This year I did a couple of beach cleans in my local area (go me! :) ) and certain items kept popping up. I found more plastic bottles / caps, helium balloons, and disgarded fishing net/rope (which is all plastic these days). I was wondering then which plastics are the most found. According to a report by the Ocean Conservancy, https://oceanconservancy.org/ , the ten most frequently found plastic pollutants in the ocean are:

1. Cigarette butts

2. Food wrappers

3. Plastic bottles

4. Plastic bottle caps

5. Straws and stirrers

6. Plastic bags

7. Other plastic packaging materials

8. Plastic cutlery

9. Glass bottles

10. Beverage cans (yes they have plastic in/on too)

It is worth noting that this list is based on the items that are most frequently found during beach cleanups and may not necessarily reflect the most common sources of plastic pollution in the ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean is a complex and multifaceted issue, and it is caused by a variety of sources, including land-based sources (such as plastic litter), shipping and transportation, and offshore oil and gas operations.

Its one of the things that saddens me the most and when I'm on the beach I just have to pick it up and curse the litter dropper, the companies that make this stuff, and our governments for not legislating against it. Make it biodegradeable at the very least people!

f you live in the USA you might like to help the Ocean Conservancy send the message about Turning the Tide on Plastic to congress: https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/page/118828/action/1

Photo by Catherine Sheila: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-plastic-bottle-2409022/