A day in the life of ocean plastic and the shore

Here's a record of the litter picked up 8am, October 26, 2011, at the shoreline in Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 33308 from behind the Windjammer Resort, north to the Pier (less than 1/4 mile). 

186 pieces of styrofoam or Plastic fragments:

Above: Plasticware, Sole, Used Condom, Balloon & Ribbons, Aluminum Foil, Plastic Bottle, Aerosol Can

Below: 45 Cigarette butts

 

TALLY OF ITEMS COLLECTED: Documentation of marine debris collected was provided to Marine Debris Tracker who in conjunction with Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created an app for smart phones to track marine debris worldwide. If you pick up litter and want to help document debris, download the app or check out their website at Marine Debris Tracker.

1   Aerosol Can

 1   Aluminum Can

1   Plastic Bag

3   Beverage bottles (plastic)

10 Bottle Caps - Plastic

2  Bottles - Plastic

1   Buoy or float

45  Cigarette Butts

1   Cup/top - Plastic

2   Flipflops

1   Food Wrapper (plastic)

1   Paper (piece of paper)

186 Plastic or Styrofoam fragments

3   Ropes, (pieces of -- plastic)

8   Silverware (plastic) - one unused, still wrapped in plastic

9   Other

    1 - Condom - used

    1 Three pound Soft Bag (no clue -- for diving?)

    4 pieces of aluminum foil

    1 Pen

    1 Plastic or silk flower, less than 1"

    1 Tar Ball - about 5x7 inches

 10 Plastic Bottle Caps and one small plastic bottle:

 And below is a picture of a piece of Styrofoam rescued from the Atlantic Garbage Patch. You can see that it definitely came from the ocean because it still has barnacles attached.

 This isn't a vast amount of litter or even very large pieces. But that makes worse. In a previous post I wrote why I believe, Size Does Matter -- Small is Worst. 

And, the kicker is, this litter is ONLY from the shoreline, the high tide line, and it accumulated overnight. I had completely cleaned the shore last night at dusk. I had removed e-v-e-r-y little bit of plastic, styrofoam and every cigarette butt (no photos). This is what was washed ashore or left behind in just 14 hour!

If you'd like to share pictures of litter you've collected or your collection crew, please feel free to share them on the Museum of Litter Facebook Page.