Garbage Island
- Thread starter william24424
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The real solution is obvious. Don't litter
I am not a tree hugger, but there are too many jerks that just don't care about anyone but themselves and are utterly selfish lazy slobs One small thing that can help (every little thing adds up) is to encourage more usage of biodegradible plastic bags. I think many of the grocery stores around here are using them. Not as rugged as the old bags but they work fine and supposedly will disintegrate in a year or 2 worst case. They also use less energy to make and produce two-thirds less greenhouse gasses than regular plastic bags but they are more costly. Even a few weeks for something to breakdown is long for marine life and it only takes one day when they eat something and get plastic in them to harm them, but its a start http://www.plasticbagsforyou.com/PRODUCTS/biodegradablebags.html
I am not a tree hugger, but there are too many jerks that just don't care about anyone but themselves and are utterly selfish lazy slobs One small thing that can help (every little thing adds up) is to encourage more usage of biodegradible plastic bags. I think many of the grocery stores around here are using them. Not as rugged as the old bags but they work fine and supposedly will disintegrate in a year or 2 worst case. They also use less energy to make and produce two-thirds less greenhouse gasses than regular plastic bags but they are more costly. Even a few weeks for something to breakdown is long for marine life and it only takes one day when they eat something and get plastic in them to harm them, but its a start http://www.plasticbagsforyou.com/PRODUCTS/biodegradablebags.html
Only halfway there Tom
Not littering is a good start but why not pick up what you can? I know it is a little difficult on a boat with limited storage but why not try and improve the situation. When I visit islands, I often pick up trash and bring it back. Some think this only encourages the lazy people to throw trash out in the first place but there is no changing them. They will continue to litter whether we pick it up or not. And stiffer penalties. I see signs that say $100 fine. It cost more than $100 to produce the sign and put it up. Why not $1000 or better yet $3000. And enforce it. Tim R.
Not littering is a good start but why not pick up what you can? I know it is a little difficult on a boat with limited storage but why not try and improve the situation. When I visit islands, I often pick up trash and bring it back. Some think this only encourages the lazy people to throw trash out in the first place but there is no changing them. They will continue to litter whether we pick it up or not. And stiffer penalties. I see signs that say $100 fine. It cost more than $100 to produce the sign and put it up. Why not $1000 or better yet $3000. And enforce it. Tim R.
Yep
Sperm Control. No other way around it. When we were in Central America and the Caribbean during the 90's, for the locals, dumping trash ANYWHERE was just a way of life. I have endless stories about the filth those folks spread about their land and the sea. Of course the sea belongs to all of us like the air. Hey! Here's one for ya; Puerto Vallarta. Garbage truck going down a main road, fully loaded with trash in bags. (some people obviously care enough to properly dispose of it) Only problem was that the guys working the truck didn't want to go all the way to the dump to get rid of it. Yep, as they drove down the highway, two of them in the bed (dump truck) off-loaded it onto the shoulder of the road. They got home earlier with an empty truck. It's the way of life for the vast majority of Mexicans that we saw. And it was the same further south. All you had to do was peek under the jungle foliage. Most Caribbean islands were the same. (Not the French islands though) British Columbia is nearly spotless. Luckely the trash from Asia seems to come ashore elsewhere. Whew. My home county is just a trash dump for the low-lifes. We rode our horses around many of the back roads. Trash dumped everywhere. And we have an educated populace, professional too. The problem is that the have-nots resent the success that they see of others and do the most that they can to spoil our enviornment. Besides, our area has commercial trash disposal. Most of us have to pay to dump. The low-lifes get it for free. Sad Ou,Ou. Here's another one for you. We're on our honeymoon. (early '80's) We just traveled for 45 minutes in a launch from the airport to our hotel across, arguably, the MOST beautiful lagoon on Earth. Bora Bora. Everyone on the boat is literally stunned. We get to the wharf and off-load. An old grinder, about 70 years of age, is tending to the bow line. Next to him, on the ground, is an empty plastic bottle used for water. For no reason he looks down and kicks it into the lagoon. I'll never forget the sound of our group. A collective gasp. Stunned again. But the old man couldn't of cared less. We were the reason his cost of living was too high. Revenge.
