{"id":6231,"date":"2018-05-24T16:27:15","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T11:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cawater-info.net\/all_about_water\/en\/?p=6231"},"modified":"2018-05-25T16:44:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-25T11:44:55","slug":"10-things-youre-not-doing-but-should-to-help-the-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.cawater-info.net\/all_about_water\/en\/?p=6231","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You\u2019re Not Doing (But Should) To Help The Ocean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plastics are flooding into the oceans. But you can help.<\/em><\/p>\n

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This story is part of a series on ocean plastics.<\/p>\n

Plastics are overwhelming our oceans and landfills. Every year, an estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic garbage end up in the sea. In the U.S. alone, approximately 56 billion pounds of plastic are dumped annually in landfills.<\/p>\n

Worryingly, it remains unknown exactly how all these plastics \u2015 which don\u2019t biodegrade and could linger in the environment for centuries \u2015 could impact human health and the world around us.\u00a0But here\u2019s a heartening truth: We can all do something to mitigate this growing plastics crisis. Yes,\u00a0all.\u00a0From entrepreneurs and corporations who need to rethink the way plastic products are designed and manufactured; to lawmakers who can push for the protection of fragile environments from plastic pollution; to individuals (that means you) whose seemingly small daily actions can add up to something huge,\u00a0we all have a role to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing I\u2019ve learned in doing my research is that population density is a huge driver of ocean pollution, so especially in places with high population densities, our individual choices really do matter,\u201d said Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer and plastics expert. \u201cThings that may seem mundane, like using a reusable bottle or a reusable bag \u2014 when taken collectively, these choices really do make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you can do right now to reduce your personal plastic footprint:<\/p>\n

1\u00a0Reduce use of all plastic products, but especially single-use ones<\/h2>\n
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Environmental unfriendly non-biodegradable PVC containers, straws and unfinished food in rubbish bin<\/p><\/div>\n

Plastics are an invaluable material, used to make everything from medical equipment to parts of buildings, and nixing them completely from your daily life would be near-impossible. \u201cPlastic has done incredible things for us as a society and it has an appropriate place,\u201d said Nick Mallos of the Ocean Conservancy.<\/p>\n

What we need to remember is to\u00a0use less plastic\u00a0(and really, reduce consumption generally) \u2015 that includes recyclable plastics and compostable or biodegradable ones, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone might buy a new iPhone and say, well, since I recycled my old phone with Apple, I\u2019m all good. But Apple doesn\u2019t tell you just how little of that iPhone actually gets recycled,\u201d said Adam Minter, author of\u00a0Junkyard Planet: Travels in The Billion-Dollar Trash Trade. \u201cPeople need to stop thinking of recycling as a \u2018get out of jail free\u2019 card. You haven\u2019t actually done anything\u00a0good\u00a0for the environment. You\u2019ve just done something less bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we really want to deal with the waste problem we\u2019re facing, we need to think deeper about the nature of consumption itself,\u201d Minter\u00a0added.<\/p>\n

Using fewer\u00a0single-use plastic products, like plastic bags, bottles, containers, straws and cutlery, is especially key.\u00a0Single-use plastic items are\u00a0the \u201cbiggest source of trash\u201d found in or near water bodies worldwide, according to Mallos.<\/p>\n

Start bringing your own reusable bag to the supermarket and a reusable bottle for your water; refuse a straw when you order a beverage, and leave a set of reusable cutlery at your desk at work.<\/p>\n

2\u00a0Don\u2019t litter<\/h2>\n

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This might seem straightforward, but preventing litter is a critical step\u00a0to ensuring that our plastic waste gets properly disposed of and doesn\u2019t end up in our seas or other environments.<\/p>\n

According to Jambeck,\u00a0mismanaged waste like litter\u00a0is the No. 1\u00a0cause of plastic garbage in the world\u2019s oceans.\u00a0A plastic bag that gets\u00a0caught in a breeze could end up in a storm drain; that empty plastic bottle left on a beach could get carried out by the\u00a0tide.<\/p>\n

