Small plastics, big lessons, hopeful action.

Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces that can come from larger plastic items as they break apart, as well as from fibers, packaging, tires, and other sources. Nanoplastics are smaller still, which makes them difficult to detect and study.

Beach and river cleanups matter because removing visible plastic today can help prevent more material from fragmenting into smaller pieces tomorrow.

Our education program is designed to be positive: children and families learn the science, see the connection between daily choices and waterways, and leave with practical actions they can take.

The garbage truck comparison

A widely used teaching comparison describes ocean plastic pollution as roughly a garbage-truck load of plastic entering the ocean every minute. The exact global estimates vary, but the image helps people understand the scale and urgency of prevention.

This visual is intentionally direct: if plastic reaches rivers, storm drains, beaches, and coastlines, some of it can break into smaller pieces over time. Cleanups, better recycling, source reduction, and education all help interrupt that path.

Sources for further reading: World Health Organization and UN Environment Programme.