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Central Caribbean Marine Institute Green Guide

Cayman’s environment, especially its oceans, is one of its greatest assets. Yet our everyday lives can have a major impact on this asset.

When it comes to the environment, plastic is a huge pollutant. The problems with plastic arise mainly from our slovenly approach to putting it in the bin and making sure it is recycled once it is no longer needed.

Plastic is cheap to produce, flexible, durable, waterproof, easy to manufacture and it has been used increasingly since the 1950s. Plastic has replaced many traditional resources such as glass, wood and steel and it is used in pretty much everything we come into contact with. Scientists are developing newer, safer plastics and alternatives, such as biodegradable plastics, but certainly not quickly enough to curb the plastic issues facing the environment.

A well documented Pacific Garbage Patch has been identified within the North Pacific Gyre between the west coast of America and Japan. First identified in 1988, this vortex of plastic pollution is now the size of Texas. A new plastic patch has now been identified in the North Atlantic.

Perhaps a threat so close to our doorstep will encourage people to take the issue of plastics a little more seriously. Every year, 14 billion pounds of trash enters our oceans, most of which is plastic. Only three to five per cent of all plastic is recycled; the rest gets dumped in the trash and/or in our seas.

Plastic as a pollutant is especially dangerous to wildlife, particularly marine wildlife.

Entanglement
All types of marine life, including fish, turtles, and even birds get caught in plastic fishing lines, bottles, bags, six-pack rings, etc. This can lead to drowning, starvation and/or suffocation.

Ingestion
Plastic takes years to break down. Smaller pieces of plastic can be mistaken for food and can be ingested by mistake. Marine creatures such as whales, sharks, dolphins, turtles and birds will often ingest the plastic and later starve to death, because their stomachs think they have been fed. Ingested plastic can also cause intestinal blockage.

What you can do
Preventing plastic pollution will require a change in habit for most of us.
Whether it involves using less plastic, reusing wherever possible or safely disposing of plastic items, every little bit can help. Participating in cleanup efforts can also help remove plastic that has already ended up in the environment. WH

For more information regarding the local campaign to reduce the use of plastic within the Cayman Islands, visit the new Corporate Green Team Network website caymanbecome.ky.