Don’t add your rubbish to the oceans of plastic

WHILE soaking up the relaxing sound of crashing waves on the beach, no one wants to think about how the ocean has basically become a form of plastic soup, but unfortunately this is the reality. There are millions of tons of rubbish floating around in our oceans, most of it is plastic and we are responsible for it.

This constant dumping of plastics (the equivalent of 136 billion milk jugs each year, according to a study published last year in the journal, ‘Science’), poses a serious danger to marine life. Animals can get tangled up in plastic waste or ingest it — either because they mistake it as prey or because the plastic has been broken down into tiny particles by seawater.

Plastic, of course, is uniquely problematic because it’s non-biodegradable and therefore sticks around for up to 1,000 years longer than other forms of rubbish. And we’re not just talking about people dumping their waste overboard from boats. Around 80 per cent of marine litter actually originates on land and is either swept in from the coastline or carried to the sea on our rivers.

The best thing we can do to protect our waterways is try to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place. The good news is that there are many small ways you can have a big impact. Try some of the following: 1. Wean yourself off disposable plastics. Ninety per cent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then dumped: plastic bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. Take note of how often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. 2. Stop buying water. Last year in Ireland we purchased 70 million plastic bottles, 17 million of which were water bottles. Carry a reusable bottle in your bag and you’ll never be caught having to resort to buying a bottle of water again. 3. Boycott microbeads. Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products — facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes — might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip through water-treatment plants. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some marine animals. Ongoing studies are showing an alarming number of microbeads in the seas off the coast of Ireland. 4. Cook more. Not only is it healthier, but making your own meals doesn’t involve take-out containers or doggy bags. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment you don’t need any plastic cutlery. 5. Recycle (duh). It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great job of it. High levels of contamination in the recycling bin – between 20% 30% for Kerry – are creating difficulties at recycling centres. Remember, all plastic bottles can be recycled along with food trays (except for black ones) and other rigid plastics like butter tubs and yoghurt cartons. 6. Buy in bulk. Consider the product-to-packaging ratio of items such as Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries, tiny packages of nuts etc and select the bigger container instead of buying several smaller ones. 7. Put pressure on manufacturers. Although we can make a difference through our own habits, corporations obviously have a much bigger footprint. If you believe a company could be smarter about its packaging, make your voice heard. Write a letter, send a tweet, or hit them where it really hurts: Give your money to a more sustainable competitor.

Big fish don’t only eat little fish – they also eat lots of harmful plastics.