The Great Pacific garbage patch has a huge mass of microplastics, but the largest flow of plastics is actually off the coasts, where it enters the oceans simply because of the human populations. There is a lot of plastic in the garbage patch, but since it's a relative dead zone for life compared with the richness around the coasts, the problem of plastics should be addressed at the point of origin first, then move on to the other areas. This is not to say that we should not continue to clean up the Garbage Patches. We created the plastic problem and we should take responsibility and clean up the mess we have created.

A study last year of 192 countries found that most of the plastic waste in the oceans comes from people living within 50km of the coastline. It estimated that 275 million tons of plastic waste is generated each year around the world and between 4.8 million and 12.7 million tons ends up either being washed or dumped deliberately into the sea.Another analysis found that 90 per cent of seabirds have swallowed plastics and that these birds are concentrated around coastlines.

As countries develop the problem of plastic waste will continue and most likely grow unless we instill easy methods for people to do--- to stop the deliberate dumping of trash. Most of the trash which is dumped into the sea comes from China and Indonesia. These two countries have a terrible track records for maintaining the environment.
Some action has been taken to collect the trash from the oceans--- such as in the middle of the Pacific Ocean --- they are using 100km-long, inflatable booms aligned across sea currents. But again we must stop the garbage from reaching this far by focusing on densely populated areas.

Cleaning up our oceans is going to be a long and difficult task, but I believe we can do it if we really try and by educating all people. We also need to stop the production of so much plastic. We do not need plastic water bottles, or so much plastic packing materials, or toys. We need to go back to cardboard products which would help.

Companies like Northwest Innovation Works are part of the problem because they manufacture a product which in turn is manufactured into plastic and they are a Chinese Company and most of the plastic waste comes from China.

Buy reusable stainless water bottles, and recycle everything possible. The planet will thank you and in turn the life you may save could be you're own or your grandkids.