A report by the Alliance for the Great Lakes reveals that 80% of litter collected on the beaches of the Great Lakes is comprised of plastic items. The Chicago-based nonprofit organization expresses concern over this volume of plastic due to its potential risks to human health and environmental well-being.
The data for this report, titled "Adopt-a-Beach: 20 Years of Great Lakes Litter Data," was derived from two decades' worth of Adopt-a-Beach cleanups—over 14,000 across all five Great Lakes. In their analysis, the Alliance identifies the types of plastic items found on the shorelines and suggests solutions to curb plastic pollution.
According to a press release by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, they explain that these lakes serve as a source of drinking water for approximately 40 million people. "Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes is a threat to both human health and the environment," stated Olivia Reda, author of the report and Volunteer Engagement Manager at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. She further added, "While our dedicated volunteers are cleaning up literally tons of litter each year, more of this plastic litter enters our waters, where it breaks down into tiny particles that are found in our drinking water."
As per their press release, most shoreline litter in the Great Lakes is classified as plastic in their report. This often includes single-use items left behind such as plastic beverage bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, and tiny trash (plastic fragments). Tiny trash—comprising small pieces of plastic, glass, and foam measuring 2.5 cm or less—accounts for 40% of all litter collected on these beaches.
The press release also emphasizes that while individuals must play their part in reducing plastic litter, businesses, manufacturers, and governments are also integral to finding a solution. One such solution proposed by them is implementing Extended Producer Responsibility policies currently under consideration in states bordering the Great Lakes. These policies would hold producers accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, including end-of-life management. Such policies are already in place in Europe, the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as California, Colorado, Maine, and Oregon.
