In our continuing series of submissions from students enrolled in Freshmen Seminar, we are excited to share two letters to officials calling for needed legislation to fight plastics in our oceans.

Abby B
Weymouth High School
1 Wildcat Way
Weymouth, Ma 02190
 
January 14, 2020
Representative James Murphy
24 Beacon St.
Room 254
Boston, MA, 02133
 
Dear Representative Murphy
I am writing you this letter today to draw your attention to the dangers that discarded single use plastic bags have on our environment.
 
Did you know? During the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers collected 120,450 pounds of bags in the United States. In Massachusetts alone, CLEANSWEEP volunteers collected 5,712 pounds of plastic bags, one of the most common forms of litter found.
 
In the ocean, plastics break down into small, plankton-sized particles that can outnumber plankton six to one. These pieces collect toxins like PCBs and DDT at levels up to 1,000,000 times the levels found in seawater.
 
Eighty-five percent of all sea turtles will be injured or killed by plastics in their lifetimes, including the endangered leatherback turtles that summer in Massachusetts Bay before migrating to the tropics to mate.
 
With a historic vote passing last November The Massachusetts Senate approved a statewide ban on retail businesses offering single-use plastic bags. The students of Weymouth High School would like to know we can count on your support when the bill comes to The House this year.
 
Sincerely,
 
Abby B

​Alex B
Weymouth High School
1 Wildcat Way
Weymouth, Ma 02190
 
January 14, 2020
Mayor Robert L. Hedlund
Town of Weymouth
75 Middle Street
Weymouth, MA 02189
 
Dear Mayor Hedlund
I am writing you this letter today to draw your attention to the dangers that discarded single use plastic bags have on our environment. I also seek your assistance in solving the problem.
Did you know?
 
In the ocean, plastics break down into small, plankton-sized particles that can outnumber plankton six to one. These pieces collect toxins like PCBs and DDT at levels up to 1,000,000 times the levels found in seawater.
 
Marine wildlife often mistake plastic bags for food, especially sea turtles hunting jellyfish. In fact, high amounts of plastic material, especially plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles.
According to the Sierra Club, more than 130 cities and towns across the state have passed ordinances that ban single-use plastic shopping bags at stores. Those communities with bans represent more than half of the state's population.
 
After studying the issue at length in Freshman Seminar I believe that a town wide ban on single use plastic bags will be well supported by Weymouth’s voters and appreciated by students from preschool to high school. A ban of single use plastic bags will certainly reduce the suffering of marine animals as well as make our environment a cleaner and safer place for future generations.
 
Thank you for your consideration.
 
Sincerely,
Alex B

 
              Plastic pollution in our oceans is a massive problem around the entire world. The rate of plastic entering our oceans is increasing rapidly and is now around 8 million metric tons a year. So far, a total of 5 colossal garbage patches have been discovered around the world, however there could be more we do not know about. Plastic can be found as deep as 11 kilometers down in the ocean. Scientists project that by the year 2025, if the issue is not stopped or at least de-escalated, the amount of plastic in our oceans could increase by tenfold. The effects of plastic in our oceans include negative effects on marine life, destruction of the remote places on earth, and the creation of trash gyres. (Fact Sheet: End Plastic Pollution)

              One effect of plastic in our oceans is the negative impact on marine life. Animals like fish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, seals, and seabirds are all affected from plastic. It is estimated that 12-24 thousands pounds of plastic have ended up being swallowed by fish. Dolphins, seals, and birds all commonly get caught or entangled in plastic items in the ocean. A lot of the time, these entanglements can end up leading to death of the animal. Over 50 percent of dolphins have swallowed plastic at least once in  there life . Layson birds on the other hand, 98 percent of them have swallowed plastic. Not only are these numbers very high but they are getting higher and higher every day. (The Effect of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life)

              Another effect is that plastic destroys the most remote places on earth. Discovered on May 16, 2017, a paradise island in the South Pacific was found thousands of miles from civilization covered in garbage. It is estimated that 37 million pieces of trash have been accumulated on the island, which is about 19 tons in weight. Over the years, plastic and garbage that do not make it to the trash cans end up on this island. A remote, paradise island, is now a garbage dump due to the plastic in our oceans. There could also be many other islands that have not been discovered and could be much worse. No one quite knows the true extent of the issue. (Thompson)

              The creation of trash gyres is another effect of how plastic negatively affects or oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the circular motion the gyre draws. It still exists currently and was officially discovered in 1997. It is located in the North Pacific Ocean off of The West coast of North America just North of Hawaii. Shortly before it was found, the gyre’s existence was predicted by oceanographers. They estimate 54 percent of it comes from land and 46 percent comes from the sea. This patch is a massive danger to sea animals. Many can get stuck on it and even die. Over time, this gyre’s huge size will continue to expand larger and larger every year. (National Geographic Society)

