Celebrate World Oceans Day by preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. Plastic is forever – every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists. Just think about how many times you have used a straw, plastic fork or knife, or plastic cup. These items are used for seconds, hours or days, but the remains last forever.
Where does it all go? More than 8 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year! At our sea turtle hospital 100% of all hatchlings that enter our hospital have ingested mico-plastics and we treat about 1,000 per year. Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces to become micro-plastics. Plastic breaks down very slowly into those pieces and larger plastics can affect marine life just as bad through choking or digestive impaction.
What can you do to help? – Join the movement and take a stand against plastic pollution by taking a pledge to reduce your plastic consumption!
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is the motto that we have been taught since we were in grade school, but now we need to drill into the minds of everyone that the most important one is to Reduce!
Easy steps to reduce your plastic consumption:
Skip the Straw – when ordering your drink tell your waiter that you do not need a straw.
Don’t think you can live without a straw? No worries get some stainless steel straws and keep some at home, in your purse, your car, and at your desk at work for easy access!
Stop using plastic silverware – Get a set of bamboo utensils or bring your home silverware with you for your lunch break!
Bring reusable bags with you when you go shopping! A lot of people have taken this step when going grocery shopping. Take it a step further and bring them with you when going to the mall or any other store! Did you know if you bring your reusable bag with you to Target they offer a 5-cent discount for every bag! Every little bit helps!
Take a reusable bottle with you! Some easy ways to remember this are to grab some reusable water bottles and fill them up at home so they are ready when you are on the go! Even bring a reusable cup with you when you are headed to the coffee shop in the morning!
Inform people about why you chose to skip the straw and single use plastics! When your waiter gives you a strange look for saying you do not need a straw just explain how Americans use 500,000,000 plastic straws every day and they are among the top 10 items collected globally during beach cleanup events. Informing people around you is an easy way to get the word out!
Come celebrate World Oceans Day with us on June 9 as we take a stand against marine debris and learn about ways everyone can help keep our ocean clean, blue and trash free! Event details here >>
