How to Clean Up Plastics from Our Oceans

This article discusses the importance of cleaning up plastics from our oceans and the various strategies that can be implemented. It highlights the impact of plastic waste on marine life and the need to protect them. The article also mentions the laws imposed by various governments to reduce plastic waste and campaigns organized to clean up the ocean. Additionally, it talks about the funds allocated to ocean-cleaning programs and the expected implementation of a floating machine to clear plastic bags from the ocean.

Running head: HOW TO CLEAN UP PLASTICS FROM OUR OCEANS 1
How to Clean Up Plastics from Our Oceans
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Introduction
Oceans are very important in the lives of people as they form part of the scenic beauty
and also a medium of transport. They also provide habitat for the marine life which is also
important to the human beings hence a need to keep the oceans clean. However, pollution of the
oceans in the recent past by the plastics has caused an alarming concern as it destroys marine life
and also the seafood consumed by human beings can contain some pieces of the plastics hence a
harm to the health. Oceans are polluted by various things including plastic bags which are
thrown by people or fed in by the rivers flowing in. The marine scientists estimated that about 4
trillion pieces of plastic are currently littering the Pacific and other oceans (Helvarg, 2013). This
has prompted the need to clean up the oceans as they kill the marine species. The trillions of
plastic waste dumped in the oceans every year severely threaten the biodiversity of the world's
oceans. This document presents various recommendations which can be implemented to clean
up the ocean.
Various factors contribute to the much concentration of plastics in the ocean. Such
include sewage whereby litter enters the ocean directly through rivers and drainages. Littering
can also be caused by the wind which blows the plastics to the ocean. The ocean visitors also
throw in plastics such as paper bags and plastic bottles and other plastics that they may use while
on the visit. It is estimated that by 2050, there may be more plastic waste in the ocean than the
fish if actions are not taken against dumping (Bråte et al, 2015) . All these waste driven to the
ocean poses a threat to the marine life and the people may not realize what extend a single plastic
can become a harm to the marine life.
Following the importance to maintain marine life by protecting them from the threats of
the plastic waste in the ocean, various steps have been taken to clean up the plastics that are

HOW TO CLEAN UP PLASTICS FROM OUR OCEANS 3
already in the ocean as precautions are also taken to prevent further littering. Various
governments such as the US, Kenya, and Singapore have imposed laws prohibiting the use of
disposable plastic items which include plastic bags and straws (Fisher & Shipton, 2010). Others
have also established strong efforts to regulate the consumption of the items. People have been
encouraged to carry with them shopping bags whenever they need to so as to avoid having to
wrap it in plastic bags. The governments have also encouraged the companies that produce such
plastic bags to provide alternatives for the same items such as khaki papers. These laws have
enabled to reduce the amount of plastic waste that eventually gets into the ocean as the
alternative bags used are reusable. Again, people are keen to follow the laws considering the
harsh measures set to be taken again those who violate them. However, the ban of the plastic
bags has affected the manufacturers as they adjust to the new laws by scaling back the business,
which at times prompts some layoffs. The shoppers are also made to purchase the shopping bags
which are normally more expensive than the plastic bags they were used to.
The governments have also chipped in by organizing campaigns for cleaning up the
ocean in collaboration with the local authorities. This is normally done occasionally whereby
people are encouraged and mobilized to join up hands and collect the garbage at the ocean for
recycling. The manufacturing companies which deal with the recycling of the garbage also
corporate with the campaigners so that the plastics collected can be taken for recycling (Newman
& Crawley, 2014). The campaigns focus on the deep sea divers who can help other people
swimmers to collect the floating items as they collect the ones which might have sunk down. As
they collect the items, people are educated on the dangers of dumping plastics on the oceans so
that they be sensitive on how they dispose off their litter. The campaigns have succeeded
significantly as people have become more educated and can sense the need to adhere to the

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programs that are set to protect the marine life. However, some people tend to be ignorant and
just throw their litter anyhow and do not even find time to join the campaigns hence they remain
irrelevant to them.
Additionally, the governments sets aside some funds to fund ocean-cleaning programs
which can be managed by specific organizations. The chosen organizations are allocated the duty
of collecting the plastic waste that is on the shores to avoid getting its way to the ocean.
Although some ocean visitors may be ignorant and still litter plastics near the ocean which
eventually get to the water body, the organizations normally regulate this by setting up some
dumping sites near the ocean where people can pour their litter for easy collection and establish
some ways of separating plastic wastes from the other waste before getting their way to the
ocean (Terry, 2015).
Conclusion
Certainly, a large amount of plastics is produced every year with the increasing demand
for such products, which after use eventually get into the ocean. Such dumping is a great threat
to the marine life as they rarely decompose hence can continue hipping up in the water and
threatening the life of the marine species. This has led to the marine scientists to look for ways of
minimizing the dumping of plastics in the ocean. Some strategies have been implemented to
clean up the ocean although it is a bit challenging considering the untimely presence of ocean
waves and the dangers of diving into the deep sea (Nunes et al, 2017). Some governments have
established companies charged with the duty of collecting plastic garbage from the seashores
occasionally to prevent them from entering the ocean. They also mobilize people through the
local authorities to set aside specific days for cleaning up the sea especially those who can dive

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into the deep sea. The expected implementation of a floating machine will also present a great
move towards the clearing of plastic bags from the ocean.
References
Bråte, I. L. N., Huwer, B., Thomas, K. V., Eidsvoll, D. P., Halsband, C., Carney, A. B., &
Lusher, A. (2017). Micro-and macro-plastics in marine species from Nordic waters.
Copenhagen K: Nordic Council of Ministers.
Fisher, T., & Shipton, J. (2010). Designing for re-use: The life of consumer packaging. London:
Earthscan.
Helvarg, D. (2013). 50 Ways to Save the Ocean. EBSCOhost.
In Bergmann, M., In Gutow, L., & In Klages, M. (2015). Marine Anthropogenic Litter.
Moore, C., & Phillips, . (2012). Plastic ocean: How a sea captain's chance discovery launched a
determined quest to save the oceans. New York: Penguin Group (USA.
Newman, P., & Crawley, . (2014). Plastic, ahoy!: Investigating the great Pacific garbage patch.
Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group.
Nunes, P. A. L. D., Svensson, L. E., Markandya, A., & United Nations Environment Programme.
(2017). Handbook on the economics and management of sustainable oceans.
Terry, B. (2015). Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too. New
York: Skyhorse Publishing.