The summary below, and attached research paper, were contributed by Ryan McInerney, a senior at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Pictured with Charlie Eckberg, UCSB Alumni and environmental activist. UC Santa Barbara is one of the first members of PPC’s Plastic Free Campuses program.

How do we as a society deal with a major environmental disaster, which we created but cannot see?  Of course I’m talking about the Great Pacific garbage patch (consisting of plastic waste) that exists in the major ocean gyres, or currents, far away from our everyday lives.  The sources for the plastic pollution include grocery bags, bottle caps, and plastic utensils that take thousands of years to break down while they release tons of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.  This paper explores how the plastic patch came to be and how it not only poses health risks for us, but also the marine ecosystems that depend on a clean ocean devoid of human waste.  The problem is that our society has gotten a little too used to single use plastic items and trade for convenience at the expense of the environment.

Our work also details several solutions and methods to mitigate plastic waste and spark an environmental movement against these problems.  One important concept is raising the visibility of the problem such as displaying pictures of the devastating consequences of irresponsible plastic disposal.   Educating the public and making them realize that this is a global issue is a vital step in fixing problem as the ocean currents allow trash to travel all over the world.  Our work also hits on who are the most responsible for this plastic problem and the answer is that we all are, whether it be manufacturers, consumers, or the government.  So a coalition will need to be formed between all three as consumers could consume less, manufacturers could make an effort to reduce use in their products, and the government could regulate consumption through laws.

All-in-all, no matter where one stands on the issue, I think we can all agree that reduced plastic pollution would benefit the earth.  Simply trading the health of the environment for daily convenience is a mindset that needs to be changed.  But where does it start?  It starts with individual use and education about the problem.  If people are knowledgeable about the problem of plastic waste and it’s extent, they will be more inclined to help stop human induced problems.  So read this paper to find out more about the harmful consequences of irresponsible plastic waste and what could be done to fix it.  It is through groups like the Plastic Pollution Coalition that we can achieve our goals and lead to a cleaner, greener earth.

Download the paper:

Ryan McInerney and Evan Rosenberg, Marine Debris and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch