...The biggest landfill on the earth: Great Pacific Garbage Patch Can you imagine the amount of trash approximately fourteen times bigger than whole Slovakia? No? Then it is about time to make you familiar with Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This large floating landfill is the biggest one in the world. According to Charles Moore, discoverer of Great Pacific Garbage Patch (in 1977), "The ocean is downhill from everything" (as cited in Blomberg, 2011). Considering the fact that high percentage of all trash is produced on the land, it is very surprising then the biggest junk yard is actually in the water and not on the land. Even though, recently many people and companies started to care more about amount of trash in oceans, there is a lack of information about Great Pacific Garbage Patch and related issues among large number of population. First of all, Great Pacific Garbage Patch consists of two parts, Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch as mentioned in article written by Jacob Silverman (n.d.). Some sources refer to Eastern one as Great Pacific Garbage Patch and do not talk about the other one (Boudreau et al., n.d.), even though they do not deny the existence of Western Pacific Garbage Patch it can cause some misunderstanding with names. In this essay, there will be used distinction of Eastern and Western Pacific Garbage Patch as well as collective name Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Eastern one is situated between Hawaii and California, the Western...
Words: 3057 - Pages: 13
...The Great Pacific Garbage Patch This article is about the trash that ends up in the oceans and builds up into a giant garbage patch. When people throw their garbage on the ground it ends up in a small body of water and eventually travels into the ocean and gets stuck in this unbelievably large collection of trash. I think it is terrible when people litter because that litter ends up in the oceans and can hurt many animals. This problem is very serious and needs to be looked at as a bigger problem. Even though there are a lot of other problems going on in the world today, this is a big one that is affecting harmless animals all over. Plastic bags are mistaken for jellyfish, bottle caps are also, and are fed to baby birds. This is proven when birds die and left inside the body are tons of bottle caps and broken down plastic. I think this problem can be solved or at least made a little better. One possible solution is to ban plastic bags so people use the reusable ones. They could also make recycling a law. I am not sure how much can be done of what is already in the garbage patch, but we can try to keep it from getting worse. Because the water flows so far, there could always be places set up to pick up garbage that was missed earlier. This garbage patch is out of control and is only going to get worse, unless we decide to do something about it. It hurts animals, our water and will eventually hurt...
Words: 273 - Pages: 2
...Article One: The world largest Dump: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Who is the author, or authors? The author is Thomas M. Kostigen Who is the intended audience? The Intended audience in this article is the society. Is the information relevant to the subject of the case study? I think this article is relevant to this subject (pacific gyre) because of the detailed research found by the author, which supports the effects of pacific gyre. How credible is this source? I think this source is creditable because of the supporting evidence given by the Marine research Foundation is current information provided to society. What evidence does the author use? The evidence that this author uses is of the research studies given by the Marine Research foundation according to Eriksen, Algalita’s director of research and education, has studied that connection between the increasing amount of plastic found in the ocean and the increasing amount of plastic produced: In 1999 there was 0.002 gram of plastic per square meter of ocean in the Eastern Garbage Patch, and as of 2005 there was 0.004 gram per square meter in the same place. In that same period plastic production in North America alone experienced double-digit growth, topping 113 billion pounds in 2006, according to the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council in Arlington, Virginia. The Eastern Garbage Patch isn’t just a problem for those living in the middle of the ocean; it’s a problem for those of us who are...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...War on Plastic Bags The battle between individuals who are committed to saving environment and those who seem not to be as interested has become a bigger battle. Our environment is changing whether we see it or not, the ecological footprint that humans are leaving is becoming greater. More impactful to the wildlife causing noticeable changes that is harming rather than helping. These impacts revolve around trying to sustain a lifestyle that as Americans we have grown accustom to. Around the late 50’s the first “Baggies” for sandwiches were introduced. Slowly after that the use of plastic as bags began to increase and increase. Consumers took a liking to the use of plastic bags and the production and use of them increased. This increase of usage of plastic bags has already created irreversible damage to our environment therefore plastic bags should be banned on a national level. Although there are some positives to using plastic bags, the negatives of using the bags out way the positives. Landfills are becoming filled with plastic bags waste, according to the Clean Air Council, “30,000 tons of waste is created from plastic bags each year”. Not only does plastic bags accumulate trash in landfills, they are seen more and more in the ocean and other water sources. “Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile”. All this plastic is affecting the ecosystems of the wildlife and the basic natural...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
... acting like a “highway”. Eventually, the debris becomes bounded and is trapped by ocean gyres, circular ocean currents. The most famous “trash island” is The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the Pacific Ocean. The size and mass of the island is indeterminable, for the size of North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is too large to be accurately measured. It is estimated that around 80% of the debris that makes up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from land-based pollution, most...