Sperm Control. No other way around it. When we were in Central America and the Caribbean during the 90's, for the locals, dumping trash ANYWHERE was just a way of life. I have endless stories about the filth those folks spread about their land and the sea. Of course the sea belongs to all of us like the air. Hey! Here's one for ya; Puerto Vallarta. Garbage truck going down a main road, fully loaded with trash in bags. (some people obviously care enough to properly dispose of it) Only problem was that the guys working the truck didn't want to go all the way to the dump to get rid of it. Yep, as they drove down the highway, two of them in the bed (dump truck) off-loaded it onto the shoulder of the road. They got home earlier with an empty truck. It's the way of life for the vast majority of Mexicans that we saw. And it was the same further south. All you had to do was peek under the jungle foliage. Most Caribbean islands were the same. (Not the French islands though) British Columbia is nearly spotless. Luckely the trash from Asia seems to come ashore elsewhere. Whew. My home county is just a trash dump for the low-lifes. We rode our horses around many of the back roads. Trash dumped everywhere. And we have an educated populace, professional too. The problem is that the have-nots resent the success that they see of others and do the most that they can to spoil our enviornment. Besides, our area has commercial trash disposal. Most of us have to pay to dump. The low-lifes get it for free. Sad Ou,Ou. Here's another one for you. We're on our honeymoon. (early '80's) We just traveled for 45 minutes in a launch from the airport to our hotel across, arguably, the MOST beautiful lagoon on Earth. Bora Bora. Everyone on the boat is literally stunned. We get to the wharf and off-load. An old grinder, about 70 years of age, is tending to the bow line. Next to him, on the ground, is an empty plastic bottle used for water. For no reason he looks down and kicks it into the lagoon. I'll never forget the sound of our group. A collective gasp. Stunned again. But the old man couldn't of cared less. We were the reason his cost of living was too high. Revenge.
Yep
Sperm Control. No other way around it. When we were in Central America and the Caribbean during the 90's, for the locals, dumping trash ANYWHERE was just a way of life. I have endless stories about the filth those folks spread about their land and the sea. Of course the sea belongs to all of us like the air. Hey! Here's one for ya; Puerto Vallarta. Garbage truck going down a main road, fully loaded with trash in bags. (some people obviously care enough to properly dispose of it) Only problem was that the guys working the truck didn't want to go all the way to the dump to get rid of it. Yep, as they drove down the highway, two of them in the bed (dump truck) off-loaded it onto the shoulder of the road. They got home earlier with an empty truck. It's the way of life for the vast majority of Mexicans that we saw. And it was the same further south. All you had to do was peek under the jungle foliage. Most Caribbean islands were the same. (Not the French islands though) British Columbia is nearly spotless. Luckely the trash from Asia seems to come ashore elsewhere. Whew. My home county is just a trash dump for the low-lifes. We rode our horses around many of the back roads. Trash dumped everywhere. And we have an educated populace, professional too. The problem is that the have-nots resent the success that they see of others and do the most that they can to spoil our enviornment. Besides, our area has commercial trash disposal. Most of us have to pay to dump. The low-lifes get it for free. Sad Ou,Ou. Here's another one for you. We're on our honeymoon. (early '80's) We just traveled for 45 minutes in a launch from the airport to our hotel across, arguably, the MOST beautiful lagoon on Earth. Bora Bora. Everyone on the boat is literally stunned. We get to the wharf and off-load. An old grinder, about 70 years of age, is tending to the bow line. Next to him, on the ground, is an empty plastic bottle used for water. For no reason he looks down and kicks it into the lagoon. I'll never forget the sound of our group. A collective gasp. Stunned again. But the old man couldn't of cared less. We were the reason his cost of living was too high. Revenge.
