What is marine debris (marine debris)?

Before talking about what marine debris is, let us first give a simple definition of marine pollution. What is marine pollution? Marine pollution is the direct or indirect introduction of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) by humans, causing adverse effects such as damage to biological resources, marine life and endangering human health. To put it simply, marine pollution is caused by human activities. Among them, the most serious and closest to you and me is the marine debris generated by human activities, also known as the marine garbage problem.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the definition of marine debris is as follows: Marine debris (Marine Debris) means any direct or indirect generated by human activities, intentionally or unintentionally discarded directly or indirectly, regardless of its source, The solid waste that continuously and eventually enters the marine environment. To put it in the vernacular, marine garbage (marine debris) is the waste that is produced by human activities and finally flows into the ocean. The problem of marine litter is the most extensive, serious, and spreading pollution currently facing the world. Therefore, when discussing the issue of marine pollution, we tend to focus on the issue of marine debris.

What are the types of marine garbage (marine debris)?

After we have established the basic concept of marine debris, you may want to ask, how many types of marine debris are there? However, there is no standard answer to this question. In the previous paragraph, we have defined that marine garbage is the waste that is produced by human activities and finally flows into the ocean. Therefore, any marine debris, including glass bottles, cans, iron and aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cans, styrofoam, etc. can be classified as marine debris. However, the most difficult thing to solve is the marine debris of plastic products.

The plastic products in the marine trash are likely to cause adverse effects on the sea creatures, such as accidental eating of plastic fragments and death. More importantly, the ocean cannot effectively decompose such plastic waste, so these plastic products can only be broken into smaller pieces. These small fragments with a length of less than 5mm are defined as microplastics by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The harm caused by plastic particles to marine life and the environment is very significant.

How to solve marine garbage (marine debris)?

How to solve marine garbage (marine debris)? 

Here are five things we can do to end plastic pollution starting today:

1. Say "no" to plastic bags​

According to estimates, there are 1 million plastic bags used every minute in the world, and it may take 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade. In the past two decades, more and more countries and cities have either banned plastic bags (such as Rwanda, California, etc.), or imposed taxes on plastic bags (such as Ireland, Washington, DC, etc.) to encourage people not to use plastic bags. These measures have been successful to varying degrees, but you can set an example for others by bringing your own reusable shopping bag. Please do not use nylon bags or polyester bags, because they are also made of plastic-please use cotton bags.

2. Bring your own bottle of water

Did you know that people buy about 1 million plastic bottles every minute, and most of them are not recyclable? How many plastic bottles did you buy this week? We have suggested an immediate solution for you: fill your own bottle with water or any other beverage you drink. Put a reusable bottle in your bag, and place two reusable bottles on the desk-a cup for hot drinking and a glass for cold drinking. Plastic bottles, especially those made of polyethylene terephthalate, take more than 400 years to degrade naturally.

3. Try not to use plastic straws

Plastic straws are one of the largest plastic products found in the world's oceans, and they are generally not recyclable. As a customer, please refuse to use plastic straws and plastic stirring rods when you go to restaurants, cafes, and small food stalls to consume. Please help promote the use of paper straws, as Starbucks and McDonald’s have begun to do so; or not use straws at all. If you have to use straws, please bring a few. At present, metal straws and bamboo straws can be bought or provided in many places.

4. Avoid using plastic tableware

When ordering takeout, please inform the seller not to use plastic tableware. When entertaining guests, please use reusable tableware. In 2016, France became the first country to ban tableware such as plastic plates and plastic cups, hoping to promote the innovation of non-degradable tableware. When shopping, please visit a few more stores and choose a more ocean-friendly approach.

5. Green home

When you are at home, make a “green” choice, that is, choose products with less plastic packaging. Please change the habit of throwing away the product after use. Avoid using cosmetics and personal hygiene products that contain Microbeads. Microbeads are micro-plastics that are commonly found in toothpaste and scrubs you use. The latest research shows that micro-beads are increasingly harmful to marine organisms, which in turn will cause potential harm to human health. Before buying clothes containing man-made microfibers, please visit a few more stores. Under normal circumstances, during the laundry process, microfibers enter the water, and then discharged into the ocean, and then maybe ingested by marine fish and other marine animals.