The North Pacific Trash Gyre

So when the environment is your passion, you learn about a lot of human induced fucked up shit that happens to Earth. I mean it really surprises me how much abuse Earth continually takes from us humans. Hands down, one of the scariest things I've learned about is the North Pacific Trash Gyre.

A lot of the plastic we use every year ends up in the ocean. The plastic that doesn't sink gets carried by ocean currents. Once this garbage reaches the Pacific it usually ends up in the Pacific Gyre. Because we consume so god damn much, this trash continues to accumulate. The size of the Trash Gyre is estimated to be at least the size of Texas, and takes up about 10% of the Pacific Ocean. 90% of this trash is plastic.

The plastic is broken down into extremely small pieces by the sun, but plastic will never biodegrade and will always remain a polymer. Plastic polymers will become small enough to enter the food chain through ingestion of aquatic animals.

To make matters worse, this oil based plastic can easily absorb chemicals the surrounding water and trash. Insectisides, pesticides, fungicides, coolants, PCBS and lubricants will affect marine birds, aquatic animals and humans.

(Plastic polymers found in this marine bird).

The moral of this story, is so similar to many others. Rely on reusable things, consume less, and waste less.

Easy ways to cut back:

1) Stop using disposable plates, utensils, and cups.

2) Why use plastic shopping bags-- buy those "green" canvas bags for clothes and food shopping.

3) Buy things in bulk-- less individually plastic wrapped items.

4) Be conscience of the life you are living.