6 common things that are most harmful to the ecology

With the onset of the holiday season, many have noticed, in what condition are our beaches and waterways. Among the beautiful summer pictures easy to find pictures of the coast, littered with waste. I have gathered a list of items that are most commonly found in the sea, the beach and other debris. Many of them we use every day.

1. Fishing

According to National Geographic, the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch - the largest accumulation of waste, located in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean - mainly consists of discarded fishing gear. Rubbish bring water here North Pacific Current system.

According to a study by Greenpeace in 2007, ocean debris harms at least 267 biological species from around the world. However, no specific efforts to spot until liquidation was not taken, all the work is limited to research. In 2016, scientists made an expedition, during which examined the spot on 10 planes.

2. Plastic bags

According to a study published in 2016 in the journal "Marine biology", plastic bags are included in the 20 worst types of plastic waste.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has in 2014 reported that plastic bags - the most common litter that harms sea turtles.

Give up plastic bags and go to reusable storage - so you significantly help environmental effortlessly.

3. Lids from bottles

Project AWARE Foundation, which is collaborating with divers all over the world and carries out environmental actions, including plastic bottle caps of the five most dangerous ocean pollutants. They are very dangerous for marine life and birds. They take the cork for food and die from suffocation.

What you can do - buy a reusable bottle to take with you on trips. This is the best alternative to plastic bottles.

4. Cigarette butts

The study, published in the journal BMJ Journal Tobacco Control, reported that cigarette butts - one of the most common wastes are collected every year in cleaning beaches. In addition, researchers estimate that butts up from 25% to 50% of roadside trash.

Filter cigarette mainly made of cellulose acetate. He is also a kind of plastic that gets into waterways. I'm not going to convince you that as a bad habit. But the rejection of cigarettes or at least a more conscious consumption and helps the smoker and the environment.

5. Balloons

Balloons - it's always a festive mood. But let's face it - not only that they are useless, so also are one of the biggest sources of pollution.

In 2015, the US Postal Service watersheds and wildlife released a study which emphasizes that the tradition of launching balloons kills birds and marine life. This ritual is not and the people themselves. So, this year's graduates in Yakutsk celebrate the end of school launch balloons and left without light 34 thousand inhabitants of the city. Balloons tangled in wires.

A healthy environment starts with good habits, so people should abandon harmful traditions and replace them with something harmless.

6. The wrappers of food

The annual report of Project AWARE for 2017 notes that the plastic wrap from the food make up more than 5% of the total waste. The problem is that plastic - it is not biodegradable debris. Under the effect of light it decomposes only at the smaller particles but does not dissolve completely.

Save the environment without the common effort: adequate garbage reform and environmental laws of the state, responsible attitude of the industrial enterprises, eco-friendly innovations. But this does not mean that the actions of the individual are irrelevant. Any laws and inventions become meaningless if people do not change the culture of consumption - and this is the power of each of us.

How do you help the ecology?