The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Environmental impact. A phrase that even 15 years ago would be responded to with raised eyebrows and a questionable look. Nowadays however, everyone is becoming increasingly aware of the impact they are having on the world. Natural resources are being used up, waste is piling up and the air gets increasingly less clean.

What's the issue you may ask? Well, what does the future hold for our quality of living. Living for today for too long has caused major environmental damage which may never be fully recovered from. I realise this paints a bleak picture and has a 'doom' feel to it, but the following may just surprise you...



The Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

This is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean caused by irresponsible disposal of rubbish. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a massive mass of whole products floating about, but large areas of tiny microplastics. Much of the garbage in the sea is not biodegradable and the materials break down causing tiny pellets of plastic to float in the sea. These pellets are often eaten by fish which are then eaten by humans, causing the cycle to be completed back to us. No country wants to take responsibility for the issue since it is so far from any coastline, but some international groups are trying to prevent it from growing.

Scientists have collected up to 750,000 bits of plastic in a single square kilometre (or 1.9 million bits per square mile) of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

It isn't just fish either: many birds, turtles and sea lions are affected too (to name but a few...)

The problem is that everywhere we look nowadays we see plastic: laptops, lights, bins, cars, trainers. Take a look for yourself - you can't avoid the stuff. Plastics are great for so many different applications due to it's diverse properties and ease of mass manufacturing. However, how to responsibly dispose of it once the product life is over is still not a fully answered question. Recycling is of course a good thing, but with only a minority of plastics able to be recycled, much is still just thrown out. Many councils and states provide recycling services, but they are far from comprehensive: only allowing certain plastics to be recycled.

So the solution:

Well, I wish it was that simple. With the developed world showing little signs of reduction in waste and the rest of the world ever increasing theirs in a strive for development, it is a complex issue to say the least. Recycling, reusing and reducing are certainly good measures, but drastic changes have to be made to preserve our oceans, wildlife and natural world. I feel this has to come from the top down, but even small changes in the daily life of the average person will help. 

I certainly can't give any answers, I wish I could. Challenges I can do: can you watch what you purchase, ask yourself if you really need what it is you are buying and is there a more responsible alternative? Can you reduce the rubbish you throw out and use recycling where possible? Can you encourage others to do likewise?

At the end of the day, it is our future we are looking out for...