What Can We Do?

Possible Solutions

However small our impact may seem, it does make a difference; it does bring change!

• Prevention

Currently, the most effective solution to help the oceans is prevention. There are just no cost-effective ways to safely clean the garbage out of the patches, so all we can really do is halt the growth of them so the garbage within can break down to the normal weathering processes that cause the patches to slowly shrink over years and decades. As consumers, the most important thing we can do to help mitigate the problem of garbage patches is to become conscious of how much plastic waste ends up in our waterways and work to reduce the amount we contribute to that.

• Fabrics

The main contributor to microplastic pollution (35%) is from synthetic fiber clothing. The small fibers that clothing sheds during washing are incredibly hard to filter out of the water. Switching to natural-fiber clothing could be a relatively easy and impactful change consumers can make.

Being an informed consumer is the most significant change you can make to have an impact on plastic pollution. Companies are becoming more and more aware of the role they play in polluting the world's waterways with plastic, but the unfortunate truth is that they will continue to make products that are bad for the environment while there is demand for those products. Some companies are conscious of the shifting attitudes the public has toward plastic products and the resulting plastic pollution and are taking positive steps to provide more environmentally friendly products to their customers.

PrAna recently achieved its goal of a 100% plastic-free packaging goal in their Fall/Winter 2021 line. Other companies are innovating ways to reduce the impact their products have upon the environment.

Patagonia developed a laundry bag that captures up to 99% of the microplastic fibers released by their synthetic fiber clothing during a wash/dry cycle.

• Reduce/Reuse/Recycle

• Reduce. In order to help the environment, customers should be conscious about their purchases. Everything we buy should be checked for necessity and environmentally friendly packaging. The less trash we produce, the better it is for oceans.

• Reuse. Trying to repurpose or giving away what is not needed anymore helps too. Repair things whenever possible even though it is often easier to buy a new item. That will help not only the environment but a master who fixes it for you.

• Recycle. The easiest way here is to use your recycle bin. However, there are other ways to recycle. For example, your local library may collect batteries. Best Buy stores have several bins; they recycle plastic bags, chargers, and electronics.

• Beach Clean-Up

In the summer of 2018, while traveling to my homeland Baku, Azerbaijan by the Caspian Sea, I organized a beach clean-up. My 5-year-old son helped me with that. Our activity on a local small beach attracted volunteers. In 5 days of the clean-up mission, a considerable amount of trash was gathered and many people were involved.

Apparently, beach clean-up is a fun activity shared with your family, friends, and community. Just grab some gloves and garbage bags the next time you go to the beach. If you don't feel like going to work that day, just pick up one or two pieces or bottles on the way from the beach.