• Question: how does plastic end up in the sea?

    Asked by anon-207566 to Lowri, William, Silvia, Scott, Oliver, Natalie, Michelle on 12 Mar 2019. This question was also asked by anon-207564.
    • Photo: Oliver Andrews

      Oliver Andrews answered on 12 Mar 2019:

      Hi Lilli’s Twin
      Plastic can make its way into the sea from run off (such as through rivers) or small particles can be blown offshore by winds. Microplastics are invading our environment at a rapid rate, so it’s really important that we reduce our consumption of these products.

    • Photo: Michelle Valkanas

      Michelle Valkanas answered on 12 Mar 2019:

      According to Earth Day Network “Currently approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year!” This is a result of litering on the beach and streams, but also from winds blowing plastic off of landfills. The best answer to try to avoid plastics in the ocean is using reusable products (like water bottles) and to recycle.

    • Photo: Lowri Evans

      Lowri Evans answered on 12 Mar 2019:

      There are many routes for plastic to reach the sea. One of the main routes is through rivers and streams. Rivers and streams start on high ground (like mountaintops) and end up in the sea. The rivers and streams act like transport systems – anything that ends up in a river could end up in the sea (which includes plastic and other sources of pollution). Other sources of litter could be from beaches, as the tide ebbs and flows things from the beach could end up in the sea. Another source of plastic is from activities occurring at sea, for example from discarded fishing gear or from other boats/ships. Plastics can range in size from being visible to the human eye e.g. a plastic bag, to being (nearly) invisible to the human eye e.g. microplastic.

    • Photo: Natalie Lamb

      Natalie Lamb answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      80% of the plastics in the ocean comes from the land. It is blown by the wind from streets, bins or landfill into rivers, sewers, or directly into the ocean. Tiny particles of plastics, microplastics, can also contribute and they come from products like toothpaste and by washing your clothes that are made with synthetic fibres.

    • Photo: Scott Graham

      Scott Graham answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      plastic ends up in the sea via various route however it all comes down to carelessness of humans. when we drop litter in the street it can be blown around, picked up and dropped by other animals, make its way to rivers and streams which can eventually make way to the sea. people throwing rubbish when at sea is another route or using the sea as a dumping place. sometimes people will leave rubbish behind on the beach which finds it way back to the way. animals have been found with straws blocking their airways, can plastic ring things round their neck.
      another threat is things called microplastic which are tiny plastic particles these can be found in body scrubs and exfoliaters which when used in shower finds its way to the sea via pipes and treatment works. these can be consumed by marine life and cause a build up of plastic inside

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