Words: 734 - Pages: 3
...If you don't already know, Trash Islands are just big or small islands of trash on the water. Trash Island sizes vary, for example, (Ocean Cleanup. “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” The Ocean Cleanup, Greenhouse, 2018, ) says there is a Trash Island in the Pacific Ocean that is three times the size of France. They are usually very large and they stay together because all of the garbage goes to the ocean's current and it gets clumped up, this is why all of the Trash Islands are very large. Trash Islands pollute the water just like water bottles pollute that water. On water bottles you can see an expiration date, that is not because the water itself gets bad it is because the water bottle becomes old and the chemicals and oil comes out of...
Words: 326 - Pages: 2
...increasing disposable world. Everything from food to electronics ends up in a landfill somewhere. We are always looking for newer and better products to replace what we already have. The consequences of this behavior are resulting in more and larger landfills, toxic water and a myriad of other problems. With our growing population and excessive consumption, the items we use everyday are becoming disposable so the garbage problem continues to expand exponentially. It is a readily accepted fact that plastics has made our lives both easier and safer, but, at the same time, has also left a damaging imprint on our environment and even our health. The waste management industry has done a very clever job of keeping the inner workings of landfill disposal cloaked in secrecy. As a result we give less and less thought to what actually happens to all the trash we throw away every day. Our culture of convenience is so dominant we do not even see the consequences of our actions. Journalist and filmmaker Heather Rogers, in her essay “The Hidden Life of Garbage” takes us on a journey of garbage disposal that most of us never think about once we take the trash to the curb. She explains one particular method that should give us all pause for thought: In new state-of-the-art landfills, the cells that contain the trash are built on top of what is called a “liner.” The liner is a giant underground bladder intended to prevent contamination of groundwater by collecting leachate-liquid wastes and...
Words: 1498 - Pages: 6
...won. Upon beginning to watch Wall-E, I did not expect an animated film to have such great meaning and address many of the societal issues it does in the film. The main issues Wall-E touches on are consumerism, technology, and environmental problems. The movie brings light to these issues by placing the setting in 2805 and showing the audience what these issues could be like hundreds of years down the road. Many of the readings we have done in class give reason to believe the Earth and civilization could become what it is in the movie Wall-E. The first societal problem brought to light in the film is environmental related issues. The first thing we see in the film are a bunch of stacks of garbage piles, sometimes bigger than skyscrapers. This undoubtedly ties into how we go about disposing of our garbage and sewage today. According to the article read in class called “Why Consumption Matters”, the average American in 1990 would throw out four to five pounds of garbage a day, while being responsible for 124 pounds of behind the scenes consumption. This behind the scenes consumption includes construction materials, fossil fuels, industrial materials, forest, and metals amongst others. We must also keep in mind that this is a 1990 figure, and that Americans consume significantly more in 2014. It is statistics like these that make it almost inevitable that we end up with skyscrapers of garbage like in Wall-E. Additionally, Hardin brings up a point worth noting in “The Tragedy of...
