The Plastic Continent in the Pacific Ocean

[helwen]

Recently L and I watched a video clip at MSNBC on the plastic debris that's been accumulating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I prefer text sources, so did a little research and came upon this page: http://www.ecocycle.org/askeco-cycle/2005/1028.cfm

They have good information there on this, as well as links to organizations that have more, and also have info on what's being done about this.

Here's a couple of them:
http://www.plasticdebris.org/
http://www.algalita.org/

This continent-sized collection of plastic trash has been growing for 50 years... basically since we've started used plastics. And 80% of it comes down the rivers to the ocean. Even trash that goes into the Atlantic can end up in the Pacific eventually, because of the way the currents work and how everything is connected.

Dr. Charles Moore and other dedicated people have been working for years to get the problem recognized, and finally got funding a few years ago for cleanup projects. And apparently industry also has a program to help out. But 50 years of trash is a lot to clean up, and realistically not likely to happen, because of the scale of the project (the mass is twice the size of Texas). But we can at least keep it from getting worse, and perhaps decrease its size.

As individuals, we can contribute to the organizations doing the large scale work, we can go on trips to rivers and beaches and spend some time picking up trash throwing it away at proper disposal sites, and of course, acquire fewer pieces of plastic material that will be thrown away, be it disposable wrapping, clothing, CDs, PCs, iPods, etc.

This sort of thing is one of a number of reasons I've been working harder on cooking at home more, and doing more with home cooking. Although even this hasn't been perfect, because many foodstuffs come wrapped in plastic (meat in particular). A good reason to cut down on meat, of course.... but on the carnivore front, will be checking out one of the local farms this year -- grass-fed and all that, but I want to see how they handle the butchering aspect. The local grass-fed beef we got this past year has been great (and 25 lbs. will take us all year to eat) -- but it was all plastic-wrapped. I'd rather it were paper-wrapped and I could use plastic (re-usable!) containers to store them.

Also will be learning more about various methods of food preservation this year, which could also help cut down on the need for plastics. I don't mind the containers as much as one-time use plastics though (great for dry storage too) -- especially since my SIL Doris gave us a bunch that she wasn't using -- gotta love those perfectly serviceable used items!

Comments

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

Do you freeze meat wrapped in paper? Does it get freezer burn like that? Or do you not freeze meat?

[helwen.livejournal.com]

The beef we bought this past year came already plastic-wrapped.

But you can wrap in paper and then put it in a plastic container. There's even stuff called freezer paper (like what they have at a butcher shop, or used to have). The paper keeps the pieces separate from one another, and you just try to pack them in the container so that there isn't a lot of air space.

Not as good, but still cuts down on plastic, is wrapping the pieces and putting them into a single large freezer bag. I say not as good because I'm reluctant to trust that I can get the bag clean enough to use a second time, and bags aren't as durable as containers with lids.

The paper usually goes in the trash because it's touched food, but even if it escapes the dump somehow, it'll biodegrade. Although, if one has the land, it could be composted. Either way...

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Sorry, forgot a couple of things.

1) Freezer paper is sold in the same aisle as plastic and wax paper wraps.

2) L mentions an advantage of the paper is you can write on it (date frozen).

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Freezer paper has either a plastic or silicone film on it to make it airtight, it is not perfect.

I use a freeze-loc machine, which uses electricity and plastic, but re-use the cryobags.
I feel that preserving the meat perfectly is of the most value, in this particular instance, though for most of my dried foods I use jars.

I'll do some more research and get back to you, it is a nagging, long term problem.

I have books for you to peruse at Birka.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Blech. I was afraid of that (bonded materials). I thought it had changed texture over the years... sorry to hear it's true.

I'm also looking at brining and things like that.

Yay, books!

[oakmouse]

If you can find non-plasticized heavy white or brown paper, which out here is usually sold in big rolls as kraft paper or shipping paper, you can use that for the outer layer and do an inner layer of waxed paper. When I was a kid my great-aunt's butcher used a layer of waxed paper and then did an outer wrap of heavy non-coated white paper. (He's where she learned it from.) The double layer hardly ever leaked meat juice, except from really bloody roasts and Martha solved that problem by putting a plate under them during the thawing process.

Waxed paper can (or the older stuff could, anyway) be buried but decays slowly. After several experiments with burying it under one side of our multi-section compost pile, though, Dad decided to burn ours to keep the dog from digging it up and eating it. ;)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I was wondering about wax paper. And I can always do what loosecanon suggested, of burning the paper after use -- well, once we have a place with our own wood stove. Marian might wonder if I come downstairs with stuff like that :D

[helwen.livejournal.com]

sigh. Let me try that again.... thanks also for the burning suggestion... oy. That's what I get trying to read multiple emails and web pages at once...

[freya46.livejournal.com]

I have washed and reused the plastic ziplocks. Especially if the food put into it is wrapped in something. Just wash really well in hot soapy water then put it with open end down on something to give it the opportunity to dry. I used to stick them to the kitchen window. *grin*

See, I do read it, even if I don't comment. :-)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

I've done it with non-meat items, but have always felt more concerned about meat juices.... okay, will try it at some point in the future. Currently the containers are working well, and the only thing I have in bags in the kale, which bags will be easy to wash.

Hey, I ready your LJ too, but don't comment often :) Glad you got in some good rest earlier!

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

If you wrap in paper ( waxed paper is paraffin based, just so you know ) then into the zip type bag, the bag would sustain less damage.
Also, I mark my bags when I put less pleasant things into them, so I can go down the ladder of delicate when I refill them.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Oakmouse mentioned the waxed paper too.