Marine litter is strangling our oceans

PLASTIC is the most common marine litter found in the ocean. It is harmful for the environment, as it does not get break down easily and is often considered as food by marine animals.

Large pieces often originate from wrecked vessels, lost fishing nets and lost cargo containers. Medium pieces include plastic shopping bags or plastic water and cool drink bottles.

Small pieces include synthetic cloth fibres, plastic microbeads and bigger pieces of plastic that have been worn down by friction and by photo-degrading (breaking down due to exposure to the sun).

Begin by paying attention to all the plastic that enters and exits your life.

Where, why, when and how are your plastic items accumulated and disposed of ? Are there ways that you can refuse certain items or seek better, plastic-free alternatives?

Does convenience outweigh our collective responsibility to lead by example?

Learn what you can about implementing recycling at your work, in your home or at your church or your kids’ school.

Along with paper, glass and tin, most plastics – including polystyrene – can be recycled.

These can be dropped off or picked up by a number of companies, if your municipality does not supply the service already.

Without materials to recycle, the recycling industry is not sustainable, so the more we can send to these facilities the better.