Predicted in 1988, discovered in 1997, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one particularly obvious floating plastic waste heap, to say nothing of widespread plastic pieces in the world's oceans and sea beds.
Growing at the rate of as much as 10% of world plastic waste a year, it is clear to every person who walks on a beach that it is everywhere.
Now the California State Assembly has passed a bill to ban plastic shopping bags. If the bill is approved by the senate in mid August then California is likely to become the first USA state championing the cause.
Greenpeace reports suggest as much as 10 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the sea every year.
While China imposed a national ban on plastic bags in 2007 their ability to enforce it is doubted by some. Particularly in rural areas and in supermarkets, lip service is paid to the policy whilst shoppers continue in their usual habits.
It seems to be becoming increasingly difficult to keep hold of the vision of holiday getaway paradise locations without considering the downsides.
There's a wider girth between the picture and the reality.
Recent documentaries have drawn attention to the beaches of Hawaii, these once beautiful resorts for honeymooners and city escapees, now turning into the waste that has to go somewhere. We hear about damaged coral reeves, and debris that's killing sea creatures.
In the UK, following her involvement in BBC's Natural World (May 2007) the camerawoman Rebecca Hosking inspired her village of Modbury in North Devon to ban plastic bags but instead pay 5p for a corn-starch alternative. Other towns have followed suit. The Co-op also sells string "turtle" bags and for around £3 you can pick up a specially designed canvas Modbury "bag for life" according to the Guardian (ethically produced, of course). While alternatives exist – plastic bags are very useful but our easy life is becoming very difficult to sustain.
There is a petition in support of the Californian ban, launched by SHFT
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