Marine Debris

Issue

Marine debris is any persistent manufactured material that can end up - intentionally or unintentionally - in our rivers, lakes, and ocean.

Learn more about marine debris from northeast MI students and Great Lakes science partners.

Taking Action

MARINE DEBRIS REMOVAL

Stop litter from entering the Great Lakes!

Safety First!

Explore these safety tips for litter cleanups to make sure you stay safe while protecting the Great Lakes!

MARINE DEBRIS PREVENTION

Sustainable Resource Management (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and more!)

REDUCE

Refuse single-use plastics

Choose one single-use plastic item to refuse. Add more items as you can!

Did you know the NEMIGLSI network is piloting a Taking a Bite of Lunchroom Waste curriculum and tool kit? It will be available in the 2022-23 school year.

REUSE

By reusing, you cut out single-use plastics.

Be sure to wash your reusable items between use!

RECYCLE

RESOURCE: Explore MI EGLE Recycling Racoons campaign, an effort to improve recycling in Michigan.

Help others learn more about marine debris!

Need pictures?

RESOURCE: Visit MI Sea Grant's Marine Debris Flickr album, https://flic.kr/s/aHsmN4UTEB. Be sure to credit the photographer when using the images.

Did you know we use 1 TRILLION single-use plastic bags globally each year? (Source: The World Counts)

BUILD YOUR OWN BAG MONSTER

Place Based Stewardship Education

Case Study: Plastics 101

<<VIDEO: Ella White Elementary (Alpena Public Schools) students used their video communication skills to produce an educational film about plastics and prevention!

RESOURCE: Check out the sequel: Microplastics 101 (produced by the following year's class).

COMMUNITY PARTNER CONNECTIONS

Get supplies and contribute to community science through their Adopt-A-Beach program

Join the #GreatLakes1Million challenge - an effort to remove 1 million pieces of litter from the Great Lakes Basin