New floating garbage patch found in Atlantic

[Still Waters]

Researchers have found a high concentration of plastic debris is floating in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean, months after concerns were raised over a vast patch of rubbish floating in the Pacific Ocean.

The study's principal investigator said that the findings were based on more than 64,000 tiny bits of plastic collected over more than 22 years by Sea Education Association undergraduates.

Researchers believe surface currents carry the debris to the area between 22 and 38 degrees north latitude and that waves also deliver trash to a spot between Hawaii and California known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Kara Lavendar Law, one of the researchers, said it was difficult to compare the two, but team members in both places collected more than 1,000 pieces during a single tow of a net.

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[Karlis]

The giant waste collection, known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” lies between California and Hawaii and has been gradually growing for 60 years. It contains everything from plastic bags to shampoo bottles, flip-flops, children’s toys, tyres, drink cans, Frisbees and plastic swimming pools.The amount of debris is estimated at up to 100 million tons.

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Beginning 500 miles off the Californian coast, the affected area, also known as the “plastic vortex”, now constitutes the world’s largest heap of rubbish.

Now there are hopes of converting the waste into fuel. A feasibility study will be undertaken using samples to be collected this summer.

[a vampire wears my boxers]

hopefully something can be done about this garbage. it is just plain rediculous! open ocean recycling center anyone?

[Dreamer Awake]

No wonder our planet is mad at us.

[thefinalfrontier]

Here is a video about the great pacific trash island, I am unable to watch it right now but I did find it, Hope its the right one,

[Purplos]

It's amazing how infernally disgusting humanity is.

Plastic should be banned.

[Samuronin]

Don't worry, it will all come back to us, nature will have it's last laugh.

[Mattshark]

It's amazing how infernally disgusting humanity is.

Plastic should be banned.

That would cause a lot of problems, what we do need to do is be far more responsible, but we as a species seem to not like to do that.

[Alchera]

Disgusting.

[stevewinn]

is it possible to clean it up?