When plastic bags blow away, they often end up in the ocean. Exposed to wave action and sunlight, plastic bags break down into small particles called “microplastics.” Microplastics absorb toxins from the water, including persistent organic pollutants such as flame retardants, dioxins, PCBs and pesticides. Plankton eat microplastic particles, introducing toxins into the marine food web. When fish eat these plankton, they bioaccumulate the toxins in their bodies. People who eat fish that have bioaccumulated toxins can be exposed to dangerous levels of pollution.
The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club supported a statewide ban in Delaware on the provision by retail stores of free non-biodegradable, single-use plastic bags, and we urged statewide elected officials to pass legislation to that effect. This action would promote the health and safety of wildlife, watersheds, coastal ecosystems and marine environments. It would also protect the natural beauty of our communities, conserve our oil supply, increase the longevity of landfill space, and reduce trash management costs to taxpayers.
Our Dover-area members organized a highway cleanup and potluck picnic / swim party on September 22, 2012. 13 bags of trash and a Pallet collected and reported. Many thanks to Mary and Dan Snyder for organizing this event and hosting the picnic, and for our members who came out to keep Delaware clean!
