A global problem that is growing rapidly is plastic pollution. This is due to increased industrialism, which has increased the amount of plastics used to produce the things we use daily.
A significant number of these things are single-use items. Only used once and afterward thrown in the garbage. In any case, what happens to this plastic once the garbage bin gets discharged? It does not just vanish through the air.
It usually ends up in the environment somehow or form, and most of it eventually ends up in the ocean. Inside the plastic pollution circle, one of the most critical environmental difficulties we are confronted with today is marine plastic debris.
Marine debris originates from two common sources:
1. Land-based- includes litter from beach-goers, along with debris that has either blown into the sea or been washed in with stormwater overflow
2. Ocean-based- includes trash thrown at sea by boats and vessels, just as fishing debris like plastic strapping from bait boxes, removed fishing line or nets, and abandoned fishing gear
While disposing of fishing gear affects marine conditions by entrapping marine life and crushing coral reefs, it includes an expected 20% of all marine debris. A stunning 80% of all marine debris originates from land-based sources.
This is no surprise, considering that around half of all plastics are used to make single-use items, which are disposed of soon after use.
Plastic Pollution: Quick Facts, Figures, and Statistics
10-20 million
A 2015 report by the Worldwatch Institute indicated that a huge amount of plastic is deposited in our oceans annually.
5.25 trillion
This is the estimated number of plastic particles floating around the world's oceans.
$13 billion
This is the number of estimated yearly losses related to marine plastic debris due to the negative impact on marine environments.
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is any persistent solid material made or produced and directly or indirectly discarded or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.
It tends to gather in ocean gyres, circular currents formed by the Earth's wind patterns and the forces of its rotation.
The circular movement of the gyre attracts debris. Which advances into the center point of the gyre, gets trapped, and develops.
Waste form-ups in gyres are known as garbage patches. For instance, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch exists between the U.S. states of California and Hawaii in the North Pacific Ocean.
Ocean Pollution in Hawaii
The people's culture and way of life in Hawaii have always revolved around the ocean. A large portion of their meat intake is fish.
Therefore, ancient Hawaiians were adept at using nets and mastering various fishing techniques. Surfing was also a way of life for them, embodying both an art form and a spiritual practice.
Not a recreational activity. They would pray to their gods to give them strength and protection when out on the ocean. To help them in good surf.
Surfing has become a sought-after activity for people around the globe who want to take part in Hawaii. The oceans and beaches attract tourists. Generating over $14 billion yearly to the state of Hawaii.
Although, with much tourism coming to the islands, it also produces tons of trash. Pollution is now contaminating the entire Hawaii and devastating the native Hawaiians' way of life.
Yearly Trash Census
For a long time, pollution has been a huge concern worldwide. It is threatening our oceans. Adding harmful effects to what we love from the Pacific Islands right now.
The contaminants that are harming Hawaii, along with the rest of the Pacific, are;
- chemical waste
- runoff from agricultural waste
- household waste products
- sewage spills
- dumping industrial waste
- windblown pollution
Hawaii now includes warning signs along the beaches to caution people about the chemical and industrial waste that pollutes portions of oceans and bays.
According to statewide reports, 15 to 20 tons of trash pile up on Hawaiian beaches yearly, equaling 30,000 to 40,000 pounds.
Despite conservation and cleanup methods, Hawaii still has problems. Over 160 tons (320,000 pounds) of garbage have been removed from the beaches within the past ten years.
Rainwater constantly washes pollutants from the inner parts of Hawaii’s mountains and hillsides into the ocean, adding to the amount of waste flowing into the ocean.
Plastics are Becoming a Big Problem
The average American will discard approximately 185 pounds of plastic material every year.
In addition, waste disposal companies dump hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastic into the ocean annually, which is bad for the Pacific.
Where all of the plastics start forming bundles and move to the island’s bays and beaches. 60% to 80% of all reported oceanic garbage consists of plastics, which take the longest to break down from other sediment waste.
The plastics in the ocean around Hawaii exceed the algal bloom in the region 6 to 1. This is a significant amount of plastic since algae cover most ocean floors and rocks.
Naturally, if this garbage goes into the ocean surrounding Hawaii, it also affects ocean life. Trash is consumed by animals all around Hawaii and the rest of the Pacific.
Much of this consumption is unintentional, with some animals confusing the trash as a food source. Sea turtles would confuse plastic bags for jellyfish. It gets stuck in their throats that would suffocate them.
Other animals, such as birds and whales, mistake plastics for food. The plastics pile up in their stomachs and cannot be broken down. Tiny particles of plastic are also caught in fish’s gills, causing every species of wildlife to die internally.
One of the biggest concerns about this effect on these animals is the endangered Honu, or green sea turtle, which is found in the ocean around Hawaii. Some of the waste is causing tumors in the body and organs. The outbreak of various diseases and tumors resulted from the chemical waste and other overflow toxins discharged into the ocean around Hawaii.
Many conservation groups were initiated over a decade ago to help prevent pollution and waste in Hawaii. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration has tried to clean the entire Hawaiian islands for the past 13 years, but it acknowledges this struggle.
Another active cleanup organization is the Polluted Runoff Control Program. Its employees are a mix of volunteers and active workers who receive federal assistance.
