The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Ok, this is interesting and terribly tragic. I saw a show on the discovery channel that showed The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and it went on to discuss how this floating mass of trash, mostly plastic waste, has become a sort of habitat for fish in the ocean. I found that disturbing and I am certain anybody who reads this and the articles I post below will also. I am not an expert on this topic, but essentially there is a spot in the Pacific Ocean where floating debris tends to end up. Essentially what has happened is that this garbage patch has formed which is the product of trash, mostly plastics, that do not readily decompose.  This patch is no ordinary patch. When I think of the word patch I think of something small like a patch of flowers or grass or something. In this instance patch indicates something that is the size of Texas at a minimum and possibly twice as large.  Pretty cool, huh?

Links:

Blog #1  - This is a great account of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  Probably more than you ever wanted to know.

Article #1 - Here is a link describing how this all happens, etc.

 

FOOD WASTE

I had a conversation with a friend regarding this issue, based on personal observations regarding my own lifestyle. I am guilty of being wasteful with food.  Too often it seems that the loaf of bread I bought molds before I can finish it, or that last banana goes to mush, or the Parmesan cheese in the fridge molds, or I don't manage to finish the casserole that I thought making would save me time and money. I have good intentions. I don't like the idea that I end up throwing out food which I bought and intended to eat, yet it happens. When I look at it realistically its my money that is being thrown out, and wasted, its the resources that went into producing that good, transporting said good that turns out being completely frivolous, and an externality of my own personal consumption. The really sad part is that where I live does not have a compost bin and my living arrangements do not provide for the opportunity to compost even if I wanted to.  Pretty lame, I know.

If interested, here is an article which may shed some light on the concept of food waste in America. I never gave much thought to this concept until recently, but I found the overall numbers concerning.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/from-farm-to-fridge-to-garbage-can/?hpw

Waste is a fact of life and a product of society. However the quantity of waste produced, especially food waste is, in my opinion, a product of the individual and their desire to utilize that with which they purchase. I took a bunch of eco classes in college and one thing that really comes to mind is a concept called the frugality movement. (Article) This is something I think about frequently, and try to embrace whenever possible. Conceptually it is very simple and to many it's probably common sense, but to only a handful is it a way of life.