ways you can make an impact.

The easiest and most direct way that you can make an impact on the amount of plastics in the oceans, is by reducing your own use of single-use plastics. 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. Refuse single-use plastics when they are offred to you at restaurants (this might be a great conversation opener about plastic alternatives) and make sure you always carry your reusable grocery bags, water bottles, produce bags, utensils and coffee cups.

Participate in a Beach, River or Neighborhood Cleanup

The most direct way to rid the ocean of plastics, is to participate in, or organize, a beach cleanup. It’s can be as simple as bringing a group of friends to a beach, waterway or neighborhood to pickup trash with gloves, trash bags and trash pickers, or you can join a local organization’s cleanup or an international event like the International Coastal Cleanup.

Recycle

This might seem obvious, but recycling plastic makes a huge difference in the amount of new plastics that are produced.

Avoid Microbeads

Tiny plastic particles, called “microbeads,” have become a growing source of ocean plastic pollution in recent years. Microbeads are found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, and they readily enter our oceans and waterways through our sewer systems, and affect hundreds of marine species. Avoid products containing plastic microbeads by looking for “polythelene” and “polypropylene” on the ingredient labels of your cosmetic products.

Ocean Heroes Challenge

Encourage kids to receive the Ocean Heroes Action Toolkit Campaign Planner. This Action Toolkit walks you through the creation of a campaign to achieve real plastic fighting results - To stop the use of plastic straws in your community! 

Spread the word

Write to your city council asking them to make policy changes that better our environment.

Encourage restaurants and hotels to use plastic alternatives.

Use social media for good! Share your own story about changes you've made to your daily routine in order to help #ZAPPLASTIC.