Ocean Plastics

Macroplastics are plastic items or fragments larger than 5 mm and are typically visible to the naked eye. Common examples include plastic bags, bottles, cutlery, fishing line, synthetic fabrics, Styrofoam, food containers, and other plastic materials. Over time, exposure to sunlight, weathering, and physical abrasion can cause these larger plastics to fragment into smaller pieces, eventually contributing to microplastic pollution.

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. Because most plastics do not readily biodegrade, they can persist in the environment and fragment into increasingly smaller pieces over time. These particles can accumulate throughout ecosystems and are often difficult to remove once dispersed. The image above shows microplastics collected from a tide pool in the Greater Portland area.