Corral your plastic

​I just watched a 60 Minutes television news show segment on the plastic in the oceans.  Most of us have heard about all the plastic trash in the oceans and its effect on the creatures that live there.  Near the end of the segment, they included a few brief sentences about how plastic in a small town in the middle of the country can still end up in the ocean if the trash is dropped near a stream or river.  Even if you are hundreds of miles from the ocean, a plastic bottle or bag from your community can affect rivers, lakes, and ultimately the ocean.  Land animals and birds can also be impacted by loose plastic.  No matter where you live or travel, it’s important to make sure that the plastic you do use is recycled or disposed of properly, so that it is not loose in the environment.  Picking up stray trash in the environment is also a good way to keep it away from animals, birds, rivers, and oceans.  The plastic will last forever, but at least we can make sure it’s in a controlled situation such as a landfill or recycled into something else.