The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

It is a giant area of waste in the North Pacific Ocean. The Garbage Patch is not so much an island of floating waste as a collection of large, small and very small pieces of plastic.

Where does the plastic come from?

It is thought that about 80% of the plastic originates on land. It is picked up by wind and rain and carried into the rivers. 20% comes from ships and fishing boats.

What happens to the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Due to sunlight, salt water and wave action the plastic in the sea is broken up into smaller and smaller fragments. These fragments are reduced to pieces that are as tiny as grains of sand. Sea animals eat these fragments.