Words: 1265 - Pages: 6
...The Great Pacific Garbage Patch College Writing August 10, 2009 Using our oceans as garbage dumps has had negative effects on both sea life and the environment. Imagine walking by the beach in Carlsbad, California and dropping the cap from your soda bottle; as you reach to pick it up, a wave comes and sweeps it from your grasp. Three years later that cap is part of a floating island of debris in the North Pacific Ocean, that some estimate to be twice the size of Texas. Humans are having a devastating impact on the earth’s oceans. Billions of tons of recyclables have found their way to the middle of the ocean. Many studies regarding the impact of plastics on the environment have been done, yet little has been done to understand what devastating effects this will have on our environment in the future. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of the largest trash vortexes known to researchers. It is interesting to know that, currently, more than 60 billion tons of plastic are produced each year, and less than 5% of that is ever recycled. (Walsh) Plastic bags, bottles, toys, sun glasses and even shoes can be found floating in this giant mass of garbage. It is located in the remote waters between California and Hawaii, does not have distinct boundaries and varies in length and location throughout the year. This area moves seasonally between 23° and 37° N latitude. (NOS) Ocean currents grab the garbage and take it out to sea. It accumulates in different places where...
Words: 1094 - Pages: 5
...Plastic Paradise Response I have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch once or twice but I don’t think I full realized how bad the problem was until I saw Plastic Paradise. When I heard of the “garbage island” I honestly thought it was an island of garbage you can go out onto and potentially stand on. The fact that you can’t really see the island because it’s all spread out and a few inches below the surface was an astonishing fact! The way the oceans current moves that so no matter where the trash starts out in eventually it’ll arrive together in the island section by Midway is also very interesting. It would be pretty cool if the could study the way the currents moved so that way they can have ships in certain sections of the ocean that just pick up the trash there so it doesn’t keep traveling around the Pacific risking lives then finally coming together near Midway. I heard in high school science classes about how the plastic epidemic was affecting animals in the ocean as well as birds but the trash and plastic on Midway is threatening about 2 million albatross. When they toured the island they saw dead/dying birds from plastic that got caught up in their throats or stomachs which eventually killed them, but the man cut open the bird and they found pen lid and fishing line, pretty much they found a bunch of items that do not belong in the ocean and should have never got to those birds. Along with the birds the Captain of one of the boats said he caught a small fish...
Words: 676 - Pages: 3
...What have we done to our planet? Negative press, research, and reports from around the world raised issues regarding our problematic oceans. Misguided and crucial errors humans make harm oceans using unsustainable practices which eventually eliminate many species of sea creatures and destroy the water they inhabit and we need for our survival as well. Countries around the world have been heavily positively praised while some have been lauded negatively, for instance, the United States. A crying shame how most countries on Earth seem in continuing spiraling towards ecological harm in an abundance of forms, regarding ocean garbage, coral reefs and oil spills over a twenty-five year period have caused our oceans’ ecology suffering to escalate. Incidents regarding a floating garbage patch in the Pacific, even cruise ships repeating sewage and garbage dumping are atrocious. The problem is, most people do not pay attention and take situations such as these as non-existent. Evidence documented over decades suggest our oceans’ trouble will continue unless change happens sooner rather than later. Change in how we respond to problems should not take years for resolution, because some of the damage may be minute and builds up over time, while some comes in big bunches that there is not time to waste in resolving. In some of these cases, years elapsed before any significant progress had been made, resulting in more damage than first observed. The problems have similarities and differences...
Words: 4802 - Pages: 20
...Man versus Nature: Technology Versus Environment: Money Versus Wild Life Bristol Bay Although the fishing industry has long been associated with the contribution of marine pollution little work has been done on the effects on the industry itself of marine debris and other pollution. The fishing industry is responsible for discarded nets, hooks, fishing poles, and many times sunken boats, among other gear. In many circumstances this is not the intended plan when going fishing to catch their paychecks. In fact the fishing industry pays a high price for these losses from the time they have to replace their nets to the pulling of old nets and trash out of their new nets on a regular basis. When questioned about the effects of marine debris on their fishing activities, Shetland fishermen responded that 92% had recurring problems with accumulated debris in nets, 69% had had their catch contaminated by debris and 92% had snagged their nets on debris on the seabed. Many also experienced fouled propellers and blocked intake pipes. On average, 1-2 hours per week were spent clearing debris from nets. Debris could cause a restricted catch and many boats avoided particular fishing areas altogether due to the high concentrations of debris. It has gotten to the point for many fishers that they can no longer fish certain areas known to be well stocked with money fish due to the time consuming issues with trash and fishing debris in those specific waters due to left behind gear. Ultimately...
