Our Collectors

Repurpose collectors are ordinary people that do an extraordinary job. Because we have a gig-economy style collection method anyone in the coastal communities we work in can collect ocean or ocean-bound plastic. This means our collectors come in all varieties. Some of our collectors work full-time stopping ocean-plastic others do it on the side on weekends and evenings. Here are some of the stories of those collectors!

Marivel

Marivel lives close to this mangrove that has turned into a dumping ground for plastic waste. She has been working hard to clean it up! Marivel is a very driven person that has been able to significantly improve her livelihood by hard work. When she’s not collecting plastic she takes care of her pigs and chickens.

Edith

Edith lives right next to this landfill that goes straight into the river. Years ago her husband fell down this landfill and tragically died. Edith was one of the first people that started collecting plastic with us. As people take their trash to the landfill she pulls out the plastic from their load. She is now able to pay for things for herself instead of relying on the generosity of neighbors, and she is so happy to be more self-reliant!

When she’s not saving the oceans from plastic she likes to take care of the neighborhood cats and dogs.

Silverio

Silverio is also one of the first people to collect plastic with us. He is 86 years old and his kids and grandkids live with him. He has been able to go on walks through town picking up trash as he goes. This way he’s able to provide extra income for his family.

Martha

Irma

Blanca

Isabel

Elva

What Happens if We Don't Recycle?

The world is at a crossroads. From here, we either take action and save the environment, or we’ll be left without a home.

At this critical juncture, asking what happens if we don’t recycle has become crucial.

The one-word answer to this question is destruction.

If we don’t collectively start to recycle, we’ll run out of our finite resources. Without a backup plan, that is a recipe for disaster.

Consequences of Not Recycling

The world is already witnessing the terrible consequences of environmental damage. Let’s look into some destructive impacts of not recycling.

1. Human and Animal Health

The first and foremost consequence of not recycling our resources is critical damage to human and animal health.

Scientists have confirmed the existence of plastics in the human body and other animals such as fish.

These microplastics come from the waste thrown away into the water bodies without regard to environmental impacts.

Damage to human and animal health will keep increasing.

READ MORE: TYPES OF EVERYDAY PLASTICS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO HUMANS

2. Ocean Pollution

Oceans are the lifeline of human and animal existence.

They have incredible bio-diversity and are a source of essential resources for our survival.

Sadly, another impact of failing to recycle is ocean pollution.

Every year, tons of waste material is dumped into the ocean.

Ocean pollution is destroying aquatic life and creating hazards for coastal states.

Waste materials are increasingly polluting our beaches.

If we don’t reverse our harmful actions and recycle on a mass scale, the oceans will suffer permanently.

3. Destruction of Natural Habitats

When we don’t recycle, the waste material reaches even the farthest points on the planet.

The result is the increasing destruction of natural habitats.

Environmental pollution and global warming are creating challenges for species on a large scale.

Already, thousands of species have perished, and many are in danger of extinction.

If we keep dumping waste on land and the ocean, these natural habitats will be destroyed.

4. Destruction of Arable Land

Recycling creates a barrier to large-scale land pollution by reducing how much we rely on landfills.

When we fail to recycle, the amount of waste overwhelms our lands.

The result is the destruction of arable lands.

The first cover is already reducing due to concrete jungles, so if we keep adding waste to the land, we’ll be left with little land to cultivate.

Landfills eat up a large chunk of land, and if we don’t recycle, we’ll have to use arable land instead of unproductive one.

5. Overspill of Landfills

Using landfills is considered a solution to waste where discarded material is buried under sterile land.

With the population bulge, this solution is under great stress.

When waste gets too much, the landfills overspill, creating health and environmental hazards.

If we don’t recycle, we’ll pretty soon live near landfills as more land will be needed to put away the waste.

6. Fire Hazards and Accidents

There have been many incidents of fire in landfills, and there are reports of landfill explosions due to trapped methane gas.

If we keep throwing all our waste away without recycling or treatment, we may have more and more fire incidents or accidents near landfills.

The intelligent thing to do is reduce the waste that goes to the landfills and recycle as much as possible.

7. Overuse of Natural Resources

Apart from waste handling problems, failing to recycle also puts pressure on our limited natural resources.

Recycling saves tons of new metals, woods, and other materials by reusing them again and again.

If we keep using our natural resources without recycling, we may have too few resources with a large population, and that’s a recipe for conflicts and wars.

Economic Consequences Recycling is cost-effective when done selectively. For example, materials such as steel and aluminum cans are much easier to recycle than manufacturing them from scratch.

Such a selective approach can help municipalities gather valuable trash for recycling.

At the same time, large corporations should take the lead and help generate a culture of recycling.

8. Energy Shortfalls

Recycling is not just cost-effective; it’s also energy efficient. For instance, recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a home television set for three hours.