Ocean Conservancy recommends always \u201ctaking five\u201d whenever you leave a space to ensure that you\u2019ve collected all your trash and disposed of it properly.<\/p>\n

Plastic bags are especially prone to becoming litter, as they are easily carried away in the wind. If you must throw away a plastic bag, be sure it\u2019s balled up or weighed down so it can\u2019t easily float away.<\/p>\n

3\u00a0Recycle when you can, and do it right<\/h2>\n

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Recycling plastics, it turns out, is much more complicated than you might think \u2014 it\u2019s so complex, in fact, that a significant amount of discarded plastics (even the ones you\u00a0put into the recycling bin) don\u2019t end up being recycled. In general,\u00a0less than 7 percent\u00a0of all the plastic that Americans throw away each year are\u00a0recycled, and about 8 percent are\u00a0combusted in waste-to-energy facilities. The rest end up in landfills.<\/p>\n

The reasons for these low numbers are\u00a0manifold, said Darby Hoover, a waste management specialist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. But generally, it boils down to two major problems: First,\u00a0there are many different kinds of plastics, and not all of them are easily recycled. Second, consumers often aren\u2019t aware of these differences and therefore don\u2019t dispose of plastics in the best way.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that\u00a0little triangle\u00a0on plastic products? The little triangle is not an indicator that something is recyclable. Instead, it\u2019s merely a designation \u2014 numbered 1 to 7 \u2014 of\u00a0what kind of plastic it is, what polymer that plastic is,\u201d explained\u00a0Hoover. A number 1, for instance, indicates that the item is made of pdolyethylene terephthalate (or PET, for short), a material typically used to make bottles and microwaveable food containers.<\/p>\n

Recyclers use these numbers to determine which items can be recycled at their facility and which can\u2019t. Different kinds of plastics typically can\u2019t be recycled together, and many facilities won\u2019t accept certain types of plastic at all, like styrofoam, vinyl and plastic film products like plastic bags and cling-wrap (these products have been known to\u00a0gum up recycling equipment).<\/p>\n

To add to the confusion, municipalities across the U.S. have differing rules when it comes to recycling plastics. Some might accept type 7 plastics, for instance, but others will not.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter where you live, you have to check the local municipality for their rules,\u201d said Hoover, who recommended reviewing\u00a0your local city or town website for more information. You also have to continue checking in, she added, as these rules often change without much warning.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0Choose non-synthetic fabrics when possible<\/h2>\n

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Studies have found that microplastics \u2014 plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters long \u2014 can get washed out of synthetic clothing, like those made of polyester or acrylic.<\/p>\n

A single cycle of a washing machine could release more than\u00a0700,000 microplastic fibers\u00a0into the environment, concluded one 2016 paper.<\/p>\n

Natural fabrics to consider instead include organic cotton, wool, flax and hemp.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0Say no to microbeads<\/h2>\n

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Plastic microbeads are sometimes added as an exfoliating agent to personal care and beauty products like face scrubs, soaps and toothpaste. These tiny plastic pieces can pass unfiltered through sewage treatment systems and end up in local waterways, and eventually the sea.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the potential risk that microbeads pose to marine environments and possibly human health, several countries, including\u00a0the U.S.\u00a0and\u00a0the U.K., have introduced bans of the substance.<\/p>\n

Many of these bans have yet to be enforced, however, and some are limited in scope, so remain vigilant when purchasing products that could have microbeads in them. Look out for terms like \u201cexfoliator,\u201d \u201cscrub,\u201d \u201cbuff\u201d and \u201cpolish.\u201d<\/p>\n

6\u00a0Participate in clean-up efforts<\/h2>\n
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Group of people collecting trash on beach<\/p><\/div>\n