Sperm Control. No other way around it. When we were in Central America and the Caribbean during the 90's, for the locals, dumping trash ANYWHERE was just a way of life. I have endless stories about the filth those folks spread about their land and the sea. Of course the sea belongs to all of us like the air. Hey! Here's one for ya; Puerto Vallarta. Garbage truck going down a main road, fully loaded with trash in bags. (some people obviously care enough to properly dispose of it) Only problem was that the guys working the truck didn't want to go all the way to the dump to get rid of it. Yep, as they drove down the highway, two of them in the bed (dump truck) off-loaded it onto the shoulder of the road. They got home earlier with an empty truck. It's the way of life for the vast majority of Mexicans that we saw. And it was the same further south. All you had to do was peek under the jungle foliage. Most Caribbean islands were the same. (Not the French islands though) British Columbia is nearly spotless. Luckely the trash from Asia seems to come ashore elsewhere. Whew. My home county is just a trash dump for the low-lifes. We rode our horses around many of the back roads. Trash dumped everywhere. And we have an educated populace, professional too. The problem is that the have-nots resent the success that they see of others and do the most that they can to spoil our enviornment. Besides, our area has commercial trash disposal. Most of us have to pay to dump. The low-lifes get it for free. Sad Ou,Ou. Here's another one for you. We're on our honeymoon. (early '80's) We just traveled for 45 minutes in a launch from the airport to our hotel across, arguably, the MOST beautiful lagoon on Earth. Bora Bora. Everyone on the boat is literally stunned. We get to the wharf and off-load. An old grinder, about 70 years of age, is tending to the bow line. Next to him, on the ground, is an empty plastic bottle used for water. For no reason he looks down and kicks it into the lagoon. I'll never forget the sound of our group. A collective gasp. Stunned again. But the old man couldn't of cared less. We were the reason his cost of living was too high. Revenge.
Fred, Hal Roth in Seafaring Trilogy pointed out that
of all the islands they visited in the South Pacific that were under French or British control were spotless and pristine, while those under the USA control were embarrassingly filthy, riddled with trash and wreckage. Frank
of all the islands they visited in the South Pacific that were under French or British control were spotless and pristine, while those under the USA control were embarrassingly filthy, riddled with trash and wreckage. Frank
Fred, Hal Roth in Seafaring Trilogy pointed out that
of all the islands they visited in the South Pacific that were under French or British control were spotless and pristine, while those under the USA control were embarrassingly filthy, riddled with trash and wreckage. Frank
of all the islands they visited in the South Pacific that were under French or British control were spotless and pristine, while those under the USA control were embarrassingly filthy, riddled with trash and wreckage. Frank
how much plastic did you throw
away after the big C-day its all about marketing . try this: when you buy something that comes with alot of plastic packaging to throw away stop. put it all in a box and send it to the C E O of the company that made it. let them decide what to do with it. if you can, send it postage due. if a couple of people do this twice a week to the same CEO they'll get the message
away after the big C-day its all about marketing . try this: when you buy something that comes with alot of plastic packaging to throw away stop. put it all in a box and send it to the C E O of the company that made it. let them decide what to do with it. if you can, send it postage due. if a couple of people do this twice a week to the same CEO they'll get the message
how much plastic did you throw
away after the big C-day its all about marketing . try this: when you buy something that comes with alot of plastic packaging to throw away stop. put it all in a box and send it to the C E O of the company that made it. let them decide what to do with it. if you can, send it postage due. if a couple of people do this twice a week to the same CEO they'll get the message
away after the big C-day its all about marketing . try this: when you buy something that comes with alot of plastic packaging to throw away stop. put it all in a box and send it to the C E O of the company that made it. let them decide what to do with it. if you can, send it postage due. if a couple of people do this twice a week to the same CEO they'll get the message
And we wonder why some species are not doing well!
