Comments on: The landfill continent that dwarfs the United States http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/ Because the earth can't afford our lifestyle Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:11:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: The trash patch in the Atlantic « Make Wealth History http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-7433 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:31:55 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-7433 [...] The Pacific gyre has received a fair bit of attention in recent years – the great floating ‘seafill’ spirallying between the US and Japan. Last week scientists at the Woods Hole [...]

]]> By: 5 gyres – understanding the plastic waste in our seas « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-5685 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:10:07 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-5685 [...] our post about the trash continent spiralling in the Pacific? Apparently it’s one of five gyres where plastic and other rubbish [...]

]]> By: Midway – message from the gyre « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-4976 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:41:26 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-4976 [...] November 9, 2009 Midway – message from the gyre Posted by Jeremy under art, conservation, waste | Tags: chris jordan, midway, photography | Leave a Comment  One of my favourite photographers, Chris Jordan, has a new project: Midway – message from the gyre: [...]

]]> By: Carry on consuming « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-4232 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:09:21 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-4232 [...] lost a fifth of the Amazon since 197o. There is a trash island the size of the continental United States in the Pacific Ocean.  There will be no edible fish in [...]

]]> By: Canadian teenager identifies plastic-eating bacteria « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-2352 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:31:51 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-2352 [...] May 29, 2008 Canadian teenager identifies plastic-eating bacteria Posted by Jeremy under current affairs, environment, science, waste | Tags: Daniel Burd, plastic, plastic bags |   There has been a growing movement in the UK recently to ban or at least to tax plastic bags. But what about those that are already out there, taking up space in landfill or floating about in the Pacific Ocean? [...]

]]> By: Carbon footprints - what makes the biggest difference? « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-1188 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:38:25 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-1188 [...] the context of climate change. Plastic bags represent 1/5000th of an adult carbon footprint. They need to be banned, but not for the climate. Turning appliances off properly, unplugging chargers are good ideas, [...]

]]> By: Jeremy http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-1160 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:11:34 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-1160 Indeed, Alaska is a monster and I’ve added the missing ‘continental’. Thanks for the corrections.

Another interesting thing we left out about this floating waste is the risk of invasive species. Barnacles, molluscs and the like attach themselves to the underside and ride around the oceans, ending up in places they don’t belong and displacing the indigenous creatures.

It’s an all round bad idea, in short.

]]> By: Nickoli http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-1158 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:22:31 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-1158 Alarming though this is, you’ve got a couple of facts twisted. Twice the size of the continental United States is bigger than the US, but not twice the size: “continental United States” excludes Alaska, which is big in a way you probably can’t imagine.

Also, 500 nautical miles is how wide it is. The area, according to The Independent, is about 5,911,034 square miles. The Seattle Times puts it at “at least” 523,594 square miles.

The story in The Seattle Times emphasises another reason why this is a problem though: birds are are mistaking the bits of plastic for food, and it’s killing them.

]]> By: The landfill problem « MAKE WEALTH HISTORY http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/03/31/the-landfill-continent-that-dwarfs-the-united-states/#comment-1157 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:29:27 +0000 http://makewealthhistory.wordpress.com/?p=243#comment-1157 [...] a perspective on ’seafill’, see this post. [...]

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