Article: Great Lakes litter database celebrates 20 years
​As is the case globally, the biggest source of Great Lakes pollution is plastic. According to the Alliance, 81% of the trash collected in 2022 was plastic. This is not only an issue for wildlife such as fish and aquatic birds, it also affects the drinking water for over 40 million people who rely on the Great Lakes for their water supply.
The key is removing plastic items from the lakes before they are broken down into microplastics, which are particles less than five millimeters that can easily infiltrate water supplies or be ingested by wildlife. Adopt-a-Beach volunteers keep 15 tons of plastic pollution out of the Great Lakes each year. Read more.
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