| <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { | | | | Don't use plastic sandwich bags, but if you do, |
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| Sometimes called the “Plastic Continent” | | | | It won't be easy to kick the plastic habit. But |
| and sometimes called the “Pacific Garbage | | | | we have to do it, or soon we will have no ocean |
| Patch”, it amounts to the same thing – an | | | | left. Sometimes called the “Plastic |
| island of floating garbage, most of which is plastic, | | | | Continent” and sometimes called the |
| in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. But there's a | | | | “Pacific Garbage Patch”, it amounts to the |
| reason that some environmentalists are referring | | | | same thing – an island of floating garbage, |
| to it as a “Continent” -- this island is twice | | | | most of which is plastic, in the middle of the |
| the size of Texas. How big does that make the | | | | Pacific Ocean. But there's a reason that some |
| garbage patch? More than half a million square | | | | environmentalists are referring to it as a |
| miles. | | | | “Continent” -- this island is twice the size |
| A few facts about the Plastic Continent: | | | | of Texas. How big does that make the garbage |
| The size of the Plastic Continent has doubled in | | | | patch? More than half a million square miles. A few |
| the past five years | | | | facts about the Plastic Continent: The size of the |
| Fish, birds, and other marine life are found to | | | | Plastic Continent has doubled in the past five |
| have plastic in their stomachs | | | | years Fish, birds, and other marine life are found |
| In the waters surrounding the Plastic Continent, | | | | to have plastic in their stomachs In the waters |
| plastic bits outnumber plankton six to one | | | | surrounding the Plastic Continent, plastic bits |
| What Can Be Done About the Plastic Continent? | | | | outnumber plankton six to one What Can Be |
| As Good Morning America put it when they | | | | Done About the Plastic Continent? As Good |
| reported on this topic, “there's no one silver | | | | Morning America put it when they reported on |
| bullet”. Recycling alone will not stop the Plastic | | | | this topic, “there's no one silver bullet”. |
| Continent's growth, because only 5% of plastics | | | | Recycling alone will not stop the Plastic Continent's |
| are recycled globally. Furthermore, plastic is not | | | | growth, because only 5% of plastics are recycled |
| easy to recycle because of its melting point, | | | | globally. Furthermore, plastic is not easy to recycle |
| which is much lower than other recyclables such | | | | because of its melting point, which is much lower |
| as aluminum and glass. The low melting point | | | | than other recyclables such as aluminum and glass. |
| interferes with the recycling process, leading much | | | | The low melting point interferes with the recycling |
| of the plastic tagged for recycling to be discarded. | | | | process, leading much of the plastic tagged for |
| And anyway, what happens to recycled plastics? | | | | recycling to be discarded. And anyway, what |
| What is it recycled into? Why, once again, it is | | | | happens to recycled plastics? What is it recycled |
| recycled into items such as drink bottles, straws, | | | | into? Why, once again, it is recycled into items |
| plastic cups, and so forth – items that will | | | | such as drink bottles, straws, plastic cups, and so |
| inevitably be thrown away at a rate of 95% to | | | | forth – items that will inevitably be thrown |
| every 5% recycled. | | | | away at a rate of 95% to every 5% recycled. A |
| A clean-up of the continent presents its own | | | | clean-up of the continent presents its own |
| problem: what to do with all the recovered plastic? | | | | problem: what to do with all the recovered plastic? |
| Some of it can be recycled; some of it cannot be. | | | | Some of it can be recycled; some of it cannot be. |
| That means it will end up elsewhere, such as in a | | | | That means it will end up elsewhere, such as in a |
| landfill. Scientists have yet to agree upon the best | | | | landfill. Scientists have yet to agree upon the best |
| way to eliminate the Plastic Continent. | | | | way to eliminate the Plastic Continent. Please Use |
| Please Use Less Plastic | | | | Less Plastic We were trained by eager 1950s and |
| We were trained by eager 1950s and 1960s | | | | 1960s advocates of “progress” to lead a |
| advocates of “progress” to lead a | | | | throwaway life. In 1955, Life Magazine announced |
| throwaway life. In 1955, Life Magazine announced | | | | that this new “Throwaway Living” would |
| that this new “Throwaway Living” would | | | | liberate housewives and lead to a better world. |
| liberate housewives and lead to a better world. | | | | We were so well trained in those decades that |
| We were so well trained in those decades that | | | | today we find the habit of using plastic hard to |
| today we find the habit of using plastic hard to | | | | break. But we can each do our part to reduce |
| break. But we can each do our part to reduce | | | | the amount of plastic being used. Here are a few |
| the amount of plastic being used. Here are a few | | | | suggestion: Stop buying drinks in plastic bottles. |
| suggestion: | | | | There is mounting evidence that plastic bottles |
| Stop buying drinks in plastic bottles. There is | | | | may be unsafe anyway, and the environmental |
| mounting evidence that plastic bottles may be | | | | toll is horrendous. Kick the plastic bottle habit, and |
| unsafe anyway, and the environmental toll is | | | | drink your water the old fashioned way – |
| horrendous. Kick the plastic bottle habit, and drink | | | | from the tap or the Brita. Get reusable grocery |
| your water the old fashioned way – from the | | | | bags, and remember to bring them when you |
| tap or the Brita. | | | | shop. Don't use plastic food containers. You can |
| Get reusable grocery bags, and remember to | | | | turn old spaghetti sauce glass jars into excellent |
| bring them when you shop. | | | | food storage containers which are both safer and |
| Don't use plastic food containers. You can turn old | | | | better for the environment. Don't use plastic |
| spaghetti sauce glass jars into excellent food | | | | sandwich bags, but if you do, wash them out and |
| storage containers which are both safer and | | | | reuse them. |
| better for the environment. | | | | |