Flexi Says: Efforts are underway to clean up the Pacific Garbage Patch using new and existing technologies. These efforts are complicated by many factors, including the disperse nature of the garbage in the patches, the amount of tiny microplastics, the continued influx of new garbage into the oceans, and amount of funding needed for such a large project. Researchers have developed technologies to collect trash both in ocean garbage patches and at major river mouths where pollutants enter the ocean. They are currently working on scaling up their technologies with the goal of eventually reducing the size of the garbage patches. However, that will require significant resources and a reduction in plastic trash entering the environment. The effort will take many years, but there are many ways to get involved and help. The most important things people can do is to reduce the use of disposable plastics and prevent plastic wastes from entering the environment.
