Litter can travel from your community through pipes, sewers, lakes, rivers and streams, to eventually end up in the ocean. Although some of the garbage comes from marine sources, most comes from land-based sources. Trash can be carried on the wind from our landfills to the ocean, blown off boats, or even left behind on our beaches. We are each responsible for ensuring that our litter and trash do not end up in the ocean. Many of these items are made of recyclable material and should have been recycled rather than littering our coasts and shorelines.
Plastic is the type of garbage most often found on shores.
Plastics pose a particular problem because of the same qualities that make them useful - they are lightweight, solid and durable, which allows them also to stick around for a long time in the environment. The effects of marine debris are widespread. Wildlife are hurt or killed when they eat or become entangled in marine debris. Fishing nets and line, rubber bands, plastic bags, ropes, styrofoam, and other plastic items pose the most danger. Many species such as turtles, whales, and dolphins often confuse plastics with food.