Plastic Debris Archives - Leave Only Footprints

Understanding the Six Degrees of Marine Debris Separation

By lofblog|2019-09-22T01:58:37+00:00September 24th, 2019|Blog|0 Comments

We all know that trash ends up in our oceans and waterways. While some of it may be due to beachgoers, boaters and passersby who accidently or purposefully litter, it can also start miles away from the beach. Marine debris is found in every ocean in the world. A world-wide problem may seem difficult to tackle, but with marine debris, even one individual can create a positive effect. Understanding the six degrees of marine debris separation is the first step [...]

How does plastic get into the Gulf of Mexico?

By lofadmin|2018-04-25T19:08:14+00:00April 25th, 2018|Blog|0 Comments

By now you may have heard of the “plastic soup” in the Gulf of Mexico. Volunteer citizen-scientists who have gathered water samples find permanent fragments of micro-plastics in nearly every sample taken. These microplastics are created when the sun and wave action combine to break up larger pieces of plastic debris into tiny, microscopic bits. The problem, experts say, is more than just plastic drink bottles, though those can be culprits as well. It’s also that so many items are [...]