As managing editor of Ocean Conservancy today released its annual report with data from its 2006 International Coastal Cleanup. Plastics waste is featured prominently, but this really is an indictment of littering and other bad consumer behavior. People throw away an amazing amount of junk, and too many seem to believe that once it leaves their house or car or hand, it magically disappears.
Or they don't care.
The 2006 Cleanup was the 21st annual Cleanup conducted by Ocean Conservancy and was made possible by the 358,617 dedicated volunteers around the world in 68 countries. The volunteers not only removed 7,000,000 pounds of debris from the ocean, rivers, lakes and waterways, but they also recorded what they found. An analysis of that data is completed by Ocean Conservancy to provide the most detailed picture of marine debris currently available. It also provides insight to where the trash comes from and how it ends up in the ocean and waterways.“At a time when so many of us feel compelled to address environmental challenges that are large and complex, the International Coastal Cleanup provides a direct, tangible way to make a difference for one of the largest problems we face trash in our ocean and waterways,” said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy. “The health of our ocean is a metaphor for the health of our planet and ultimately of human beings who are sustained by the environment. It is time for each one of us to help improve the health of our planet, and the International Coastal Cleanup provides the perfect venue.”
In the 2006 Cleanup, 1,074 animals were found entangled in marine debris by our volunteers including a one-year old seal that was entangled in fishing gear along Hobe Sound, Florida. Of all the animals found entangled this year the seal was the only survivor. Dangerous debris items including discarded fishing gear, ropes, grocery and trash bags as well as small pieces of plastic are responsible for thousands of animal deaths due to entanglement or ingestion.
The next cleanup is scheduled for Sept. 15.
Finally, here's a list of the top 10 debris items found in the 2006 cleanup:
Cigarettes/cigarette filters 1,901,519
Food wrappers and containers 768,115
Caps/lids 704,085
Bags 691,048
Beverage bottles (plastic) 570,299
Beverage bottles (glass) 420,800
Cups/plates/forks/knives/spoons 353,217
Straws/stirrers 349,653
Beverage cans 327,494
Cigar tips 186,258
Comments (1)
I participated in several beach and bayou clean ups in the 1990s. In the Texas bayou where I helped, tires comprised a surprisingly large proportion by weight of all the debris. For me, it highlighted the fact that certain people had no convenient way of properly disposing of large items.
Out of hand, out of mind, appears to be the mentality of many people. What they no longer see does not matter to them. It strikes me that educating the public regarding trash disposal is the real problem. However, it is far more difficult to change the habits of millions of people than it is to attack a few thousand suppliers of polymer products.
Posted by Andrew Peacock | June 8, 2007 9:20 AM
Posted on June 8, 2007 09:20