MARINE DEBRIS

The majority of marine debris in Lake Erie or found on beaches is single-use plastics. Single-use plastics such as cigarette butts, straws, water bottles, bags, and food wrappers are used one time and then thrown away.

Despite the broader effects of their studies, Bartolotta and Hardy continue to encourage people to adopt small, everyday changes as well as to support bag bans. They also consistently empower individuals to make these changes by relating personal experiences, such as hiking and kayaking, to plastic issues. The nature of these hobbies, in which plastic pollution can be physically seen, is especially helpful to the educators because they are fairly common experiences.

There are a variety of ways that an individual can become more involved in reducing their plastic footprint, including writing letters of support to politicians about bag ban legislation, leaving reusable containers next to car keys as to not forget them—even something as small as going without a straw at a restaurant. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the end goal of a healthier and happier future for the Great Lakes. ●

> GATHERING DATA

During their research, Scott Hardy (pictured) and Jill Bartolotta visited produce markets in the Cleveland area to collect data about their community’s plastic use habits. After Hardy and Bartolotta collected over 1,200 surveys, they found that there is often a taboo surrounding bag bans, but the public does not generally care if one happens in their area.

Microplastics are small plastic pieces the size of a pencil eraser or smaller. They come from fragments of larger plastic items and fibers from synthetic clothing or fishing line. Plastics are a contaminant of concern with high concentrations found in Lake Erie.