What You Can Do : Marine Debris

Individuals play an important role in preventing marine debris. Anyone can help reduce the amount of trash in our oceans by understanding and changing the behaviors that lead to marine debris. Whether you are out on the open ocean or simply walking down the street, you can help protect our oceans by disposing of trash properly and preventing it from being carried by wind or rain into a body of water.

Many different actions can make a difference. Decreasing the amount of waste generated and ensuring that it is disposed of properly can result in less marine debris. Recycling and reusing can significantly decrease the amount of litter reaching marine and coastal waters. Volunteer coastal cleanups and public education efforts also help reduce the amount of debris reaching our waterways. Please visit the links below to find a number of easy steps you can take to reduce and prevent marine debris.

 

AT HOME

No matter where your home is located, whether it is in Topeka or Tampa, small changes at your home can help reduce the amount of marine debris. The list below offers some simple tips that you can use in your home, yard, or neighborhood to reduce waste and decrease marine debris.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Dispose of trash properly
• Secure receptacles
• Spread the word

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Reduce, reuse, recycle

Look for opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce the amount of waste you produce by using products that have recyclable or reusable containers. Avoid purchasing products with excessive packaging. Find out what your town recycles, and make sure you recycle it. This can include newspapers, plastic containers, plastic beverage bottles, paper, aluminum cans, and other goods. Support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials . Find opportunities to replace disposable goods with reusable items; for example, use reusable plates rather than disposable plates at your next barbeque. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home reduces pollution from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal; conserves energy; and reduces marine debris.

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What Materials Can Be Recycled?

Plastic bottles and bags can be recycled. 

Dispose of trash properly

Dispose of trash properly, using the appropriate garbage and recycling receptacles. These containers should have lids and be big enough to contain your trash and recycling so nothing sits outside of the container. Recycle as much of your trash as you can, following your neighborhoods guidelines. Don't litter - anything you throw on the ground can end up in our waterways. Pick-up trash from the sidewalks and streets around your home. Both proper disposal and picking up loose trash will reduce the amount of trash that ends up in your neighborhood's streets and finds its way into storm drains, sewers, and waterways.

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Secure receptacles

Ensure trash and recyclable receptacles outside the home are appropriately maintained and secured. Proper maintenance helps to prevent accidental loss of trash or other items which can be blown or carried into storm drains, sewers, and waterways.

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Did You Know?

Recycling 85 million tons of municipal solid waste, or trash, saved the energy equivalent of 10.7 billion gallons of gasoline .

Spread the word

Tell family, friends, and neighbors about ways to prevent trash from becoming marine debris.

AT THE OFFICE

You may not realize it but what you do at the office can have an impact on marine debris. Regardless of location or field, businesses and offices create a large amount of trash that adds to the waste stream and may eventually become marine debris. Here are four easy steps you can take at the office to help reduce waste and marine debris.

• Dispose of trash properly
• Reduce paper consumption
• Use reusable containers and cups
• Purchase recycled and reusable office materials

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Dispose of trash properly

How Can Reducing Waste Save Costs?

Use the recycle bins in your office to recycle your paper, newspapers, and beverage and food containers. Ensure the waste collection staff in your office separate trash and recyclables appropriately. Make sure your office has trash and recycling receptacles that are secure and covered when placed outside. 

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Reduce paper consumption

Did You Know?

The trash most commonly found in municipal landfills is paper, accounting for more than 40 percent of a landfill's contents or 71.8 million tons! For every ton of mixed paper recycled, the equivalent of 185 gallons of gasoline is saved.

Limit your printing to save paper and ink. Read your emails and documents on the computer rather than making hard copies. Print double-sided copies. Reuse used paper for scrap paper and notes. Cutting down on paper, ink cartridges, and the packaging associated with these products is a significant way to reduce the amount of waste generated and conserve natural resources.

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Use reusable containers and cups

How Can I Reduce Trash?

Avoid disposable items such as plates, bottles, cups, and utensils by bringing reusable alternatives to work. When using single-use items, such as napkins, take only what is needed. Try to choose items with less packaging. Avoid individually wrapped snacks in vending machines - you can buy in bulk ahead of time. You will save money and the environment at the same time.

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Purchase recycled and reusable office materials

What If I Don't Work In An Office?

Find out more information about Industrial Materials disposal, recycling, and reduction methods.

Buy recycled and environmentally friendly paper. Purchase products in bulk to minimize excessive packaging, and use recharged cartridges for laser printers, copiers, and fax machines. 

ON THE GO

It is important to properly dispose of your waste whether you are at the beach, park, or grocery store. Below are four steps you can take to help reduce waste and marine debris while on the go.

• Dispose of trash properly
• Purchase recycled, reusable, and smart packaging items
• Use reusable shopping bags
• Limit use of disposable products

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Dispose of trash properly

How Can I Reduce Trash?

