Plastic in our waters

 

A new documentary about the impact of plastic in the environment will be screened at the Capitol Theatre Tuesday, March 3. The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) will be hosting the film.

A Plastic Ocean is a documentary about the state of our oceans and what we are doing to clean out the plastic. Sir David Attenborough calls the film ‘one of the most important films of our time.’ ” Doors open at 6 p.m, film starts at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a discussion panel after the film.

The Waste Diversion Coordinator for Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, Heather Taylor, said the main goal is to educate people about the long lasting impact that plastic has on the environment.

“Educating people that reducing plastic, especially single use plastic. I don’t think anyone’s trying to say that plastic is bad,” said Taylor. “It has a purpose, it has a need, it’s very durable, it’s long lasting….I think it’s more or less the single use plastics, the material that we’re using for a very small amount of time, and then they’re going to continue to have an impact on the planet on the ocean on our watershed, for thousands of years.” 

According to Taylor the DRCC is working towards a plastic bag ban starting June 1.

“So what that means is coming June 1, anyone that has plastic bags in their recycling boxes where you live, work and play,” said Taylor. “It’s going to be left at the curb… People are going to realize when the recycling gets left, because there’s plastic bags in it, that they can’t be recycled.” 

According to oceana.ca, Canadians produce an estimated 3.3 million tonnes of plastic waste per year. In Canada, more than one-third of our plastics are created for single-use products or packaging. 

Taylor wants people to know that plastic waste is a global and local issue.

“We have issues right here in our Great Lakes, all around us….They think this is something that’s just affecting people far away and it’s not going to be affecting us,” said Taylor. “It is absolutely affecting us because it’s happening in Detroit River, in Lake Erie in our own backyard as well.”