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Comments

• [1] Peter Knutson from Crown heights January 22, 2009 - 01:39PM

  Can Dr. Eriksen also speak to the problem (or potential problem) of microscopic plastic particles in the oceans.

  
  
• [2] shaun from astoria January 22, 2009 - 01:40PM

  can we see this plastic patch on Google Maps or somewhere else?

  
  
• [3] John Weber from Bradley Beach, NJ January 22, 2009 - 01:43PM

  Fantastic you are covering this. The "patch" is not solid, it is just an area where the plastics are more concentrated. More info at the blog and website www.riseaboveplastics.org www.blogspot.riseaboveplastics.com

  
  
• [4] Noah from Brooklyn January 22, 2009 - 01:46PM

  How do you spell "gire"?

  
  
• [5] Alexander Gorlizki from East Village January 22, 2009 - 01:46PM

  The following link is just about plastic bags. You can scroll down the pictures and text on the right.

  http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

  
  
• [6] Benita from Brooklyn January 22, 2009 - 01:50PM

  It's spelled "gyre"

  
  
• [7] jamie from brooklyn January 22, 2009 - 01:54PM

  Can he speak to the ability to separate the plastic from the water? Is this possible or are they forever bound together? Are there any attempts to remove the plastic?

  
  
• [8] Regina Eichenberger from Chappaqua, NY January 22, 2009 - 01:55PM

  How can we remove what junk is there in this ocean garbage patch?

  
  
• [9] Chris Wade from Upper West Side January 22, 2009 - 01:56PM

  I aplaud you for bringing light to this undereported catastrophy. I hope you'll let your listeners know that if they wish to take local action against the great problem of plastics in our ocean that they should consult our web site. I represent the NYC-Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental group dedicated to the protection of the world's oceans, beaches, and waves." Our chapter has been and is currently working on plastic issues and New Yorkers who are interested in helping should visit our web-site at www.surfrider.org/nyc . There they will find Surfrider's "Rise Above Plastics Pledge," and information on how they can support our effort to promote passage of NYS Bigger Better Bottle Bill, a key peice of anti-plastic, pro-recycling legislation that we have been working on for years and that is on the cusp of passing in this February's legislative sesion.

  Regards,

  Chris Wade

  Chair, NYC-Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation

  
  
• [10] christopher allen yager from park slope brooklyn January 22, 2009 - 02:17PM

  Leonard's final question was baited. I've known of this patch for some time now. To create awareness is all fine and good, though i'd like to here a real answer, as in a clean up plan. I myself have been on both sides of the plastic industry, working at a heinz catchup bottle factory for a summer, along with a recycling plant as well. As far as i see it there must be a way to clean our culture as well as the resulting factor. Could we build a rig similar to oils great giants at the root of the problem. I'm all for cultural change but come on people a message in the bottle sounds like junk to me.

  
  
• [11] Victor R Struber from NYC January 22, 2009 - 02:29PM

  Dr Eriksen made the specious comment that "plastics are designed to last forever".

  My experience as a consulting chemical engineer who spent over 50 years in the plastics industry trying to extend the useful life of particular plastics,is to the contrary. I would like to offer the fact that most plastics are prone to degration from sunlight and exposure to the elements at sea.

  Most "disposible" plastic items are made of polyethylene, (found in grocery bags). These items can be manufactured to degrade into a powder within a few months, if carelessly disposed of.

  
  
• [12] Katherine from Los Angeles January 23, 2009 - 02:25PM

  Mr. Struber,

  Yes, plastic does degrade from sunlight and exposure to the elements. Plastic photo degrades, and that's precisely the problem!

  Plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, until they're millimeters small. But it never biodegrades, or goes back into the earth — it's synthetic after all!

  What happens then is that these small plastic particles end up in the ocean, where fish eat them, birds eat them, up and up along the food chain until it reaches us humans.

  Plastic never goes away, it never biodegrades! That's precisely how this garbage patch formed in the first place, and how it's becoming a problem for our planet.

  For more info on how you can reduce plastic waste, please visit

  http://www.riseaboveplastics.org

  
  
• [13] pete friedrich from Mount Kisco, NY January 27, 2009 - 01:08PM

  You can't see the patch on Google Earth because the particles are too small.

  I've found, as a recent parent, a phenomenal amount of plastic used in the raising of our kids. To address this, I've created an educational comic book that tells an imaginative story and also provides factual information for our younger audience (grades 5-7 ideally). If you're interested you can find it at

  www.pavedplanet.com

  pete

  
  
• [14] jillian from brooklyn January 27, 2009 - 04:32PM

  Check out the video, Toxic: Garbage Island.

  http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1485308505