This group removed over 3,000 tons (6 million pounds) of sediment from Hawaii’s oceans and beaches last year alone. Nonetheless, no matter the conservation efforts, this ongoing battle may never be completely won.
EPA: Waters Around Two Hawaii Beaches Impaired by Plastic Pollution
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has discovered that plastic pollution impairs the waters around Hawaii's Kamilo Beach and Tern Island.
The agency has requested that state authorities take reformative actions under the Clean Water Act. This decision overrules frequent attempts by Hawaii authorities to deny proof that plastic pollution damages bodies of water around the islands.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and Surfrider Foundation sued the EPA in February for tolerating Hawaii's yearly list of impaired waters, which disregarded proof of plastic pollution in 17 bodies of water provided by the groups. Accordingly, the EPA requested Hawaii's Department of Health to inspect that proof and present another list.
When Hawaii again neglected to list the famously polluted Tern Island and Kamilo Beach (nicknamed Plastic Beach), EPA Regional Administrator John W. Busterud singularly chose to show them during the second week of July this year.
He requested that Hawaii include them in water-quality management plans to diminish the effect of plastic pollutants on its waters, beaches, and environment.
"Kamilo Beach is famous for being covered in plastic, and this EPA finding will push state and government offices to confront that reality," said Maxx Phillips, the Center's Hawaii chief.
"Ocean plastic pollution is an emergency here in Hawaii. It suffocates the environment and helps contaminate our beaches and our food web. Hawaii's Department of Health is being compelled to finally address this threat."
Plastic pollution in Hawaii ranges from microplastics that pollute coastal waters. So as harm marine life to huge tons of plastic waste along Kamilo Beach. The Clean Water Act requires the EPA to assign as "impaired" all bodies of water. That neglects to fulfill state water-quality guidelines. When a water body is assigned as impaired, authorities must make a move to lessen the pollution.
"We are encouraged that the EPA is finding a way to address plastic pollution in the ocean and on our beaches as a significant reason for water quality impairment,” said Angela Howe, Surfrider Foundation's legal chief. "Our Hawaii chapters and whole chapter organize the nation over are focused on tending to the trouble of plastic pollution, including using the full degree of our clean water laws, such as here."
Plastic pollution significantly threatens Hawaii’s water quality and at-risk marine environment. Microplastics, or plastics that have broken into tiny pieces, threaten marine wildlife and water quality.
Microplastics can absorb environmental toxins, which fish and other marine life eat. Eventually, humans ingest them.
“While we appreciate this enormous step with listing these two sites as impaired, great work is still to be done.
Most of the waters and coastlines of Hawaii are troubled by marine debris and microplastic, leaving them unquestionably impaired,” said Rafael Bergstrom, executive director of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
“Our Department of Health should be concerned about the severity of the issue and not evading responsibility. We must hold the fossil fuel industry and plastic producers responsible for this unnecessary damage.”
How Can We Solve Plastic Pollution?
We need to address the problem of marine debris head-on. It is not just an issue for the environmentally conscious; it ultimately impacts human health. Man is a top predator that consumes various ocean fish, shellfish, and other marine species. We face the same danger as killer whales and polar bears.
While any plastic or polystyrene pellets that may have been clogging the fish's gut nicely served on your dinner plate have been long removed, the toxic contaminants originating from that debris are still stored in the flesh you are about to eat.
How To Avoid Plastic and Reduce Plastic Waste?
We can start reducing plastic pollution by changing our habits. Reducing our use of single-use plastics will lessen the demand.
Avoid purchasing items wrapped in plastic. Using reusable produce bags is a quick win in changing what we buy in the grocery store. Proper recycling will help reduce plastic waste—only 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide.
Think of ways to transform old items rather than throwing them or buying new ones. Supporting charities that address plastic pollution and signing petitions for bans will increase your impact on the cause.
Participate in or organize beach/river cleanups. Wearing natural (non-synthetic) clothing, like organic cotton, silk, and linen, will stop plastic microfibers from entering the ocean and our food chain.
Here are some more practical tips for avoiding plastic every day:
Reusable Water Bottle
Avoid bottled water and buy a decent water filter—a reusable stainless steel or glass bottle. There are collapsible options for the city people.
Reusable Shopping Bag
Store reusable shopping bags with you. You could store them in your car, work bag, jacket pocket, or next to your front door. They are cheap, and there are foldable/pocket options.
3-minute Beach Tidy
If you enjoy the beach and the ocean, the best way to thank Mother Nature is to spend three minutes picking up trash from the beach. Make it your pre-surf/dive/swim ritual.
Slow Down
Stop eating on the go. Slow down and take time to enjoy your food. Dine in or take a lunchbox. Reduce your use of disposable cutlery, plates, and packaging, and recycle as much as possible.
Say No To Straws
Americans use 500 million drinking straws every day. Now imagine how that converts to the rest of the world. If you can’t get hold of a day without straws, carry a stainless steel straw in your bag.
Reusable Coffee Cups
We all love our coffee and tea, but it impacts our environment. Bring a reusable coffee cup with you. Many options are available, from bamboo to collapsible silicone cups to glass cups.
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