They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, according to the major news outlets today, many trash/treasure islands are forming in our oceans as a result of countries (especially the United Stated) creating dump sites under water. There is supposedly a large mass of trash somewhere between Hawaii and California.
The thought of our waste intentionally being deposited in our oceans makes me ill. First of all, what have the oceans done to us to deserve such treatment. There is no telling what harm all of that junk is having on the ocean’s inhabitants. Secondly, most of what Americans throw away is recyclable/reusable in some way. The day will come when we will be forced to mine our landfills for the resources we so carelessly disposed of. The ocean with its salt isn’t going to preserve those resources as well as dirt may.
It really is astounding how little thought we humans give to our planet’s finite resources. We consume without any regard for the future. We dispose without any concern of consequence. It’s not like the message isn’t out there. There are programs designed to educate citizens on how to protect and preserve. Recycling centers, pick-up programs and bins are more plentiful. Yet still, you will see people throw something recyclable in a trash can that is 10 steps away from a recycle bin. I don’t get it. Throwing away recyclable materials gives me the same feeling as throwing trash out my car window. How is it any different than littering in the grand scheme of things?