Similarly, producing a new plastic bottle takes much more energy than recycling the old one.

That means we are wasting thousands of watts of electrical power and large quantities of fossil fuels by not recycling.

Consequently, mindless energy consumption is contributing to global warming and climate change.

By recycling, we can help slow down their effects as well as give the planet time to heal itself.

What Happens if We Don't Recycle?

If everyone stopped recycling, garbage waste would get out of hand quickly. Disposal of waste is becoming a huge problem throughout the world, especially in lowing income communities. Waste disposal has become a huge problem in many parts of the world.

And, the United States produces more garbage waste than any other country.

Let’s look at some recyclable items and what happens if we don’t recycle them…

Recyclable Metals

Metal cans are everywhere.

Aluminum containers are used in food packaging and soft drink cans, while aluminum foils are extensively used in food storage.

Other metals such as iron and steel are also used in everyday items.

If we don’t recycle these materials, we lose millions of dollars’ worth of precious metals to waste.

Cola cans end up clogging our drainage systems and harming aquatic life.

Paper Recycling

Paper is made from trees, and much water is needed to transform trees into paper. If we fail to recycle paper, we’ll end up short on trees and clean water.

Trees are valuable for our environment and are a shield against global warming. Losing trees on a mass scale also results in soil erosion and landslides.

Construction Debris

Concrete jungles are a significant contributor to global warming. The next worst thing would be to dump concrete and construction debris in landfills without recycling.

Construction debris can be recycled almost 100% because each material has different uses. If we fail to recycle it, we lose millions of dollars of valuable resources and precious land.

Plastic Recycling

Plastic recycling is vital to saving our environment and the natural habitat of many living things. Every day, there are stories where fish and whales die of plastic consumption or are trapped in plastic materials.

Drainage systems are also clogged with plastic bottles and packaging. If we don’t recycle plastics, we destroy our environment.

Wood Recycling Trees are a lifeline to human life and millions of species that depend on them. Forests such as the Amazon are a source of incredible biodiversity.

If we don’t reuse wood, we will have too few trees.

Already, the forest cover is under stress due to urbanization. We can reduce that stress by reducing our wood use through recycling.

What Are the Benefits of Recycling?

Now that we know what happens when we fail to recycle, let’s briefly look at the significant benefits of recycling.

• Environment protection through reducing waste and recycling instead of throwing garbage away

• Reduced air, water, and land pollution by a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, water usage, and less use of landfills

• Resource savings by reducing, reusing, and recycling valuable materials

• Energy savings by shortening the manufacturing processes through recycling

• Mitigating the effects of global warming and climate change

• Cleaner oceans and other natural habitats where humans and animals both thrive

It’s Now or Never Now that you know the impacts of not recycling, it’s everyone’s responsibility to take practical steps to try and address these issues.

No one else is coming to help us; if we don’t take action ourselves, we won’t see a bright future.

We have to save our planet through the collective effort for sustainable existence.

The Three R's of Recycling and How They Can Help Save the Planet

Proper waste management is impossible to achieve when only the government is doing it. 

To be successful, every one of us should play our part—no matter how small you think that role may be. 

The best advice is to focus on the three R's of recycling; a concept designed to help cut down how much waste is thrown away. 

Curious to know how you can apply this practice to your everyday life? Read on. 

The Three R's of Recycling 

The R's of recycling consists of the three steps, arranged in the form of an inverted prism: 

• Reduce (minimize waste and generate as little trash as possible) 

• Reuse (use a product over and over again through creative means) 

• Recycle (process waste and create new products from the unusable items) 

The inverted prism means that the first step should be the most effective, so there’s little left for the second step. 

The last step, recycling, should be the last resort; there should be a minimum requirement for this step. 

1. Reducing the Waste: The Top Priority 

This step aims to reduce how much waste you create so that there’s little to no waste to clean. 

Of the three, it is right at the top of the priority list if you want to live a sustainable lifestyle. 

Here’s what you can do to reduce waste as much as possible: 

• Reduce plastic and paper use 

Incorrect use and disposal of plastic are among the biggest causes of environmental damage. 

Not only do they take years to decompose, but they also release toxic substances when they do. 

While many of us already know how bad plastic is to the environment, limiting the use of paper is equally important. 

Paper is made from trees and uses a lot of water during manufacturing, so you should also use as little paper as possible. 

Fortunately, technology has made it possible to go paperless in many of our tasks. 

For example:

Instead of using notebooks for rough work or note-taking, an iPad is a better option. 

• Use reusable water bottles 

Plastic bottles generate tons of solid waste every month. Since much of that waste cannot be processed, it goes to landfills. 

Landfills are allocated patches of unproductive land that are sealed once filled with waste. 

Although useful, they have many disadvantages, including fire hazards, overspill, and land destruction. 

Therefore, creating as little waste as possible for landfills is important. 

