Larry's Beans - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

"When I was a kid, I remember my grandma talking about cities dumping their trash into the ocean. Grandpa said, 'it would sink to the bottom'. Grandma said, 'it was the wrong solution'. When I was older and an economics student (mid 80's), we debated the issue more academically, and eventually the topic faded from my awareness. Our GREEN TEAM here at Larry's Beans compiled this eye-opening information. We hope you have a minute to discover for yourself"
– Larry
[Editor's Note: Our friends at the Green Sage in Asheville first made us aware of The Plastic Ocean. Thank you Randy.]

Garbage patch the size of texas in the pacific ocean photo

The basics:

First: There is a slow-moving spiral of ocean currents in the northern Pacific Ocean. It's called the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. It's somewhat of a no-go zone for sailors and fishermen because the winds are weak and the oceanic life existing there amounts to phytoplankton and maybe the occasional fish or sea mammal.
Second: This gyre sucks all kinds of garbage into it's spiral, and it's loaded with PLASTIC; big pieces of plastic, tiny pieces of plastic, purple plastic, blue plastic, green plastic, styrofoam, and some very unlucky animals.

The plastic patch is BIGGER THAN the entire state of TEXAS and is about two decades old.

The problem with plastic (unless it bio-degrades like Larrys Bio-bag) is that it never breaks down on a molecular level. It only breaks into smaller and smaller pieces.

What can we do? ....reduce our need for plastic OR use plastic in a smarter way.

Here's some resources:

A great overview video:

An interview with Charles Moore, the man who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch! End of the clip provides the viewer with hope and solutions.

Below: More clips.
Beginning with the first of 12 episodes GARBAGE ISLAND Part 1. There is a little profanity in these clips but a lot of information.

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Useful Links:

Alternatives to plastic bags: EcoBags!
Support the Surfrider Foundation.
Purchase a Klean Kanteen

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The effect of plastic debris on wildlife [Warning: Graphic Images]
#1 Turtle -Plastic Belt #2 Bird -Plastic bottle caps in belly (mistaken as fish?)