How Does Plastic Trash Get to the Ocean?

It turns out, distance from the ocean doesn’t matter. You can still be contributing to the plastic that arrives there each day.

In small ways (literally microscopic) and large ways, we all lend an inadvertent hand to the climbing levels of plastic and trash in the ocean.

But how?

Three key factors contribute to our land-sourced trash finding its way to the sea:

1. Littering – Even if you think you’ve thrown something away
2. Recycling woes – Despite its limitations, every attempt helps
3. Weather and waterways – Both natural and man-made deliver trash and plastic to the ocean

Let’s explore these further.

1. Littering

Okay, you’re not the type who consciously tosses trash over the shoulder with a shrug. But ask yourself, Have I ever...

• Precariously placed my trash on or “in” an overflowing trash can?
• Stuffed my own trash barrels beyond capacity?
• Left trash on the floor of my car?
• Used any personal products with “microbeads” in it?
• Sent anything to a landfill?

Certainly you answered Yes at least once.

That doesn’t make you a litterer, but it puts you at risk for having contributed to plastic in the ocean.

It’s okay. Almost everyone is in the same boat.

Corporate & National Fault
Industrial waste and illegal dumping makes up some of that 80%. Lax industrial standards and outdated waste management procedures are partially to blame.

There are no worldwide laws that govern fishing gear abandonment, for example. What are known as “ghost nets” are the largest source of industrial plastic that comprises ocean waste.

The G7, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, signed the Ocean Plastic Charter in June 2017. The agreement strives to eradicate plastic pollution, but it frustratingly omits any mention of plastic fishing equipment.

It also does not include the US or Japan, two of the more prominent fishing countries, as signatories.

Our Fault
It takes little effort to be careful, not careless with our trash. Placing any trash in an over-filled receptacle, perhaps on or near the beach is risky.

A gust of wind, and that food wrapper becomes fish food. Well, not really. Take care to fully deposit your trash within a trash can.

Trash that successfully makes it way into a can does not mean it won’t enter the ocean. Many cans are tossed, bottom-over-top, into the trash trucks that come weekly.

In this process, a few pieces of trash from each barrel spill out onto the streets. Other pieces are blown out of the truck entirely, en route to the dump or in the process of depositing there.

Each loose piece of trash follows the path of least resistance. And gravity. The ocean is always downstream, no matter where you live.

2. Recycling Woes

Many publications report that only 9% of plastic is recycled. From single-use unrecyclable plastic, like styrofoam, to not recycling at all, we have a horrible habit on our hands.

We create and consume more plastic than we repurpose.

Recycling difficulties extend in many other ways. Much of the plastic we recycle is not clean. We toss a greasy plastic bag, a dirty to-go container, or a jar with food remnants at the bottom.

Recycling facilities are not dishwashers, so where does this plastic go? That’s right, the landfill.

Even when clean plastic does arrive at the facility, problems can arise when plastic gets entangled in the sorting and processing equipment.

Furthermore, each number within the little triangle on a plastic container represents a different plastic type, which must be separated.

Each of these spells another inefficiency in the overall process of recycling. Any plastic not recycled represents a risk to our natural environments.

3. Weather & Waterways

Nearly 80% of all ocean plastics come from land sources. Within that, about 90% are delivered to the ocean via natural and man-made waterways.

Natural
Some estimate that rivers carry 1.2-2.5MM tons of plastic to the ocean each year. Rains only accelerate this process, sweeping litter into streams and rivers, which naturally empty into the sea.

Wind also carries litter into waterways, which have a “sticking” power, grabbing water and holding onto it firmly.

Man-Made
We are familiar with the “No Dumping” stencils near the drains along our streets. These man-made drains do just that: empty into the ocean.

Whatever loose trash that finds its way to the street and into these drains is not filtered before it reaches the sea. It’s delivered, as is.

The ocean is always downstream, no matter where you live.

 

Sink and shower drains are another serious culprit. We might trust that anything that goes down the drain is safely processed at a local water treatment facility. It is, but that doesn’t make it ocean safe.

From wet wipes, to q-tip sticks, to microbeads in cosmetics and soaps, we introduce plastics to our own water.

Plastic microfibers from our clothing enter the wastewater in our washing machines. These are too small to be filtered by waste management facilities and run the risk of entering water that flows into the ocean.

What We Can Do

An estimated 12MM tons of plastic trash enter our ocean each year. Most of the plastic is single-use consumer packaged goods, including food and beverage packaging.

This could rise 45% to 17.5MM tons over the next five years if things don’t change.

We can start by “reshuffling” the 3Rs...and adding two more! The proper order should be:

1. R - ?
2. Reduce
3. Reuse
4. R - ?
5. Recycle

Check out the full 5 Rs + two honorable mentions.

These nine personal changes are practical, actionable solutions. 

• Eliminate single-use plastics.
• Over time, replace your Tupperware and GladWare.
• Check labels for microbeads.
• Look for clothing made of hemp or bamboo.
• Buy nonperishable food in bulk.
• Avoid aluminum foil.
• Keep half a dozen canvas or material tote bags in your car.
• Always recycle your paper, plastic, and glass.

For more on each of these, check out our next post, 9 Everyday Ways To Help Reduce Ocean Plastic. We expand on each of these and share brands to consider during your next in-store or online purchase.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 

Our hope is to inspire people to perform their own small-scale beach cleanups whenever they visit our beautiful oceans. Every bit helps, so we hope you join the community and share your stories.

Thanks, and we’ll see you on the next wave!

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