However, marine debris of all types is building up in our oceans, and on shorelines across Canada. Whether or not you live near the ocean, your actions have an effect on the health of the ocean.
Marine debris can come from many sources.
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.