OK. I admit it. I am a smoker who loves the beach and sailing. When I was younger I used to leave cigarette butts on the beach or even toss them into the water. As I approach the half century mark I will not litter even a cigarette butt if I can help it. I guess the rationalization went something like: "it is mostly cotton and will degrade naturally". Not today though. I used to have rationalizations for dumping beer bottles overboard too until I took up scuba diving and saw the bottom of our bay. I never liked seeing cigarette butts on the beach or floating in the water so now I pick up any on the beach (including my own) and dispose of them properly - in the trash (which hopefully makes it to the dump!). The clincher for me was while I was on Maui, HI at the aquarium where they had some juvenile green turtles in a pool. The turtle's caretaker gave a speech on the effect of cigarette butts being a major cause for health problems for these animals. Their spin on the subject is that the butts hang around in water and are eventually overgrown with weed growth which is what the turtles eat. They can't digest the filters so they eventually get plugged up with butts which they can't pass through their digestive systems. The sea turtles eat mostly green leafy sea vegetation - sea weed. No wonder they are endangered on the East coast. Where I keep my boat there is significant growth on any mooring lines after one season so imagine the amount of growth growing on all the stuff on that theorized floating 'garbage island' in the oceans! I also agree with SandSailor that todays marketing and packaging of retail products exacerbates the problem we have dealing with garbage stream we are all producing. So does buying stuff on-line with all the packaging, bubble wrap or 'peanuts' and cardboard. Some waste is unavoidable perhaps but I do like the mantra of: "Reduce, Re-use, Recycle" - don't pretend that just because you can't see it, it isn't there. I better stop there at the risk of being Sails Call Lounged or called a tree hugger - I still use paper and wood, epoxy, On-Off, etc, etc. Hopefully I am just preaching to the choir.
OK. I admit it. I am a smoker who loves the beach and sailing. When I was younger I used to leave cigarette butts on the beach or even toss them into the water. As I approach the half century mark I will not litter even a cigarette butt if I can help it. I guess the rationalization went something like: "it is mostly cotton and will degrade naturally". Not today though. I used to have rationalizations for dumping beer bottles overboard too until I took up scuba diving and saw the bottom of our bay. I never liked seeing cigarette butts on the beach or floating in the water so now I pick up any on the beach (including my own) and dispose of them properly - in the trash (which hopefully makes it to the dump!). The clincher for me was while I was on Maui, HI at the aquarium where they had some juvenile green turtles in a pool. The turtle's caretaker gave a speech on the effect of cigarette butts being a major cause for health problems for these animals. Their spin on the subject is that the butts hang around in water and are eventually overgrown with weed growth which is what the turtles eat. They can't digest the filters so they eventually get plugged up with butts which they can't pass through their digestive systems. The sea turtles eat mostly green leafy sea vegetation - sea weed. No wonder they are endangered on the East coast. Where I keep my boat there is significant growth on any mooring lines after one season so imagine the amount of growth growing on all the stuff on that theorized floating 'garbage island' in the oceans! I also agree with SandSailor that todays marketing and packaging of retail products exacerbates the problem we have dealing with garbage stream we are all producing. So does buying stuff on-line with all the packaging, bubble wrap or 'peanuts' and cardboard. Some waste is unavoidable perhaps but I do like the mantra of: "Reduce, Re-use, Recycle" - don't pretend that just because you can't see it, it isn't there. I better stop there at the risk of being Sails Call Lounged or called a tree hugger - I still use paper and wood, epoxy, On-Off, etc, etc. Hopefully I am just preaching to the choir.
And we wonder why some species are not doing well!
