According to the United Nations environmental program, there are about 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean. And 80 percent of the plastic that is in the ocean comes from land. So much of what people use on a daily basis is made of plastic. So many people, however, are unaware of the damaging effects it has on the environment and on their bodies.

Addicted to plastic

Increasing awareness of the damaging effects of plastic is important for this generation. (Photo by Kayla Sibilia)

Ian Connacher, a University of Vermont graduate, directed a film called “Addicted to Plastic” that shows how harmful this material can be and the journey it takes into our homes, the landfills, and the effect that it has on the world that we live in.

In 2003, Connacher read an article in Natural History Magazine that talked about Capt. Charles Moore, who traveled to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area that accumulates a high amount of non-biodegradable plastics. In 2005 Connacher traveled with Moore back out to the Garbage Patch and began his filming.

“The hardest part of the whole film, for me, was being in India and walking on the landfills where families are living,” Connacher said. “There is rotting garbage everywhere, and there were children playing in it. But that’s recycling in India.”

However, India is recycling 60 percent of its plastic; whereas in the United States there are 100 billion pounds of plastic each year and only 5 percent is recycled.

Making a difference

People over the world are trying to make a difference and create new solutions to our ever-growing plastic problem. Some are cleaning up beaches, and others are weaving old plastic bags into purses and using plastic scraps to make our outerwear.

“I’m not trying to be preachy but I’m trying to say, hey, look at what we created and look at all of these cool people and what they have created,” Connacher said. “That’s the most refreshing part, meeting the people who are doing something about it.”

Disposable water bottles and coffee cups can be reduced on campus by having reusable containers. (Photo by Kayla Sibilia)

Conacher is very aware of the amount of plastic he uses himself.

“My eyes are like magnets for plastic now, and I don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse,” he said. “But being aware is the price of making the documentary.”

“The whole point of the documentary was to get the debate going and to start a conversation and a lot more needs to happen but, hopefully, I got the debate going,” Connacher added.

Local awareness

Heather Ellis, St. Michael’s sustainability coordinator, was told about Connacher’s documentary by Garret Sullivan who works in the Facilities department. The first showing of the film on campus was Monday, April 20 during earth week and is now available from Ellis for faculty and staff.

“A lot of the focus for the school community is trying to educate folks about reusable products such as coffee cup alternatives,” Ellis said. “In terms of policies I’m not really in that position, but we are just trying to inform people and let them know that there are other choices.”

80 percent of the plastic in the ocean comes from land. (Photo by Kayla Sibilia)

A group from Burlington that started the “Kick the Bottle Campaign” was on campus the first day of Earth Week. They are trying to decrease the amount of plastic water bottles used and trying to create a map that shows people where they can refill their water bottles for free, Ellis said.

Dan Sandberg, Green Up president, suggests ways in which students can reduce plastic waste on campus. Water bottles and disposable coffee cups are the bulk of the plastic waste. If you are going to use those items, to make sure they get recycled, Sandberg said.

“There are certainly plastics in my everyday life that are definitely a problem, but I would rather focus on the stuff that is really easy to change, like reducing plastic water bottles,” Sandberg said. “We don’t need them, and they are very harmful to the environment on many different levels.”