              Even though this issue has already reached a massive scale in size, there are ways to reduce the problem. Three of these ways include addressing the root cause of plastic pollution, treating the symptoms (or manifests) of plastic pollution, or other approaches that employ both strategies in a comprehensive way. Reducing plastic producing could help a lot because with the less plastic actively being produced, the less will get into our oceans. Not buying plastic straws, cups, bottles, etc. can go a long way as well. You can treat the symptoms by organizing or participating in group clean-ups near you. You can also influence your peers to become more eco friendly like your friends and family. The problem may be escalating quickly but with enough teamwork and people working together as a community, reducing plastic pollution can go along way. (7 Ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today)
             
             
Sources
“7 Ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today.” 7 Ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today,www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/1720/7-ways-to-reduce-ocean-plastic-pollution-today.
“Fact Sheet: End Plastic Pollution.” Earth Day, 21 Dec. 2019, www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-end-plastic-pollution/

“The Effect of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life.” Pegasus, [email protected] Https://Www.pegasusfoundation.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/06/Pegasus-logo1-300x130.Png, 3 July 2019, www.pegasusfoundation.org/the-effect-of-plastic-pollution-on-marine-life/.
National Geographic Society. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/.

Thompson, Avery. “Scientists Find Remote Beach Covered With 19 Tons of Trash.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 14 Nov. 2017, www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a26531/remote-beach-covered-with-trash/.

Marin M
 Plastics Research Paper
            The problem of plastics in our oceans is global and continues to get worse at an alarming rate. About 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually including 236k tons of microplastics. Every minute one garbage truck of plastics is dumped into our ocean. This evidence shows that the plastic problem pollution is entering our oceans at an incredible rate. There are actually five massive patches of plastics in our oceans today. The largest, the Pacific gyre, is the size of Texas. Plastics are found 11km deep contaminating the most remote places on earth. The amount of plastic is set to increase by 2020. The effects of plastics in our oceans include, negative effects on marine life, effects on the most remote places on earth, and the creation of trash gyres. (Fact Sheet: End Plastic Pollution.)
            One effect of plastic in our oceans is the negative effects plastic has on marine life. Up to 12,000- 24,000 tons of plastics waste end up inside fish in the North Pacific alone. In 2013 close to 50% of sea turtles had swallowed plastics which leads to death. Each year more and more are dying. Whales mouths are so big that they inhale waste while eating. 22% of dolphins and whales are dying due to plastics. Debris entrapped 388 sea lions. Our oceans are filled with fishing lines, netting, and lines which are killing animals. 90% of marine birds have eaten plastic at least one in their lifetime. Plastic Pollution has a big effect on many marine animals. (The Effect of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life)
            Another effect of plastics in our oceans is that plastics have reached the most remote places on earth. Scientist have found Henderson Island beach which is in the south Pacific. It is covered with 19 tons of trash and plastics. This is a current problem, the last time scientists went there they estimated 37 million pieces of plastic had been washed up on shore. There were also a lot of microplastics in the sand which come from larger plastics broken apart from years in the ocean. They also found plastics buried under a few inches of sand. If an Island this far away has this much trash and plastic. Then there's nowhere safe on earth.  (Thompson)
            The creation of trash gyres is another negative effect of plastics in our oceans. The great Pacific garbage patch is a current problem that was discovered in 1997. It is north of the pacific ocean, and west of North America. Oceanographers and Climatologists predicted the gyre. No single nation will take responsibility for its clean up. The circular motion of the gyre draws debris into the center. Fifty-four percent of it is from land and 46% from the sea. It is made up of a cloudy ‘soup’ of microplastics intermixed with larger plastic items along with fishing gear. The problem is worse when you condier that seventy percent of plastic sink to the bottom of the ocean. This is a danger to earth, humans, animals. (National Geographic Society)
            There are many things we can do to reduce ocean plastic pollution today. To address the causes, you can reduce your own use of one-time plastics in your house.  This includes items like snack bags and plastic water bottles. You can also recycle properly, make sure you don't put any food in the recycling and make sure all plastics go in the recycle bin. In addition, try to avoid any products with microbeads, these are tiny plastics broken down as they are very bad for the environment. To treat the symptoms, you can participate in a beach or river clean up as this will clean up the earth a little. If you want to address the causes and treat the symptoms you can just spread the word around. This is a very bad and big problem that needs help today.   (7 ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today)
          
 
Sources
“7 Ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today.” 7 Ways To Reduce Ocean Plastic Pollution Today,www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/1720/7-ways-to-reduce-ocean-plastic-pollution-today.

“Fact Sheet: End Plastic Pollution.” Earth Day, 21 Dec. 2019, www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-end-plastic-pollution/

“The Effect of Plastic Pollution on Marine Life.” Pegasus, [email protected]
Https://Www.pegasusfoundation.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2015/06/Pegasus-logo1-300x130.Png, 3 July 2019, www.pegasusfoundation.org/the-effect-of-plastic-pollution-on-marine-life/.

National Geographic Society. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/.
​
Thompson, Avery. “Scientists Find Remote Beach Covered With 19 Tons of Trash.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 14 Nov. 2017,
www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a26531/remote-beach-covered-with-trash/.