Using steel containers instead of plastic bottles, for example, keeps your water hot or cold as needed and reduces plastic waste. 

• Reuse grocery store bags and containers 

You can bring a reusable bag when grocery shopping and ditch the single-use plastic ones. 

Besides, stores usually charge extra for grocery bags, so you can save money and the environment when you start bringing your own. 

For fruits and vegetables, you can keep a basket or bamboo bag that looks stylish, which is also much easier to carry than a plastic bag. 

READ MORE: 7 Facts About Plastic Pollution

2. Reusing and Repurposing: The Second Best Option 

Before plastic, people used to make do with reusable items, and would save every container and box to reuse in some other way. 

This also included clothing, as well. 

For example:

A t-shirt would not go into the waste basket when it has gone out of fashion or become too worn out. 

Instead, it would be reused or repurposed as a cleaning cloth or mop. 

We should all start doing that again now that the environment is crying for our help. 

• Reuse or gift your clothes 

If you don’t need or want a piece of clothing anymore, don’t just throw it away. Gift it to a poor fellow who is not as fortunate as you are. 

You can also be a little crafty and turn your old clothes into pillow covers, cushions, and small comforters. 

• Repurpose plastic containers as flower pots 

You can use small plastic containers to keep flowers and even decorate them using paint and a brush. 

Another crafty project you can take on is arranging cola bottles into a small bench in your backyard. 

Making a basket by cutting plastic bottles into long strips and knitting them is also a neat idea. 

• Reuse small household items 

If your shoelaces have seen better days, don’t throw your shoes out. Get active and find a replacement from the market. 

Similarly, your old toothbrush can be a perfect tool to clean your car engine or motorbike. 

You can use plastic bottles as bird feeders and repurpose containers as dog toys. 

3. Recycling or Upcycling

Recycling is the most used by many societies. 

Garbage collection teams gather the material and select the one that can be recycled. 

However:

Even recycling is not possible or sometimes ignored in many parts of the world, and most waste goes to landfills.

What’s worse, countries where environmental legislation is weak burn non-recyclable materials. 

Here’s what you can do to help in recycling efforts: 

• Separate the waste material 

Not all waste is treated equally at the recycling stage. 

For example, aluminum materials are often recycled to be used in the construction industry. 

Some types of plastic are recycled to make low-grade plastic bottles and containers or shopping bags. 

It’s important to create separate boxes for collecting waste. 

Usually, three- or four color-coded trash bins will be enough, and you can use each one for a particular type of waste. 

• Sell your old electronics 

Throwing away a broken laptop or any other gadget together with your other trash might not be the best idea. 

Instead, you can sell it to a scrap dealer and make money while helping the environment. 

A lot of electronics are still somewhat valuable even when they’ve stopped working. They have reusable parts, so scrap dealers take them at a fair price. 

What Should You Do Next? 

Now that you’ve learned about the three R's of recycling, you can start to make lifestyle changes to help your community & the environment as a whole. 

Spread Awareness 

Again, when it comes to saving the planet, everyone should play their part. Otherwise, we’ll be left with a damaged environment that cannot be repaired. 

So, pass this knowledge on to your friends, family, and peers. 

If you’re a student, talk to your teachers about arranging a lecture in your classroom. 

You can also ask your parents to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle and learn for ways to repurpose waste. 

Keep Learning

Next, you should learn about different household materials and how they can be repurposed. 

Educating yourself in what small, simple ways to reduce the amount of waste is a great way to start. Then, take that knowledge and put it to good use.

Adopt a Lifestyle Based on the Three R’s 

The most important thing we should all do is adopt a lifestyle based on the waste management concepts of the three R’s. 

Make a chart of every household item that can be reduced and try to minimize their use in your house. 

Essential items that cannot be reused should go under a separate list. You can then generate ideas to put them to good use. 

Making a conscience effort in separating trach and recyclables doesn’t take much time at all.

READ MORE: SUSTAINABLE GROCERY SHOPPING: 6 TIPS TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Final Thoughts 

Waste management is a initiative where every citizen must cooperate and collaborate to be successful. 

The three R’s concept provides a simple framework where everyone can take part in at every step. 

Our responsibility is to learn, share, and implement this concept in the real world to save the environment which all our survival depends. 

Thus:

You can find creative ways to make this process successful and help save the planet!

How to Make a Difference For the Ocean: 10 Simple Ways to Clean Up Plastic Pollution

Image Source: FreeImages

By 2050, it is estimated there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.

Meanwhile:

The effects of plastic pollution are growing: plastics poison more than a third of marine mammals and turtles; they suffocate seabirds; they entangle adult and juvenile animals; they even come back to us as microplastics in our seafood.

Even though the situation seems bleak, this doesn’t mean that we should give up on the ocean.

Instead of just lamenting about the damage done, let’s stand up for the blue planet and take action against plastic pollution!

