November 2011 | $2.99

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trash islandsA Trashy Situation: How your discarded plastic is finding its way back to you

T R A S H ISLANDSA Trashy Situationby Jessie Leete

In 2009, scientists discovered a new island located 1,000 miles northeast of Hawaii that measures approximately double the size of Texas. Despite its seemingly appealing location, this island is no paradise. You will not lie beneath a palm tree and bury your toes in the sand; in fact, humans are

unlikely to ever be able to visit this island, which is ironic considering humans are responsible for its existence. There are supposedly three other islands just like this one, and they all share the same name: Trash Island. The formation of these islands are formed by the accumulation of human detritus that washes into storm drains and out into the sea. These piles of trash include many everyday household items that have been improperly disposed of, such as light bulbs, bottle caps, toothbrushes, Popsicle sticks, plastic bottles and plastic bags. Reports have been publicized about these islands over the past few years, but little has been done to put the effort forth to clean up the mess, perhaps because it does not interfere with the everyday life of humans and is not a direct, immediate threat. In many ways, nature has “taken out the trash” for humans, and is now suffering the consequences. Plastic is one of the main components of the trash islands, because it is lightweight, durable, and can float for hundreds of miles before being caught in an ocean gyre. Over time, the plastic breaks down into tiny particles that look similar to confetti in the water. The residual fragments of plastic absorb toxins such as PCBs that cannot be dissolved in water, and when fish eat plankton, they ingest these toxic, plastic particles. Scientists from the Algalita

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Marine Research Foundation, located in California, found evidence of the same chemicals that make up plastic in the internal tissue of fish. This proves that as these trash islands are breaking down, they are causing constant pollution as the plastic disintegrates, absorbs toxins, and floats infinitely until it is ingested by the ocean’s wildlife and polluting the food chain. In an unexpected turn of events unforeseen by any scientists or researchers, these trash islands have begun to migrate. Since the piles of trash have been floating about in nature for quite some time now, they seem to have developed some kind of natural instinct. There is no evidence that the piles of trash have become a living organism, however, the man-made materials have undergone the process of adaptive evolution and developed somewhat of a survival instinct. It is similar to the behavior that occurs when phototropism causes flowers to lean and grow towards the sun because it is their provider of energy. The recyclable materials in trash islands are migrating into suburbs and domestic spaces where they can be encountered, acknowledged, and ultimately recycled. When discarded plastic is recycled, it is transformed into a new plastic item that can be re-used by humans, and therefore the material can survive immortally

Since the piles of trash have been floating about in nature for quite some time now, they seem to have developed some kind of natural instinct.

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“I noticed it for the first time when one crumpled up water bottle popped through my mail slot. A few minutes later, toilet

paper tubes, plastic bags, soda can tabs, and

a bunch of other junk were spewing through the mail slot like an

avalanche.”

through the process of infinite recycling. Since the trash cannot survive in the ocean, its instinct is to migrate to a place where recycling resources can be found. As a result, suburbs of coastline regions such as California and New York are experiencing trash islands intruding on their domestic spaces. “I noticed it for the first time when one crumpled up water bottle popped through my mail slot,” explains a resident of Long Island, New York. “A few minutes later, toilet paper tubes, plastic bags, soda can tabs, and a bunch of other junk were spewing through the mail slot like an avalanche faster than I could clean it up!” Local trash and recycling pick-up services have been busy trying to keep up with the flow of trash emerging from the coastlines, but they are not always successful in catching the piles before they reach people’s homes. Many residents are calling the recycling services in a panic, stating that the piles are taking over their kitchen tables, refrigerators, workspaces, bathrooms, and in some cases, even causes traffic jams when the trash travels through the streets. It is estimated that it will take several months before the government has the migrating trash issue under control, but to stop the problem that is literally growing

exponentially as a result of littering and improper trash disposal, everyone is strongly encouraged to stop littering and dispose of recyclable materials properly. If everyone collaborates in this effort, it will not only clean up our oceans, wildlife, and environment, but will also put an end to the intrusive behavior that the trash islands are imposing on coastal communities. If humans remain careless about recycling, it is only a matter of time before trash islands take over the country. Scientists predict that if the issue is neglected, the trash islands will continue to double in size every decade, and migrate onto continents from all coastal sides, ultimately blanketing a whole country.

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