5 Gyres

📢 There’s still time to help us protect our parks from plastic pollution!

Join us by heading to any national park or federal land before the end of October, picking up trash, and submitting your data using our   app! This helps inform policy to keep single-use plastic from harming our protected ecosystems and the wildlife living there. 🌲

Learn more about our project at 5gyres.org/plasticfreeparks (link in bio)

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📢 Join us in saying “no thank you” to single-use plastic bags in California, once and for all!

Senator Catherine Blakespear and Senator Ben Allen & Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan will phase out plastic bags at checkout, fixing the loophole that allowed thicker “reusable” bags.

Show your support today! Protect our communities and oceans by urging Governor Newsom to sign these bills into law 🌊: https://p2a.co/66x9den

📢 Help LA lead the way in reducing plastic pollution!

Los Angeles is about to make a huge leap towards zero waste with its Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program… but we need YOUR help before September 13th to get there!

Call your Councilmember today and urge them to support and certify the Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). And remember, it’s their job to listen to you! 📞

Show your support now: https://p2a.co/0ml2dac

SFGATE highlights the harmful impact of plastic pollution in our national parks, including the discovery of a Cheetos bag in an ancient cave. Unfortunately, our data shows plastic wrappers are a top item found across all parks. Read the full article:

National Park Service sorrows over Cheetos bag littered in ancient cave A snack bag left on the floor of Carlsbad Caverns National Park exemplifies how a piece of trash can disrupt a sensitive ecosystem.

"The findings show a significant decline in the number of plastic bags found on beaches following the implementation of statewide plastic bag bans across the U.S."

Plastic Bag Bans Tackle Ocean Pollution Right, Study Finds Plastic bag bans in the U.S. have proven effective in reducing litter and pollution in the ocean, according to a new study from the environmental nonprofit Ocean Conse...

“This puts a magnifying glass on what goes wrong with managing plastic waste."

The world is burning an alarming amount of plastic, scientists say Around 12 percent of all plastic waste produced in cities is burned in the open air, creating air pollution and health risks.

What’s the weirdest item you’ve found in the wild?

Plastic dental floss picks are surprisingly common, along with wipes, bread tags, and coffee stirrer sticks. These small but harmful pieces of plastic don’t belong in our national parks or public lands!

Learn how you can make a difference by submitting data that informs policy at 5gyres.org/plasticfreeparks. In the meantime, drop your weirdest trashy find in the comments!

📸: Hannah Tizedes

📢 Only 2 days left to make your voice heard!

Governor Gavin Newsom has just 2 days to sign into law, a crucial bill that fights microplastic pollution in California. Led by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, this bill will create an interagency group to implement the Statewide Microplastics Strategy.

Urge Governor Newsom to act NOW 🌊: p2a.co/hAQx0dE

In addition to California's plastic bag legislation, is on Governor Gavin Newsom's desk awaiting signature. The “goal of [AB 2214] is to strengthen California’s leadership on microplastics,” said Alison Waliszewski, Director of Programs & Policy at 5 Gyres.

'Paper or plastic?' will no longer be a choice at California grocery stores Lawmakers passed two identical laws to close a loophole that allowed stores to offer 'reusable' plastic bags at checkout despite 2014 legislation meant to ban plastic bags.

🌊 Happy Coastal Cleanup Month!

This is your reminder that what ends up in the ocean starts on land. Everything is connected by a watershed, from the mountains out to sea, and you can help protect the coast from anywhere at anytime.

To learn how to use your cleanup data to drive real change, visit 5gyres.org/trashblitz

📸: Paddle Out Plastic

🚨 ACTION ALERT: Help fix California’s bag ban!

In 2014, California led the way by banning single-use plastic bags, but a loophole undermined the progress and allowed plastic manufacturers to market thick plastic bags as “reusable”. As a result, Californians actually disposed of more plastic grocery bags (by weight) than before.

() and ( & ) aim to close this loophole and reduce waste from single-use plastic bags.

There’s one last hurdle before these bills can reach the Governor’s desk! Voice your support today to protect our communities and ocean 🌊: https://p2a.co/66x9den

🏞️ YOU’RE INVITED: Join us in Yosemite National Park next month!

For the third year, we’re partnering with Yosemite Climbing Association to collect data at Yosemite Facelift for our project. Every year, thousands of pounds of trash are collected in just ONE week — and we could use all the help we can get!

Learn more & register now at https://www.yosemiteclimbing.org/2024-yosemite-national...

📸: some of the Epson team who helped us out last year!

🎉 BIG NEWS: California advances legislation to combat microplastic pollution!

, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, passed the California Legislature with bipartisan support. This bill addresses the urgent issue of microplastic pollution by establishing an interagency coordination group and implementing targeted recommendations.

✍️ Join us in urging Governor Gavin Newsom to support cleaner oceans and healthier communities by signing this bill into law: https://p2a.co/hAQx0dE

“Any process that effectively destroys 75 percent-plus of the plastic waste … cannot legitimately be claimed as plastic recycling.”

