Plastic straws are consistently one of the most littered plastic items, which means they end up in our waterways and are harmful to fish and wildlife. Single-use plastic products, like plastic beverage bottles, are the “biggest source of trash” found in or near water bodies, according to the Ocean Conservancy.
TheLastPlasticStraw.org | 100 ways to live plastic free
500 million plastic beverage straws are used every day in the United States and then immediately discarded, adding to the flow of trash to landfills and litter polluting lakes and beaches.
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The health of the ocean is in danger. Conservation planning and restoration projects are making a difference.
View the beauty and mystery of the ocean realm captured on video around the globe.
Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been released in a lake, sea, ocean or waterway. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines, frequently washing aground, when it is known as beach litter or tidewrack. Deliberate disposal of wastes at sea is called ocean dumping.
Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year, even plastic that goes in the trash can often ends up in the sea!
Story of Bottled Water
The film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.
Video: The History of Straws Opening Animation
Created for the 30 min. documentary film STRAWS ©2017, Produced & Directed by Linda Booker, Narrated by Tim Robbins.
Documentary Film STRAWS
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Plastic shopping bag
That change seemed to already be in effect in Venice Beach Community, where clerks in all three open checkout lines at a Ralphs supermarket were bagging groceries into a colorful array of reusable bags. Mary Thomas, one of the market's customers, said she has been bringing them for years
A reusable fashionalbe shopping bag is the perfect Christmas (Holiday!) gift. And put a birthday gift in a reusable bag instead of wrapping it!
In use by consumers worldwide - modern lightweight shopping bag is the invention of Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin.
American and European patent applications relating to the production of plastic shopping bags can be found dating back to the early 1950s
China banned very thin plastic bags nationwide in 2008. "China Says Its Plastic Bag Ban Has Saved 4.8 Million Tonnes Of Oil"
Video Playlist: Ocean Today Talking Trash and Taking Action
Ocean Today is an interactive exhibit that plays short videos on ocean related themes. Visitors can select from 200+ videos on topics ranging from deep-‐sea exploration, marine species, and restoration projects to hurricanes, oceans and human health, and climate science and research. These videos are a free resource and are available on our website at oceantoday.noaa.gov.