Stewardship Tip Apr 20th,2010- Plastic hits Home
participated in the National Stream Cleanup day over the weekend and was amazed at the amount of plastic that we found. Not just bags, but small bits of plastic; bags that had broken into small pieces. In some areas, when we’d get down on our knees, it almost appeared as though the plastic outnumbered the leaves of grass.
Quite honestly, these small bits of of plastic, at least on a personal level, were something that I thought “didn’t happen here.” They were something that settled in the water out in the Long Beach harbor or were swirling somewhere in the Pacific Gyre. Plastic bags, of course, have been an issue, locally, nationally, and internationally. Unfortunately, we have our fair share littered about here where I live. I just wasn’t prepared, though, for the scope and breadth of these little bits of plastic that we found.
The the plastic from which plastic grocery bags are made, high-density polyethylene film (HDPE), low density polyethylene film (LDPE), and linear-low density polyethylene film (LLDPE). These plastic films tend to break apart into smaller pieces rather easily. Add some UV rays and a little bit of wind to the equation and you get bite-sized chunks that wildlife and fish often mistake for food.
The fact is, these little bits of plastic are 100% preventable as are the plastic bags that are their progenitors (yes, I did stretch for that sentence, your applause is appreciated).
I use a bunch of SWAG bags from trade shows and keep them in my car. Whenever I go to the store, they are right there and ready to go. Keep your bags handy, in your car, your bike bag, your backpack, your purse, or your briefcase. Keep them at the ready and use them. By doing so, you will help to keep plastic bags, and those small bits of plastic, out of our streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
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