Statement

Plastic Makers Agree with Ocean Conservancy: More Should Be Done to Address Marine Debris

ARLINGTON, VA (March 18, 2009) – The American Chemistry Council issued the following statement regarding the Ocean Conservancy’s recently released report entitled, “The Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We Can Do about It.”

This year’s report on the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean Up is an important reminder of how much work remains to keep trash out of our oceans. The debris recovered from our planet’s beaches is a stark reminder of the scope of the problem.

As the report declares: “Marine debris is a problem we can readily solve...Ending marine debris requires everyone’s participation. We must find every opportunity to pull all stakeholders into solution scenarios.”

We couldn’t agree more. And we also agree that there’s more to be done. “Armed with knowledge about the most prevalent components of marine debris,” the report suggests, “elected officials can make informed policy decisions, community leaders can tailor and expand recycling and other trash-reduction programs, corporate decision makers can improve technology and reduce packaging, and individuals can recycle, reuse, or properly dispose of trash to keep these items out of the ocean in the first place.”

For example, plastic bottles and packaging don’t belong in the ocean; they belong in the recycling bin. This requires leadership from committed partners and participation from every citizen, not only here but across the world, to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics instead of carelessly tossing or wasting this valuable material.
 
For our part, plastic makers are promoting industry-wide practices to contain plastic pellets, partnering with governments and conservationists to encourage recycling and discourage litter, working to educate children on the link between our litter and marine health, working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to advance scientific understanding of marine debris, and continuing to innovate and develop smaller, lighter packaging.

As Philippe Cousteau writes in the report, “Each of us has a personal responsibility when it comes to the health of the ocean...The time for a sea change has come.”

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