary 8 years in the making, about plastics and midway.)
We can all use a little inspiration here and there:
Kathryn Kellog is a climate change activist who shows people how to lead low waste lives on Instagram. Her handle is @going.zero.waste where she posts aesthetically pleasing photos of her threaded baskets and interesting facts about climate legislation. Not only does she explain interesting facts and tidbits about the environment but she also shares healthy recipes for the whole family.
Celia Ristow, @litterless, is based in Madison, Wisconsin and her Instagram feed is all about reusing and reducing, especially in the kitchen environment. She has great stories on composting and friendly reminders about maintaining kitchen appliances. Ms. Ristow also utilizes a podcast where she invites friends and other environmental influencers to chat about low-impact products and provides news of the sustainable world.
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Deep Dive into the Waste Rabbit Hole:
Here are additional resources and information we have referenced.
What to Read:
- National Geographic Plastics or Planet campaign highlighting the issue of plastics
- We made plastic. We depend on it. Now we’re drowning in it (Stunning images)
- What happens to the plastic we throw out is an interactive journey of what happens to our waste
- 5 Gyres: A Great organization working to clean up the ocean through different means
- Project Drawdown: Materials Solutions
- NYT Article: Designing the end of plastic
What to Listen to:
- 99 Invisible Podcast — National Sword — Waste & China
- One of our favorite podcasts, Podship Earth, released by Everybody’s Plastic
- Ocean Cleanup Project: JRE Podcast
- TedTalk: Circular economy and the Plastic Bank
What to Watch:
- Story of stuff
- How to dry your hands and reduce using drying towels — video / in intro/teaser email
- Great Pacific Garbage Patch: VICEs Garbage Island, BBC article, Plastic Paradise movie
- Albatross, a new documentary 8 years in the making about plastics and midway
- Plastic Bank Ted Talk: David Katz- The Surprising Solution to Ocean Plastic
