As weather warms up, people head to outside to enjoy time with family and friends. This is a good time to remember that trash travels! The majority of trash in our waters comes from land-based activities like eating fast food and discarding the wrappers, beach trips, picnics, sports and recreation and festivals. Even if you don’t live near the ocean, your trash can travel through storm drains, rivers and streams, all the way to the coast. Last year, 400,000 volunteers in 100 countries joined the International Coastal Cleanup to remove trash from oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. They found:
- 6.8 million pounds of trash – the weight of 12 blue whales;
- 26,585 tires – enough for 6,646 cars and one spare each;
- 443 entangled and trapped animals – 268 were alive and released;
- 509,593 straws and stirrers – stacked end to end, the tower would be nearly 12 times the height of Mt. Everest!
Viewer Tip: The Ocean Conservancy reminds us that trash doesn’t fall from the sky, it falls from our hands. Keeping our waters clean is simple – make sure trash goes in the trash can. If there is no trash can available, carry your trash home with you to dispose of it properly.
Learn more about joining the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup from The Ocean Conservancy: www.coastalcleanup.org. Last year, volunteers in 42 states and the District of Columbia participated.
Seasons: Spring, Summer
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