Making a Difference One Bottle at a Time

by Allison

Recently my third grader came home from school and told me that there was a garbage dump in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that was larger than the state of Texas. I found that awfully hard to believe, I mean, we know there’s trash, but really? Is it in the ocean? Is there really that much trash? So I’ve looked into it a bit and she’s right.

Apparently, there’s a spot that exists referred to as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents (source: Howstuffworks.com). This area is known as an oceanic desert, never traveled by boats nor frequented by big fish or mammals. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It's the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.

Known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it consists of two large masses of ever-accumulating trash, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches. Each swirling mass of refuse is massive and collects trash from all over the world. The patches are connected by a thin 6,000-mile long current called the Subtropical Convergence Zone, where significant amounts of trash also accumulate.

So what does all this mean to you? It’s time to start recycling, reusing and conserving. We only have one planet Earth and it won’t be here forever.

Just one family recycling can make an impact larger than you’d expect.



“There is a ripple effect, kids talk, if they go to a friend’s house they will ask why they don’t recycle. Kids have their own culture and can spread the word themselves,” said Rebecca Clarke, naturalist, Maywood Environmental Park, Sheboygan, Wis. “One family can make a huge impact.”

By teaching children about making good choices for the environment, there’s a better chance of those habits being carried on into adulthood and ultimately, hopefully, helping our planet last just a little bit longer.

Even recycling plastic bottles can make a huge difference. “Americans buy almost 30 billion plastic water bottles every year and 8 out of 10 will wind up in a landfill. Recycling just one of those conserves enough energy to light a 60 watt light bulb for up to six hours; it’s like throwing away petroleum, it’s just insane,” Rebecca said.

Below are some ways you can make a positive impact on the world.

Some easy ways to make a difference

• Combine errands
• Don’t buy new books, utilize the library, or digital books
• Install a programmable thermostat
• Pay bills online
• Plant trees in your yard
• Purchase fair trade items
• Purchase from local farms and farmer markets
• Purchase paints, carpets, etc. with either no, or low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• Purchase products at garage sales instead of buying new
• Recycle plastics and paper
• Replace light switches with motion sensors
• Request paperless statements
• Try not to buy toys that have an abundance of packaging and plastic ties
• Turn off lights when not in use
• Turn your engine off when waiting in your car
• Use energy-efficient bulbs
• Use less soap
• Utilize environmentally-friendly cleaning products
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Utilize water filters instead of bottled water
• Walk/ride your bike whenever feasible
• When doing laundry or running the dishwasher, make sure it’s full

Want to do more?

• Call places that send you “junk” mail and ask them to remove you from the mailing list
• Collect rainwater for outdoor plants (if your state allows it)
• Compost table scraps
• Consider a personal wind turbine (depends on regulations)
• Eliminate the use of pesticides
• Hang the clothes out to dry
• Install low-flow faucets, toilets and shower heads
• Purchase eggs, meat, etc., from local farm
• Purchase Energy Star appliances
• Purchase flooring and clothing that are energy efficient
• Purchase milk in glass that is recycled at the place of purchase
• Upgrade windows and doors to be energy efficient
• Use a non-motorized lawnmower
• Use a steam mop instead of harsh cleansers on the kitchen floor
• Use the water from your dehumidifier to water house plants