Ocean Cleanup Project: Why It Will Either Help Oceans Or Become Part Of The Plastic Problem

       A lot of publicity has been generated regarding a new program to clean up plastics from ocean garbage patches. People are mistaken if they believe this will correct the problem of plastics and oil based contaminants killing the oceans. This new program and the technology it will employ will help clean up some, or hopefully a lot, of the plastics from the ocean's garbage patches, but it is not the answer to the poisoning of the oceans by plastics and other oil based contaminants
       First, most plastics and oil based contaminants do not make it to the garbage patches of the oceans. One study estimates that over 94 per cent of the plastic contaminants that enter into the oceans disperse and never reach the garbage patches.
       Second, even if large amounts of plastics are removed from the garbage patches, it will nowhere equal the greater amounts of plastics and other oil based contaminants that are newly entering into the oceans.
      Third, a lot of plastic material breaks down into small particles that not only disperse, but are too small to capture.
      People too often look for easy answers and when easy answers are offered, continue in their complacency. It is naive and reckless to believe that the plastic poisoning of the oceans will be solved because of technology alone.
      The war that must be won, if there is any hope for saving the oceans and ourselves, must be fought on many fronts. It will require hard work. Technology cannot be used as the excuse to avoid fighting these battles and to avoid the necessary hard work.
       Most plastic, styrofoam and other oil based garbage in the oceans originates from the land, including coastal areas. Many countries lack the resources for proper garbage pickup and proper disposal of trash. Much of their plastic and other oil based garbage ends up in the oceans, oftentimes by entering waterways that lead to oceans. The garbage from many coastal communities and cities that lack proper garbage removal and disposal often goes directly into the oceans.
        In a Youtube video called, "Coastal Communities And The Failure To Save Oceans From Garbage", the garbage from just one small coastal community that lacks proper garbage removal and disposal can be seen. The plastics and other trash from just this one small coastal community are significant.
       There needs to be a worldwide effort to ensure the proper removal and disposal of garbage so that the ocean contamination ends.
        Pressure must be put on food manufacturers and other companies to seek alternatives to plastic and oil based wrappers and packaging materials. This includes wrappers for candies, chips and cookies, and plastic bags, whether small or large.
         A worldwide effort to employ people to remove garbage from coastlines and elsewhere will help the environment, in addition to providing employment. It will be good for families, communities, countries and the oceans.
         Styrofoam plates, cups, and all single use styrofoam items must be banned.
         In many countries, food and drinks, including hot drinks and hot food, are put into small plastic bags. This is unhealthy for people because toxic chemical leach out from the plastic bags when heated. These single use bags usually end up in the oceans. Alternatives to plastics must be found.
        Greater research needs to be conducted to obtain alternatives to plastics, styrofoam and other oil based packaging materials.
        Plastics and oil based materials release toxic chemicals, including bpa, and also act as magnets for toxic chemicals, which increase their danger to fish, other wildlife, and ultimately people.
        Unless people are willing to do hard work to clean up the coastlines and other places and significantly reduce the amount of contaminants that enter into the oceans, all the technology in the world will not save the oceans. Every day that plastics are removed from the garbage patches of the oceans or other places by technology, far more plastics enter into the oceans.
         Saving the oceans requires hard work and interventions on many levels. If the ocean cleanup project and its technology are another excuse for continued complacency, the oceans are doomed. If the ocean cleanup and its new technology become one part of a massive effort on many fronts to save the oceans, then there is hope.