The Atlantic Garbage Patch

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In summer 2008, DISCOVER set sail for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, that Texas-sized soup of tiny plastic bits that might now be an intractable mess in the middle of the ocean. With appearances in newspapers, magazines, and even "Good Morning America," the Pacific patch became the newest target for environmental hand-wringing, and raised questions over whether it would even be possible to clean up. However, the ocean currents that cause the Pacific gyre don't just happen in the North Pacific. Scientists at the Sea Education Association just finished a two-decade-long study of the North Atlantic and found similarly sad results. The team dragged nets half-in and half-out of the water to take a trash census. The researchers carried out 6,100 tows in areas of the Caribbean and the North Atlantic — off the coast of the U.S. More than half of these expeditions revealed floating pieces of plastic on the water surface [BBC News]. Like the Pacific gyre, the Atlantic one—located mostly between 22 and 38 degrees north latitude—contains a dizzying number of small plastic pieces that used to be bags, bottles, and other consumer products. Lead researcher Kara Lavendar Law says it's difficult to compare the two, but researchers in both places collected more than 1,000 pieces during a single tow of a net [The New York Times].

This similarity is no surprise, according to ocean researchers Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins. Both gyres are areas of little to no ocean currents, surrounded by strong ocean currents that prevent trash from escaping once it arrives. Worldwide, there exist five major oceanic gyres and it is hypothesized by Eriksen and Cummins that all of these gyres will collect marine debris, much in the same way that the North Pacific does [Huffington Post]. You can see the locations in the above image. The North Atlantic gyre that SEA studied also contains the Sargasso Sea, so the plastic is mixed up with the seaweed that grows there.

Most depressingly, reports from the Pacific gyre indicate that fish are beginning to ingest the plastic as pieces get smaller and smaller. And Captain Charles Moore, who discovered the Pacific patch in the 1990s, says cleaning up so many pieces spread out so far would be an impossibly difficult and expensive task. Besides, if people don't stop throwing away plastic, it wouldn't do much good.

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[Peikko 1,575]

All because people are stupid enough to believe that the ocean is big enough that dumping stuff in it makes it disappear - somewhat like those people that think it's ok to simply drop litter wherever they stand.

[Ali G. 37]

One guess where all of the garbage ends up? On our dinner plate. As it breaks down, fish and birds consumer it and so on.

The one floating in the pacific is twice the size of Texas.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

All because people are stupid enough to believe that the ocean is big enough that dumping stuff in it makes it disappear - somewhat like those people that think it's ok to simply drop litter wherever they stand.

The food industry needs to move away from the use of conventional plastics. I remember reading about development of a corn starch based plastic that will break down.

[Ali G. 37]

All because people are stupid enough to believe that the ocean is big enough that dumping stuff in it makes it disappear - somewhat like those people that think it's ok to simply drop litter wherever they stand.

This seems to be a problem here in the US. Some people don't seem to grasp the concept of a trash bin; with your beloved ghetto areas being the worst offenders.

The food industry needs to move away from the use of conventional plastics. I remember reading about development of a corn starch based plastic that will break down.

You need to take a trip to Aus. I think you will be impressed with where they are at regarding things like this. Recycling there is mandatory of course..

[dakay ♥ 10]

Another disaster:

"The Great Pacific Garbage patch was originally discovered in 1997 by Captain Charles Moore. Roughtly the size of Texas, the patch is characterised by exceptionally high concentrations of suspended plastic, chemical sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre."

is very sad and unfortunate!

[Dan J 277]

How many people use reusable bags when they go out shopping?

When i go to Cub foods, which is a big supermarket chain here in Minnesota, we are often the only ones with reusable bags. At Trader Joe's people using reusable bags is much more common.

We need to get away from plastic, but i don't think people are going to do it themselves. Either a retailer needs only make reusable bags available like IKEA, or we need to make plastic bags cost enough to use, that people will be encouraged to change their behaviour.

[Calypso 465]

I can't call it luck but these areas in the West are a whole lot better. Western people have the technology (they can also allocate necessary budget if they wish) and their concern to improve or enhance environmental conditions and prevent any damage is sincere. They really understand the urgency and importance of doing something.

Since I was in grade school, textbooks have already been speaking about saving "Ilog Pasig" (Pasig River). Now that I have long finished college, Pasig River is still getting worse.

I have gone to most malls and department stores around the Philippines. I haven't seen any of them use the paper bags like what Whole Foods and Trader Joe's utilize (or maybe there are stores that do where I didn't get to visit yet). The same old plastic bag remains popular.

Pasig River below

Edited February 25, 2010 by Calypso

[that_girl 9]

Ummm. Wow. Speaking as a freshwater ecologist, that is thoroughly depressing...

I live in Miami, and often get looked at kind of sideways at the supermarket for bringing my own bags. I live in a house currently with people who don't recycle AT ALL. Drives me up a tree.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Regardless of whether paper or plastic bags are used, they won't end up in the ocean if people would have the common decency to put them in the proper receptacles.

[dakay ♥ 10]

Some people are lazy to recycle. 'The confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are especially troublesome, as different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated and re-used as raw material'

[that_girl 9]

Additionally, there's no guarantee that because you put your trash in the proper receptacle, it won't end up in the ocean....

[Ban Hammer 14,267]

Additionally, there's no guarantee that because you put your trash in the proper receptacle, it won't end up in the ocean....

after watching the way the garbage trucks around here empty the dumpters, i can see why we have so much ####### floating around in the ocean.

i opt for paper bags when i go food shopping. then use them for garbage bags.

[Ali G. 37]

All plastic products should be biodegradable and break down in the environment without polluting it or leaving chemicals for animals (we eat) to consume.

If we can't do that, then I am with Charles and it's time to switch back to paper; which is natural and renewable.

Stopping the destruction and pollution of our environment should not be a tree-hugging liberal thing, it should be common sense for all; since we too live in this same world. I know coming from Aus where we really take care of our country, it really pissed me of if I see someone throw trash out. If I wasn't a LPR, who could be deported, I'd shove the trash up their azz.

Edited February 25, 2010 by Booyah

[Darnell 8,479]

to the OP - come on - Atlantic ? Or Pacific? #######?

----

there'a a patch o plastic in the ocean?

COOL ! Time to dust off my design for 'ocean sweeper barge' that's been gathering dust for 30 years.

Now, to find a place to sell the reclaimed plastic, where's that 'recycled plastic plant', anyway?

You report a problem, I smell a biz opp.

(No, sorry, I'm serious, even that it's OT)

Edited February 25, 2010 by Darnell