Imagine, if you will, a line of garbage trucks, stretching to the horizon.
Now imagine that those trucks are full of plastic debris, and that every minute of every day, 365 days a year, one of those trucks dumps its load directly into the ocean.
According to earthday.org, the organization behind Earth Day, that’s pretty much what is happening right now.
Every year, about eight million metric tons of plastic finds it’s way into the ocean. Of that, 236,000 tons is made up of micro-plastics; tiny pieces of broken down plastic , smaller than your little fingernail.
The effect of all this plastic in the ocean is that fish, unable to tell the difference between plastic and food, eat the micro-plastics and, failing to digest them, starve to death.
As well, coral reefs are becoming diseased and the rate of that infection has increased from four per cent to 89 per cent after coming into contact with marine plastic. Coral reefs are the home to 25 per cent of all marine life on the planet.
And, while all this information makes it appear that our oceans are doomed and nothing can be done to save the planet, a local organization is doing its best to effect change.
The Peninsula Streams Society has planned a series of clean-ups to help to directly clean up some of that waste plastic (and other debris) from making its way into the ocean.
“We are calling for volunteers to both come out and help clean up areas of our streams and coastline and to get educated about what we can all do to help affect change,” said Brian Koval, the assistant coordinator of the Peninsula Streams Society.
The first of the clean-ups takes place at Reay Creek Park on July 17 between 5 and 7 p.m.
Volunteers are asked to gather at the gate at the end of Frost Ave.
“What people don’t realize is that garbage in the park will make its way into the creek and on to the ocean. More than 80 per cent of the plastics in the ocean originated as garbage discarded on land,” explained Koval.
More clean-ups are planned throughout the summer, with the next one taking place on July 21st at Patricia Bay Park.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Patricia Bay Park parking lot at 9 a.m.
More clean -ups will happen on August at Brentwood Bay, Basin Bay, and Tetayut Creek.
“We welcome volunteers of all ages and all you have to do is show up wearing clothing appropriate to the weather,” said Koval.
Details of those cleanups can be found at peninsulastreams.ca.
We are so lucky to live where we do, so let’s give back a little. Many of our beaches are suffering from being a little too well-loved, and unfortunately have collected debris of various kinds, including plastic, paper, glass, cans, etc.