Every year, Ocean Conservancy organizes the International Coastal Cleanup, a global event that asks volunteers to collect plastic and other garbage from coastal areas and waterways. Last year, more than 700,000 people in more than a 100 countries participated in the event, collecting more than\u00a018 million pounds of trash\u00a0in a single day.<\/p>\n

In 2017, the cleanup event is planned for\u00a0Sept. 16\u00a0\u2015 but you don\u2019t have to wait till then to do something. Ocean Conservancy has a\u00a0DIY toolkit\u00a0to help you organize clean-ups in your own community.<\/p>\n

7\u00a0Support plastic bag bans<\/h2>\n

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Using a plastic bag for groceries may seem convenient, but the ubiquitous sack is one of America\u2019s greatest waste challenges. An average American family of four uses\u00a0more than 1,500 plastic bags\u00a0every year, according to the NRDC. Each bag is typically only used for about 12 minutes; yet since plastic bags are very rarely recycled, most of them end up in landfills, where they can languish for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n

If everyone used fewer plastic bag, that\u2019d be a big help.\u00a0But according to Jennie Romer, a New York City lawyer and founder of the website Plastic Bag Laws, another way to make a big impact is to support single-use bag laws\u00a0\u2014 specifically measures\u00a0that support the reduction of all kinds of single-use bags, including plastic\u00a0and paper.<\/p>\n

Preliminary evidence suggests that single-use bag laws\u00a0can be\u00a0very effective\u00a0in\u00a0reducing waste. Across the U.S., there are already many of them in place. Last year, California became the first state to ban single-use plastic bags at all retail outlets, and in 2010, Washington, D.C., implemented a 5-cent fee for all single-use bags, both plastic and paper. Cities and towns in Texas, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Colorado, among other states, have also embraced some form of single-use bag legislation.<\/p>\n

For most of the nation, however, plastic and other single-use bags remain widely available.<\/p>\n

8\u00a0Support companies that have out-of-the-box approaches to reducing, reusing and recycling plastics<\/h2>\n

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Use your dollar to support companies and entrepreneurs that are doing their part to reduce plastic waste in their business.<\/p>\n

They might be rethinking product design, like\u00a0this deodorant brand\u00a0with its reusable, refillable containers; or incorporating recycled materials into their goods,\u00a0like\u00a0activewear companies\u00a0that are turning\u00a0plastic bottles into clothing\u00a0or social enterprises like\u00a0Greensole\u00a0(pictured above) that recycles old shoes into new ones.<\/p>\n

There are also companies out there attempting to reduce waste across their entire value chain. Take Dell, which is recycling old computers into new ones as part of a new\u00a0recycling initiative. The company has also started\u00a0collecting plastic trash\u00a0from waterways and beaches\u00a0to turn it\u00a0into packaging material.<\/p>\n

Consider also supporting green groups like\u00a05Gyres,\u00a0Ocean Conservancy\u00a0and\u00a0The Ocean Cleanup, which are leading the fight to clean up the world\u2019s oceans.<\/p>\n

9\u00a0Engage your family and friends<\/h2>\n

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Waste is not an issue\u00a0people often talk about, but for change to occur, the conversations need to start.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a critical issue that\u2019s tied up in so many other environmental concerns,\u201d said Minter. \u201cYet people seem to have an aversion to it. They just don\u2019t take much of an interest. Where\u2019s the Paris\u00a0landfill\u00a0conference? You don\u2019t see environmental groups flying celebrities into anywhere to talk about waste.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dialogue can begin in your own home and among your own friends. Start engaging your loved ones and your\u00a0community on this important issue.<\/p>\n

10\u00a0Track your progress<\/h2>\n

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Start paying attention to the amount of plastic you use and throw away\u00a0on a daily basis. And as you start cutting back on your consumption, jot down a tally of all the plastics you\u00a0\u201csave.\u201d You\u2019ll likely be amazed.<\/p>\n

Ocean Conservancy also has a\u00a0Clean Swell App, which lets you track your beach cleanup efforts. It lets you share your progress on social media and submit data directly into a global ocean trash database.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0https:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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