Plastics
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SummaryThe video on the left gives an inside look on the life of a plastic bag. It shows how the bag and many other plastics like it are able to make their way to the ocean and eventually to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Once the trash has reached the ocean it can travel hundreds of miles, while avoiding hungry sea life, to reach the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This island of plastic is in the North Pacific Gyre, the currents of the gyre trap all plastic trash inside causing it to grow continuously. Currently, scientists have estimated this to be twice the size of Texas. Since plastic waste will never biodegrade, there is no limit to how long the plastic can float around in this gyre.