The ocean is one of the ecosystems severely affected by trash dumped by people over the past decades. Plastic is the leading cause of ocean pollution. Significant amounts of plastic end up in the stomachs of whales and other marine animals. Microplastics contaminate the fish that we eat, resulting in illnesses in those who eat contaminated fish and shellfish. We are responsible for all this, and we are also responsible for ensuring that our planet’s oceans will no longer be polluted with more plastic and other trash.

Be a responsible waste producer

It is normal to produce waste; what is not normal is throwing your waste anywhere you fancy, including in the ocean. You can hold on to small pieces of trash if there is no garbage bin in sight, and dispose of them properly when you get home. When it comes to recyclable or hazardous waste, you can enlist the help of an Atlanta junk removal service provider to pick up the trash. They will then bring it to landfills or recycling centers, wherever suitable.

Become an ocean cleanup volunteer

There are a lot of organizations that clean up the world’s oceans. You can become one of their volunteers and help them with their cleanup drives. Doing so will not take a big chunk of your time, but your time will have a significant impact on the efforts of these organizations. If you live near any body of water, you can do your own cleanup – go for a walk along the shore with a trash bag, and start picking up pieces of trash you come across. When you pick up those that are not in the water yet, they no longer have the chance to pollute the ocean and possibly end up in the guts of marine animals.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Reduce the volume of trash that you produce, reuse materials and recycle anything that can still be useful. Many people are into reducing, reusing and recycling trash because they know the impact it can cause on the environment. If this practice is new to you, it is never too late to start. One small step towards proper waste management will help the environment.

Say no to single-use plastics

Single-use plastics almost always end up where they are not supposed to, the ocean among them. Straws, food packaging and the like can end up polluting the sea. If you can avoid using single-use plastics, then, by all means, avoid them. One way is to bring your own reusable containers when you go grocery shopping. You can put your fresh produce in reusable containers instead of using plastic, which you will eventually throw away when you get home.

Educate yourself and other people

Education is the first step towards helping the environment. Educate yourself, as well as other people – especially children – on the importance of proper waste management and reducing their waste production. Proper education will result in a better understanding of the plight of marine life. We can become better stewards of this planet with the right knowledge.