Houston’s Plastic Waste, Waiting More Than a Year for ‘Advanced’ Recycling, Piles up at a Business Failed Three Times by Fire Marshal - Inside Climate News Houston seeks to be a national model for plastic recycling. But a program that started in 2022 hasn’t yet found its footing.

"These findings highlight the detrimental effects of microplastics on marine organisms at a cellular level and emphasize the need for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts."

How Microplastics Are Affecting Catsharks In The Mediterranean The findings highlight the severe cellular-level impacts of microplastic ingestion on marine life.

"An examination of the livers, kidneys and brains of autopsied bodies found that all contained microplastics, but the 91 brain samples contained on average about 10 to 20 times more than the other organs."

Microplastics are infiltrating brain tissue, studies show: ‘There’s nowhere left untouched’ Twenty-four brain samples collected in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight

📢 Let’s shout it louder!

Knowledge is power, which is why we’re committed to leading research that answers questions, vets innovation, and ultimately drives solutions. Plastic pollution impacts every single one of us, and we need ALL voices at the table to work toward solutions together.

Learn more about our work for a plastic-free planet & how to get involved at 5gyres.org 🌎

The Cool Down highlights the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on our wild places, our findings, and ways to reduce our outdoor footprint. Read the full article:

Disheartened parkgoer captures upsetting footage as wildlife eats litter: 'So disappointing' One disheartened bystander shared their disappointment as they captured footage of wildlife eating litter left by fellow national park tourists.

Our app empowers volunteers around the globe to collect data on plastic pollution that will support effective policy measures and solutions, like passing the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act!

Big thank you to all the volunteers that have submitted data so far this summer, including this awesome haul by ! 👏

📢 Big News: "The United States, one of the world's biggest plastic makers, will support a global treaty calling for a reduction in how much new plastic is produced each year in a major policy shift."

Exclusive: In shift, US backs global target to reduce plastic production, source says The United States, one of the world's biggest plastic makers, will support a global treaty calling for a reduction in how much new plastic is produced each year in a major policy shift, a source close to U.S. negotiators told Reuters on Wednesday.

We’re excited to introduce our new Cause Partner — Junk Theory! Nearly 60 billion pieces of plastic cosmetics packaging has been produced so far this year, but Junk Theory is on a mission to end the plastic era in beauty.

Learn more about their commitment to sustainability and clean skincare for people and the planet: https://junktheory.com/pages/recycle

📢 Join the national effort to keep our parks plastic-free!

Our wild spaces shouldn’t be littered with trash, and we’re on a mission to collect data that pushes forward solutions to protect our public lands. 🌲

Learn how to get involved at 5gyres.org/plasticfreeparks

🎨: DomFish Designs

"Environmental campaigners said millions of plastic drink bottles being needlessly poured into millions of plastic cups was a double use of plastic and amounted to 'greenwashing'."

Greenwash Games? French public points finger at Coca-Cola over Olympics plastic waste Drinks giant is under fire for over-use of bottles and cups despite organisers’ promise of most eco-friendly Games ever

📢 Use your voice to support microplastic pollution solutions in California! AB 2214 (Rebecca Bauer-Kahan for Assembly and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor) is heading to the Senate Floor on Monday. Urge an AYE vote to help strengthen the CA Statewide Microplastics Strategy: https://p2a.co/WnmTfX1

We’re excited to introduce our new Cause Partner — Me Mother Earth! Founded by Amanda Runkle, this online marketplace offers a wide range of eco-friendly products to make plastic-free living easy.

From home goods to travel essentials, we highly recommend checking out all the sustainable alternatives they have to offer: https://memotherearthbrand.com/

A great article highlighting the future of single-use plastic, biomaterials, and our Cause Partner Sway's innovative seaweed solutions!

The Cure for Disposable Plastic Crap Is Here—and It’s Loony Stretchy seaweed, reverse vending machines, QR-coded take-out boxes: They’re how we can break society’s absurd addiction to single-use plastics.

"Companies have a role to play using their leverage to ensure waste pickers are being compensated and included in EPR planning and implementation."

Does the plastics industry support waste pickers? It's complicated. The people who clean up the world's trash say some companies' statements of support are little more than lip service.

In the first year of our Plastic-Free Parks project, textiles emerged as one of the most common types of pollution in national parks across the U.S. While visitors bring clothing, hats, tents, and sleeping bags to explore nature, some are left behind, including billions of microfibers shedding into our park waters.

Microplastics Found In Waters In And Around Acadia National Park Microplastic fibers, those tiny fuzzy filaments that have been spewed across the world, are swirling in the waters of Acadia National Park, according to a study from the University of Maine.

Tire dust is one of the leading sources of microplastics in the ocean, so what about the rubber soles of our shoes? This environmental scientist found similar chemicals in both pollutants.

Are our rock-climbing shoes shedding plastics? Environmental scientist Anya Sherman studies how microplastics can be taken up by crops and people.