What Can Be Done
Reduce Use of Single Use Plastics
Single use plastics surround us in our every day lives. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded. The best way to reduce your use is to refuse any single use plastics that you don't need. (e.g. straws, plastic bags,). Purchasing reusable version of those products will decrease the amount of plastic thrown away.
Recycle Properly
Always recycle single-use (and other) plastics. Currently only 9% of all plastics are recycled worldwide. Recycling keeps plastic out of the water and lowers the amount of "new" plastic on the market. Avoid recycling plastics that have been contaminated with something (eg. Food) because that will ruin the whole batch of plastics that were meant to be recycled.
Support Plastic Bans
City's have been starting to ban single use plastics. By supporting these bans it will be more likely for the ban to be imposed and these single use plastics will be replaced by single use non plastics (eg. Plastic straw- paper straw).
Participate in Beach and River Cleanups
Participate in, or organize, a beach or waterway cleanup to help remove plastics from the ocean and prevent them from entering in the first place. This is one of the most effective and beneficial ways to combat plastic waste in the ocean.