Island of Trash

There is an island of trash being built by us every day.
No lie.

1,600 kilometres west of the coast of California is polluted area being called "the garbage patch".
Ocean currents are pushing plastic bottles, plastic bags, and other "disposable" trash of all sorts into this area forming a sort of floating islandS of trash.

Thats islandS. Plural.

Bad enough to think this is happening to the ocean in just the scenic sense but also the animals are suffering in so many ways. Many of the shiny pieces are just so tempting to the birds and fish. Seagulls have been found with lighters in their stomachs. The plastics break down into toxic sand like parts eaten by filter feeders and going up the food chain from there. Building up toxins in the food chain. Many animals like turtles and such may starve to death while having a stomach full of waste they've filled up on but cant digest.

Do you part to clean up this mess. Don't leave trash on the beach. Don't dump things overboard. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

One more "r" Research.
Find ways to help save the environment each day in your life.

Plastic Bags. What a waste.

Plastic shopping bags are one of the largest wastes we have today.
Those plastic bags that seem to pile up and pile up. My Mom has a cute bag that hangs in her kitchen that is specifically made to hold these bags so she can reuse them for sending home food with relatives or packing my Dad's lunch in when he goes fishing. Still they inevitably wind up in the trash. There is NO need for this when these bags can be recycled.

Reduce reuse recycle.
My parents still aren't getting it. I keep trying though.

At our local store there is a recycle bin just for these bags. Most stores that use these bags now have these recycle bins. You would be amazed at what can be done with these recycled bags. Most plastic bags are recycled into composite lumber but can also be reprocessed into small pellets, or post consumer resin, which can become feed stock for a variety of products such as new bags, pallets, containers, crates, and pipe. Each ton of recycled plastic bags saves the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil. Want to find a recycle bin near you? Check here :D http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/


What else can you do to help reduce this waste? Use the reusable bags! Many stores now offer Reusable bags for sale pretty cheap near their registers! There are also many places online that you can buy these. Check GreenFeet for a great selection. These are a wonderful alternative. Be sure to keep them in the car or one in your purse so you don't get caught without one at the store and have to but a new one every time LOL. These can ALSO be recycled. Like anything it will at some point wear out and throwing it away sort of defeats the purpose of the reuse reduce recycle mantra. ChicoBags will recycle reusable bags. Read HERE about the great program they have that not only helps the environment but helps people by working with their partner Greatful Thread supporting victims of domestic violence.




Now this wouldn't be my blog if it didn't take an artistic view on recycle reuse reduce :D

Check out what some great Etsy artists have made with those wasteful plastic bags!

DaniellesDesigns

Lovely earrings

carataylor's shop

Cute purse




PlaSchtick

Yoga mat


kimquilts's shop

Lunch bag




Also REUSABLE BAGS!!
Reusable bags!!!

zJayne
olivebrown's shop

GreenBaggingIt