Walk along any of our beaches and you are likely to encounter litter. While some of this litter has been dropped by visitors, much of it has been transported to the beach by the currents.
Over time, these pieces of plastic will break down into smaller and smaller pieces referred to as microplastics, but won’t completely degrade for decades or centuries. Animals consume these colorful items, which can cause illness or death.
Keeping plastics out of waterways is everyone’s responsibility.
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- Avoid single-use plastics like straws, cups, and bags.
- Choose natural materials like cotton and wool instead of synthetics like polyester.
- Use garbage and recycling bins with closed lids to keep waste from blowing away.
- Properly dispose of cigarette butts and trash.
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Learn about research being done on microplastics by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center