Ocean cleanup device successfully collects plastic for first time
A huge floating device designed by Dutch scientists to clean up an island of rubbish in the Pacific Ocean that is three times the size of France has successfully picked up plastic from the high seas for the first time.
Microplastics in the Great Lakes: Becoming benthic
From the Great Pacific garbage patch to inland rivers, plastics are among the most widespread contaminants on Earth. Microplastics — particles of plastic smaller than five millimeters — are especially pervasive. As they build up in Earth’s waters, microplastics are also becoming a permanent part of the planet’s sedimentary layers.
California lawmakers fail to pass sweeping plastic pollution plan
In a setback for environmental groups, California lawmakers early Saturday morning ended the 2019 legislative session without passing two bills that would have been the most ambitious effort in the nation to reduce the massive amounts of plastic pollution that are washing into oceans, rivers and lakes around the world.
Ocean trash is building up. This artist reveals what’s out there.
Barry Rosenthal started collecting plastic garbage on a New York shoreline. His photographs reveal the variety of water-borne trash.
Four billion particles of microplastics discovered in major body of water
While collecting water samples and plankton, researchers discovered a high concentration of microplastics, which are known to disrupt the marine food chain.
It’s raining plastic: microscopic fibers fall from the sky in Rocky Mountains
Discovery raises new questions about the amount of plastic waste permeating the air, water, and soil virtually everywhere on Earth
Disposable plastic water bottles banned from San Francisco airport
In an effort to make SFO more environmentally friendly, the airport is adding plastic water bottles to its list of restricted food service items starting August 20. The airport, just south of San Francisco, set a goal three years ago of becoming the world’s first zero-waste airport by 2021.
This Irish teenager may have a solution for a plastic-free ocean
A teenager from Ireland may have found a way to rescue our oceans from the growing plastic pollution problem.
Non-lethal impacts of seabirds’ plastic ingestion
A new study of seabirds that had ingested plastic debris has revealed a range of non-lethal impacts on their health and physiology. While seabird deaths due to swallowing plastic debris or becoming entangled in it have received global attention, the non-lethal effects on seabirds that survive plastic ingestion are less well-known.