In a span of just over three weeks, more than 47 tons of plastic waste were removed from America’s largest protected marine reserve, sometimes directly off animals, a stark reminder of the scourge of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.
![Pre-production plastic pellets are melted down and used in the manufacturing of the plastic products that we use everyday. These pellets enter the environment and are frequently found in areas of marine debris concentration (Courtesy of NOAA Marine Debris Program CC BY 2.0 via Flickr).](https://coastalcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7656726070_6637a42f0a_k-584x438.jpg)
In a span of just over three weeks, more than 47 tons of plastic waste were removed from America’s largest protected marine reserve, sometimes directly off animals, a stark reminder of the scourge of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.