OK. I admit it. I am a smoker who loves the beach and sailing. When I was younger I used to leave cigarette butts on the beach or even toss them into the water. As I approach the half century mark I will not litter even a cigarette butt if I can help it. I guess the rationalization went something like: "it is mostly cotton and will degrade naturally". Not today though. I used to have rationalizations for dumping beer bottles overboard too until I took up scuba diving and saw the bottom of our bay. I never liked seeing cigarette butts on the beach or floating in the water so now I pick up any on the beach (including my own) and dispose of them properly - in the trash (which hopefully makes it to the dump!). The clincher for me was while I was on Maui, HI at the aquarium where they had some juvenile green turtles in a pool. The turtle's caretaker gave a speech on the effect of cigarette butts being a major cause for health problems for these animals. Their spin on the subject is that the butts hang around in water and are eventually overgrown with weed growth which is what the turtles eat. They can't digest the filters so they eventually get plugged up with butts which they can't pass through their digestive systems. The sea turtles eat mostly green leafy sea vegetation - sea weed. No wonder they are endangered on the East coast. Where I keep my boat there is significant growth on any mooring lines after one season so imagine the amount of growth growing on all the stuff on that theorized floating 'garbage island' in the oceans! I also agree with SandSailor that todays marketing and packaging of retail products exacerbates the problem we have dealing with garbage stream we are all producing. So does buying stuff on-line with all the packaging, bubble wrap or 'peanuts' and cardboard. Some waste is unavoidable perhaps but I do like the mantra of: "Reduce, Re-use, Recycle" - don't pretend that just because you can't see it, it isn't there. I better stop there at the risk of being Sails Call Lounged or called a tree hugger - I still use paper and wood, epoxy, On-Off, etc, etc. Hopefully I am just preaching to the choir.
OK. I admit it. I am a smoker who loves the beach and sailing. When I was younger I used to leave cigarette butts on the beach or even toss them into the water. As I approach the half century mark I will not litter even a cigarette butt if I can help it. I guess the rationalization went something like: "it is mostly cotton and will degrade naturally". Not today though. I used to have rationalizations for dumping beer bottles overboard too until I took up scuba diving and saw the bottom of our bay. I never liked seeing cigarette butts on the beach or floating in the water so now I pick up any on the beach (including my own) and dispose of them properly - in the trash (which hopefully makes it to the dump!). The clincher for me was while I was on Maui, HI at the aquarium where they had some juvenile green turtles in a pool. The turtle's caretaker gave a speech on the effect of cigarette butts being a major cause for health problems for these animals. Their spin on the subject is that the butts hang around in water and are eventually overgrown with weed growth which is what the turtles eat. They can't digest the filters so they eventually get plugged up with butts which they can't pass through their digestive systems. The sea turtles eat mostly green leafy sea vegetation - sea weed. No wonder they are endangered on the East coast. Where I keep my boat there is significant growth on any mooring lines after one season so imagine the amount of growth growing on all the stuff on that theorized floating 'garbage island' in the oceans! I also agree with SandSailor that todays marketing and packaging of retail products exacerbates the problem we have dealing with garbage stream we are all producing. So does buying stuff on-line with all the packaging, bubble wrap or 'peanuts' and cardboard. Some waste is unavoidable perhaps but I do like the mantra of: "Reduce, Re-use, Recycle" - don't pretend that just because you can't see it, it isn't there. I better stop there at the risk of being Sails Call Lounged or called a tree hugger - I still use paper and wood, epoxy, On-Off, etc, etc. Hopefully I am just preaching to the choir.
Size of Texas?
Anyone who has driven across The Great State of Texas would be very skeptical of this, as it would have to be 800 miles across. That would certainly show up on a sat photo. The size of Rhode Island I might beleive. It amazes me when crossing the Gulf how much trash you see.
Anyone who has driven across The Great State of Texas would be very skeptical of this, as it would have to be 800 miles across. That would certainly show up on a sat photo. The size of Rhode Island I might beleive. It amazes me when crossing the Gulf how much trash you see.
Size of Texas?
Anyone who has driven across The Great State of Texas would be very skeptical of this, as it would have to be 800 miles across. That would certainly show up on a sat photo. The size of Rhode Island I might beleive. It amazes me when crossing the Gulf how much trash you see.
Anyone who has driven across The Great State of Texas would be very skeptical of this, as it would have to be 800 miles across. That would certainly show up on a sat photo. The size of Rhode Island I might beleive. It amazes me when crossing the Gulf how much trash you see.
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