In this article you will find many ideas about how you can make a difference for the ocean.

You don’t need to invest much time or money – just follow your heart and these 10 simple tips to help clean up plastic pollution.

READ MORE: HOW TO STOP PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEAN

Talk to your family and friends about plastic pollution

If you want people to change their habits, you have to first change the conversation.

Start a dialogue with your family and friends about marine debris and the harmful effects of plastic pollution.

Start with basic information, such as how much marine debris is out there and what it does.

Then, lead the discussion towards simple, everyday ways to make a difference.

Also, make sure to let them know about the positive effects of your actions – that by taking these 10 simple ways to clean up plastic pollution, you are making a real and measurable difference for sea creatures and for yourself!

Ditch the single-use plastics

Single-use plastics (i.e. disposable items like straws, water bottles, paper cups and plastic bags) are one of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution.

These items are usually made from non-recyclable, synthetic materials that break down into microplastics that are ingested by marine animals.

Once in their bodies, they may leach chemicals like endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to cancer and other diseases. Instead of using disposable plastic items, choose reusable alternatives.

This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your plastic footprint.

For example:

Reusable water bottles are a simple and straightforward way to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles.

You can also reduce your use of disposable plastic items at work and at home.

For instance:

Use reusable cups and plates when hosting parties or doing your weekly groceries.

Commit to buying only eco-friendly seafood

People around the world consume a staggering amount of fish and other seafood.

Unfortunately, harvesting wild fish leads to overfishing and unsustainable aquaculture practices.

This, in turn, harms the ocean as habitats are destroyed and native species are over-harvested.

When buying seafood, make sure to source only environmentally friendly products.

First, look for fish that are certified as sustainable by a trusted certification body.

Next, check for the Marine Stewardship Council’s ecolabel. These are good indicators that the seafood you buy is eco-friendly.

If you don’t see the Marine Stewardship Council ecolabel, ask your fishmonger about the species’ sustainability, and don’t buy any fish that is not certified as sustainable.

Educate your peers and colleagues about marine conservation

You can do more than just buying sustainable seafood: you can also educate others about the need to preserve marine ecosystems and species.

Start with your family and friends – invite them to join you in actions that make a difference for the ocean, like beach or river clean-ups.

When you are with colleagues or classmates, take this opportunity to raise awareness about marine pollution and conservation.

You could ask your professor to incorporate ocean conservation into the curriculum; you could also invite your colleagues to join you in actions that make a difference for the ocean, like beach or river clean-ups.

Whatever you do, make sure to keep your message simple and clear.

Focus on the effects of single-use plastics and unsustainable seafood harvesting.

Let others know that they can make a real and measurable difference for the ocean.

Join a Marine Conservation Group

If you want to take marine conservation to the next level, you could join a marine conservation group.

There are many such organizations around the world.

They conduct beach and river clean-ups, monitor wildlife, and campaign for legislative change.

Dive clubs and other scuba diver associations are a great way to get involved in marine conservation.

One of the best ways to get involved in marine conservation is to join an organization like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Sea Shepherd is a marine conservation group that uses nonviolent direct action against commercial fisheries.

This is a great way to get actively involved in marine conservation!

If you join an organization, make sure to follow their action guidelines. Follow their campaigns, join their beach or river clean-ups, and help their marine wildlife monitoring programs.

Install a marine debris tracker app

Did you know that less than 1% of marine debris is actually picked up?

The majority of marine debris items are too small to be detected by standard clean-up methods.

These microplastics are ingested by marine animals (i.e. fish, sea turtles, and seabirds) and accumulate toxins that are harmful to humans.

The good news is that we can reduce the amount of microplastics in the water by simply picking them up.

To do so, you can install a marine debris tracker app on your phone.

By using these apps, you can help scientists identify the amount and location of marine debris.

Such information is crucial for scientists to understand the extent of the plastic pollution problem and to develop effective marine debris reduction strategies.

Two recommended marine debris tracker apps are Marine Debris Tracker and Planet Patrol.

Support organizations that are helping to clean up the ocean

There are many organizations around the world that are helping to clean up the ocean.

This includes:

• Conducting beach and river clean-ups

• Monitoring wildlife

• Campaigning for legislative change

There are many ways to support these organizations, such as donating money, volunteering at events, or raising public awareness about marine conservation.

You could, for example, donate money to organizations that are cleaning up the ocean.

Some organizations that are actively working to clean up the ocean include Ocean Crusaders and 5 Gyres.

Conclusion

It’s never too late to make a difference for the ocean.

One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to stop using single-use plastics.

If we all commit to this one action, we will make a huge difference for the environment.

One person can make a difference for the ocean.

And if everyone makes an effort, we can clean up the ocean together!

READ MORE: SUSTAINABLE GROCERY SHOPPING: 6 TIPS TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT