Marine Science & Technology
PLASTICS
Taking initiative to preserve and protect the marine environment
Single-Use Plastics
Plastic pollution is a huge problem for ecosystems and human health. Marine species such as seabirds, whales, and fish ingest and become entangled in plastic that enters their ecosystems, leading to death caused by starvation or blockages in the digestive tract. Organisms higher on the food chain, such as humans, may then ingest the plastic by eating other contaminated animals.
Seaside Sustainability is working hard to reduce plastic waste in our environment by educating about the harmful impacts it has on the health of plants and animals, including humans.
Learn more about single-use plastics, including how it impacts the environment and some of the steps that have been taken around the country to reduce its use.
The Single-Use Consumer Plastic Ban Guide emphasizes the importance of implementing bans on disposable plastics as a first step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Are you a business owner interested in participating in a survey about your business’ single-use plastics usage? Take this survey to help us determine how single-use plastics, and their alternatives, are impacting local communities!
Reclaiming the Sea from Marine Debris
Plastic pollution, particularly from single-use plastics, constitutes a significant environmental crisis, with about 50% of plastic production being non-properly disposed, leading to the formation of microplastics in oceans. The "Reclaiming the Sea from Marine Debris" Curriculum addresses this issue by combining hands-on learning and STEM education to inform participants about the impact of marine debris emphasizing the need for behavioral change and promoting the Seabin as both a cleaning tool and an educational instrument.
Macroplastics
Macroplastics have the potential to break down into microplastics. Here are some ways that Seaside Sustainability is working to reduce their presence in marine environments.
Macroplastic Accumulation
From February-June 2020, Seaside Sustainability surveyed sections of the Great Marsh in Massachusetts, marking areas in need of plastic removal.​
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The most abundant macroplastics found in the Great Marsh area:​
- Beverage bottles - Shotgun Shells
- Wadding - Shoes
- Cigarette Lighters - Styrofoam
- Tampon Applicators
Drones were programmed to fly autonomously using DJI GISPro software to take photographs of the Great Marsh. These photos were used to determine the amount of debris and macroplastic accumulation in the area by creating orthomosaics and surface models.
The map provided shows the coast of Massachusetts with a legend indicating specific areas and bodies of water. Clean-ups are indicated with white pins while problem areas that need clean-ups are indicated with orange pins.
Microplastics
Seaside Sustainability is working hard to reduce plastic waste in our environment by educating about the harmful impacts it has on the health of plants and animals, including humans.
As plastics accumulate in the marine environment, they break down into microplastics from direct sun exposure, abrasion from contact with sand and waves, and as a result of the chemicals they absorb. This creates an endless cycle of microplastics being introduced to the marine environment that are difficult to remove. Microplastics have been found in every ocean in the world. The chemical pollutants they absorb can contaminate our drinking water or food sources without us even knowing they were present.
Over 98% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, involving over 13,000 chemicals in the process with more than 2,300 of them being classified as “chemicals of concern”. These chemicals can leach from plastics, causing significant health risks such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and neurological effects.
Scientists are exploring the neurological impacts that plastic can have on the brains of the upcoming generations.​ There is more and more evidence proving that people are not only affected by the chemicals in plastics, but also by the micro-plastic and nano-plastic particles.
An alarming 11 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean annually, it is estimated that in the next 2 decades that number will triple. Since the advent of plastic, growing threats over its physical and chemical harm to all the world's ecosystems have become increasingly apparent.
We live in a plastic world. Plastic dominates all aspects of our lives making it important to stay informed on the plastic problem and how we can contribute to the solutions.
Between 1950 and 2015, over 90% of plastics were landfilled, incinerated, or leaked into the environment and can now be found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and water we drink. Big oil and plastic companies are feeding the public with deceptive educational campaigns and false promises of plastic recyclability to push profits.
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Oceana reports on Amazon’s plastic packaging problem in "Amazon's United States of Plastic." The report highlights the e-commerce giant's significant plastic packaging issue in the United States, its primary market. Despite commitments to phase out single-use plastic packaging in other regions, Amazon has not made the same commitment in the U.S., where marine plastic pollution is a pressing concern.
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Along the shoreline of the Gulf of Maine, the ocean deposits its holdings when the tide comes in, shifts them around during storms, and may pull them back out on an outgoing tide, as it has done since the beginning of time. Not so impressive is the man-made ephemera that washes up, the leavings of our human existence.