When away from your home, dispose of all trash and recyclables in the proper receptacles. If the receptacles are full or unavailable, take your trash and recyclables home with you. Never place trash or recyclables next to a full container. Keep a small bag for trash and recyclables in your car. While on the go, pick up trash in parking lots, on the streets and sidewalks, and near stormdrains. 

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Purchase recycled, reusable, and smart packaging items

Why Should I Buy Recycled?

While you are on the go, try to purchase and use items with less packaging or in packages and containers that are recyclable or made with recycled materials. Reduce your waste footprint by purchasing bulk-size items in advance to decrease the number of single use items used while on the go. Use refillable or reusable containers, such as thermal coffee mugs and reusable grocery bags. Encourage grocery stores and shops to sell recycled products, and to collect plastic shopping bags for recycling.

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Use reusable shopping bags

Purchase reusable shopping bags or reuse the paper or plastic ones for your next shopping trip. If you only have a couple of items to purchase, say "No" when the merchant asks you if you want a bag.

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Limit use of disposable products

Did You Know?

Packaging and containers made up the largest portion of trash generated in 2007, nearly 78 million tons! 

For picnics and other outdoor activities, remember to bring reusable utensils, tableware, water bottles, cups, and cloth napkins. If only disposable products are available, take just what you need.

AT SCHOOL

Schools and students can help to reduce marine debris in the environment. Below are four easy steps you can take in the classroom to reduce waste and minimize marine debris. Students and teachers can play key roles in reducing marine debris just by learning and teaching about its sources, impacts, and prevention methods, and by sharing this information with friends and family.

• Dispose of trash properly
• Reuse old school supplies
• Pack a waste-free lunch
• Encourage your school to become involved in cleanup and waste minimization projects

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Dispose of trash properly

How Can I Have A Waste-Less School Year?

Dispose of all trash and recyclables in the proper receptacles. Make sure to recycle plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and paper. Don't leave trash in the parking lots, on the playgrounds, or at the sporting events areas. Pick up any non-hazardous litter you see around your school and dispose of it properly.

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Reuse old school supplies

Try to reuse your old backpack, pencils, notebooks, and other supplies. When buying new supplies, look for durable backpacks, refillable pens and pencils, solar calculators, and supplies made from recycled materials. Instead of buying new book covers, reuse newspapers or other decorated scrap paper to cover books.

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Pack a waste-free lunch

Did You Know?

Packing a waste-free lunch saves an average student $250 and 67 pounds of trash per nine-month school year!

Bring your lunch in a reusable lunchbox or cooler. Pack sandwiches, snacks, and drinks in reusable containers rather than in plastic bags and disposable bottles. If you cannot use reusable containers, reuse the same paper lunch bag and plastic bags for several days rather than using a new one for each day. Limit your use of any other disposable products and excessive packaging, especially on individually wrapped items. 

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Encourage your school to become involved in cleanup and waste minimization projects

Students can share ways to prevent marine debris and reduce waste with friends, classmates, and teachers. Encourage your school to have classes adopt sections of the school property to help keep clean, and pledge to keep them litter-free during the year. Start an environmental club, recycling project, or gather people to participate in cleanup events.

AT SEA

Boaters, fishermen, and marina owners can play a part in controlling the amount of marine debris that ends up in our waterways and oceans. The tips below can help you to reduce waste and marine debris while at sea and in port.

• Dispose of trash properly
• Properly stow and secure all equipment and trash
• Support environmentally friendly marinas and ports
• Participate in fishing gear incentive programs

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Dispose of trash properly

Did You Know?

Over 3 million cigarette butts were found during the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup! Always place extinguished cigarette butts in a proper disposal container.

At sea, make sure to follow proper disposal procedures and regulations. If possible, bring trash back to shore for disposal in garbage and recycling receptacles. If you plan on being at sea for an extended period of time, look for ways to reduce the trash you produce onboard by limiting the use of disposable products, choosing products with less packaging, and removing product packaging prior to going underway.

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Properly stow and secure all equipment and trash

Make sure all trash bins and recycling receptacles on the vessel have lids and are properly secured to the vessel. Any loose equipment should be stowed and secured when not in use. If not stored and secured properly, loose trash and equipment can become marine debris in poor sea and weather conditions.

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Support environmentally friendly marinas and ports

Try to use marinas and ports with properly maintained trash and recycling disposal facilities. Environmentally sound marinas help to prevent non-point source pollution , which results from improper oil, fuel, and wastewater management practices.

EVENTS

Cleanup events help to remove trash and debris from oceans, coasts, and waterways. By removing the trash and debris, these cleanups play a key role in addressing the marine debris that already exists in the environment. Removing the debris helps to keep the beaches and water safe and attractive for recreational users, saves wildlife from ingestion and entanglement, and reduces economic losses due to lost tourism revenue. 

Cleaning up debris also provides valuable information regarding the amounts and types of debris found at different beaches, waterways, and oceans, aiding in determining the sources of the debris.

Cleanup events take place locally, nationally, and internationally.