Words: 3821 - Pages: 16
...The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest garbage swill. The swill holds roughly 3.5 million tons of garbage resulting in a soupy mixture about the size of the state of Texas. However the exact size varies from source to source some even claiming that it is twice the size of France. It is currently floating halfway between Hawaii and San Francisco, California. Charles Moore, a retired furniture restorer and volunteer environmentalist was returning home from a Hawaiian sailing race in 1997 on a 50 foot catamaran. On a whim he decided to cut across the edge of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a place that sea goers avoid. Here sea currents bring debris from the Pacific coast of Southeast Asia, North America, Canada, and Mexico. Currently 90 percent of this debris is plastic, an astounding difference from 50 years ago when almost all of it was biodegradable. Currently sea life is severely affected by this floating disaster. They are starving and dehydrated which has lead to them dying. Some animal die what they ingest plastic thinking it was food or get it caught around their neck. Plastic chips are coating the beaches; some so bad that you have to dig down to actually find sand. I am stunned to be honest. After thinking it through I really shouldn’t but somehow the degree to which we harm our environment and ourselves surprises me each time. We need public awareness. People where scrambling around when they thought Y2K was going to happen but when it is ‘just the environment’...
Words: 325 - Pages: 2
...Save Our Beaches! The Study Behind Coastal Pollution Plastic Pollution is a significant contributor to the non-point source pollution found in the Monterey Bay and around the world. While terms such as Marine Debris and Ocean Trash have been used to describe the garbage that enters the ocean, a growing number of scientists, researchers and marine-based organizations have adopted the term Plastic Pollution not only because 90% of floating ocean trash is plastic, but because the term pollution highlights that we are dealing with a pervasive substance that contaminates water, the cells of organisms, and knows no boundaries. (Plastic Pollution, n.d.) 80% of plastic pollution that enters the ocean originates from land. Common sources include: recreational beach users, people who drop litter on sidewalks and streets, plastics manufacturers and transporters, illegal dumping, and areas with inadequate trash receptacles. All land-based plastic pollution has the potential to become ocean pollution. Plastics easily blow into the ocean or washed down storm drains that flow directly to the Bay, and oceans around the world. (Marine Problems: Pollution, n.d.) Marine animals often mistake plastic pieces for food. For example, bird species such as pelicans or albatross will mistake pieces of plastic for small fish. Once the animal ingests the plastic, their body cannot digest it. The plastic item will remain in the animals’ stomach causing the animal to feel full. Thus the animal will eventually...
Words: 1099 - Pages: 5
...The Plastic Game: ideas • Goal: decrease the consumption of plastic bottles • Principle of the game: Each bottle, when produced, would be given a token, which would follow the way the bottle make from the production to the consumption, ending in the waste disposal. Once bought by a consumer, a system would automatically register this number in a database, as well as the name of the consumer. Once a year, the Plastic Game would take place (one per country). It would globally happen like this. Among all plastic bottles buyers, 20 people would be chosen randomly. The chance to get chosen would depend on the number of plastic bottles bought during the year: the more a person has bought some, the more chance he/she would get to be chosen. These 20 people would have to defend themselves from the others in order to not loose. The last one remaining would be the loser, and would consequently have to pay a huge tax to compensate the pollution created by the production of plastic bottles. This money would be invested in research to decease pollution and waste. During the game, the candidates would face several tasks, one by stage. Each time, candidates would denote from the others in good terms, which would allow them to leave the game. The trial would be different at each step. Ideas of tasks: - Think about why they have bought plastic bottles and what other things they could have bought instead. Propose a global solution about how people could reduce their plastic waste....
Words: 726 - Pages: 3
