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Science Did you know that 80% of ocean trash is plastics?
Science Did you know that 80% of ocean trash is plastics? | Did you know that 80% of ocean trash is plastics? |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Thursday, 18 June 2009 | |
  
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Science DiscussionsA comprehensive survey conducted by the United Nation’s Environment Programme stated that marine litter is harming the oceans in a big way. The report called "Marine Litter: A Global Challenge” is found on the June 8, 2009 UN Environment Programme website “Report Brings to the Surface the Growing Global Problem of Marine Litter.” Within the press release, Achim Stiner, who is the UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, stated: "Marine litter is symptomatic of a wider malaise: namely the wasteful use and persistent poor management of natural resources. The plastic bags, bottles and other debris piling up in the oceans and seas could be dramatically reduced by improved waste reduction, waste management and recycling initiatives." He added, "Some of the litter, like thin film single use plastic bags which choke marine life, should be banned or phased-out rapidly everywhere-there is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere. Other waste can be cut by boosting public awareness, and proposing an array of economic incentives and smart market mechanisms that tip the balance in favor of recycling, reducing or re-use rather than dumping into the sea.” The researchers studying this problem for the UN state that some trash piles in the ocean are “roughly the size of Texas” and the waters in these areas are “thick like a plastic soup.” [CNN: “Ocean trash problem 'far from being solved,' U.N. says”] Some of the solutions reported by the UN and publicized by CNN are: • Countries and regions should adopt long-term plans to prevent litter from ending up in the oceans. • Countries should monitor marine litter using international standards and methodologies. • Ports should encourage fishing boats not to discard nets at sea. • Efforts to reduce marine litter should get more funding. Do you use plastic bags and plastic drinking containers? Some of them are probably floating in the ocean right now. Could you use recyclable cloth bags instead, or paper bags that would be returned to the stores each time you shop? Isn't it very wasteful to throw away empty bottles of water each and every day? Couldn't you use a reusable container to drink water (especially when numerous scientific reports show that regular tap water is just as healthy for you as bottled water)? Please ask yourself these questions! |
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