The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: What to Know

When the average person is asked to generate a description of the ocean, normally they might use words like clean, clear, and alive; untouched and serene. This is why most people are surprised to learn about places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a massive area of pollution floating loose in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii. Over time, it has become one of the most significant examples of how serious plastic pollution has become, even in places most people will never actually see. 

The name of the phenomenon can be a little misleading, considering it is not necessarily an island of floating trash. It can be easy to just picture piles and piles of garbage stacked together, but what it actually is is millions of pieces of plastic spread throughout the surface of the water. According to an organization called The Ocean Cleanup, whose mission is to solve this ongoing issue, the GPGP is “an accumulation zone with over 100,000,000 kilograms of floating plastic.” Some of the debris is large and easy to spot, like old fishing nets left behind by fishers, water bottles, and food containers. However, much of it has broken down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These microplastics are extraordinarily harmful to the marine environment as animals and organisms accidentally consume them. Beyond that, since humans consume those animals, it could pose a significant threat to human health as well due to the toxins that could be consumed as a result of the patch.

How the patch formed, one might wonder? Well, we have ocean currents called gyres to thank. They pull floating debris into certain parts of the ocean, and it gets trapped and builds up from there over time. An enormous amount of the waste comes from everyday items we use constantly, throwing them out without a second thought. Plastic bags, straws, wrappers, and single-use bottles often end up in storm drains, rivers, and beaches before eventually reaching the ocean. Once they’re there, they get caught in the gyres. The problem? Plastic does not break down. It actually breaks down into smaller, microscopic pieces that fish and other marine creatures frequently mistake for food. This often leads to injury, starvation, or death. It is a major issue that, while it may be discussed quite frequently, is not understood by many in terms of the full extent of its significance.

Unfortunately, these negative impacts do not stop with wildlife. Microplastics have been discovered in an insurmountable amount of things we use, consume, or consume from on a regular basis, such as seafood, drinking water, and plastic bags or containers from which microplastics can leach into whatever is occupying them. Because the mass use of plastics has exploded more recently, it is difficult for health researchers to know for sure the long-term effects. 

It may sound simpler than it is, but cleaning up the GPGP is a daunting task. Due to how large the area is and how much of the debris is microscopic, removing it all would be extremely difficult and tedious. Organizations such as The Ocean Cleanup, as previously mentioned, are in the process of collecting plastic from the ocean, but many experts believe prevention matters even more than cleanup. We can do this by reducing use of single-use plastics, recycling correctly, and being more careful about where our waste ends up (like littering), which can prevent more debris from further polluting our oceans in the future.

Overall, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a reminder that even small actions can create huge consequences over time. Just think: a plastic bottle used for only a few minutes can stay in the environment for centuries. While the problem is overwhelming, it also shows us why awareness matters. The more people understand how pollution affects the planet, the more likely we are to have the motivation to make changes and not shed our responsibilities for further generations to come.

Welcome to Plasticville // Living in such a debris-populated area, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, makes it extremely difficult for marine life. Plastic, although most of it is invisible to the naked eye, poses an extreme threat to the animals and us humans. (Photo by Audrey Hamatake)