The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

a.k.a. the Pacific Trash Vortex

Believe it or not, the world's largest landfill isn't on land at all - its in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a section of the ocean where currents bring trash to an area estimated to be twice the size of Texas. Charles Moore, a marine researcher, has estimated the mass of the patch at 100 million tons.

An estimated 80% of the garbage comes from land based sources......meaning you and me! Most of it is plastic. The plastic disintegrates into smaller and smaller and smaller pieces until the pieces are molecules. But get this: It's still plastic! Eventually, that plastic is ingested by aquatic organisms. Plastics have been found in the stomachs of marine birds and animals such as albatrosses, jellyfish, and more - research has shown that this debris affects at least 267 species across the world.

"Why do I care?" you ask, being human. Besides the fact that it's totally gross, more than a million birds and marine animals are killed each year who eat or get caught in the trash. Plus, these jellyfish and other animals are eaten by bigger fish, and then by us. So those toxic chemicals can make their way into your dinner!

How to keep the Patch from growing:

• Reduce the amount of disposable plastic you use. Try using a reusable container or water bottle instead of a Ziploc bag or plastic bottle. 
• When buying anything made from plastic check before buying to see if it's recyclable in your town. Most towns only recycle #1 and #2 plastics. Go here to find out what and where you can recycle in your town.
• Make sure what you are buying will last awhile, instead of immediately breaking. Try to buy things that will be used multiple times.
• Before buying something, ask yourself if you really need it. 

To learn more about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, visit:
http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jul/10-the-worlds-largest-dump
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/5208645/Drowning-in-plastic-The-Great-Pacific-Garbage-Patch-is-twice-the-size-of-France.html

And to learn how to reduce your plastic waste, visit:
http://takeoutwithout.com/
http://thenakeddish.com/blog/10-easy-ways-to-reduce-plastic-waste/
http://www.squidoo.com/reduceplastic

Good luck! :)

Care More, Car Less!

Exhaust fumes from cars account for about half of the world's CO2 emissions from transportation. Most transportation's fuel is oil. Burning oil produces carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming. Burning oil also gives off pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, and hyrdrocarbons. "Why should I care?" you ask, being human. Pollutants can get you sick! They cause health problems such as shortness of breath, chest pains, asthma attacks, increase allergy symptoms, eye irritation, and cause lung cancer. Instead of driving by yourself or with just one other person, why not try:

• Carpooling
• Biking or walking
• Taking the bus or other form of public transit

Even if you only make these changes about once a week, you still have an impact. Everything counts! 

 For More Information:
Check out this website about driving less, this website about air pollution, and this website about biking to work.
 

*The title of the post was used in the book "What's the Point of Being Green?" by Jacqui Bailey.