Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes

Researchers have found stunningly high amounts of tiny plastic pieces in all five Great Lakes. They’ve found microscopic plastic pieces in drinking water, fish, and beer – and even in human blood.

Visit our campaign page to see how you can be part of the solution. Learn more about Great Lakes plastic pollution below.

Blog

April 22, 2026

At the Edge of the Water: Two Leaders, One Shoreline, One Shared Responsibility

For Patrick G. Rodriguez Sr., it started with a newspaper article. A new member of the Indiana Harbor–East Chicago Lions Club brought information about Adopt-a-Beach to a meeting. The club […]

April 17, 2026

Get Inspired by Great Lakes Volunteers

Thousands of people volunteer to protect the Great Lakes each year. Working with them truly inspires me.   Every day, they remind me that we’re part of something bigger – an amazing […]

Webinar

March 24, 2026

Webinar: Data Center Playbook: Protecting water and understanding the impact of data center development

Water use from data centers is increasing across the Great Lakes region. To help make sense of the impacts, we released a new guide for residents, grassroots organizations, and local […]

Blog

March 20, 2026

What the State of the Great Lakes Report Tells Us About Our Future 

Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in discussions around the release of the State of the Great Lakes (SOGL) Report. Sitting alongside scientists, federal agency representatives, community members, and regional […]

Webinar

February 25, 2026

Webinar: Washington Update: Protecting the Great Lakes and Looking Ahead to 2026

When it comes to our Great Lakes priorities, how are our representatives in Washington doing and where should they focus their efforts in 2026? Thanks to Great Lakes advocates like […]

Blog

February 10, 2026

Top 5 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities for 2026

The federal government plays a critical role in protecting the Great Lakes. It’s responsible for funding projects, administering programs, and enforcing environmental safeguards. The Alliance for the Great Lakes advocates […]

Webinar

January 15, 2026

Webinar: Waves of Change: Taking Action to Protect the Great Lakes

Discover how you can play an active role in protecting and preserving the Great Lakes in the new year! We’ll dive into ways to get involved with the Alliance for […]

Blog

January 8, 2026

Making an impact on plastic pollution in Illinois 

Thank you to our Illinois supporters who took action to reduce plastic pollution in 2025! Whether you contacted your legislators, volunteered with Adopt-a-Beach, donated to the Alliance for the Great […]

Blog

December 20, 2025

National Leaders & State Legislators in Chicago to Combat Plastic Pollution

Last month, state legislators from around the country came together in Chicago to strategize state-level solutions to the growing plastic pollution crisis. The summit was organized by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a nonpartisan network of state lawmakers, and supported by the Alliance for the […]

Blog

December 10, 2025

Adopt-a-Beach Volunteers Make Ripples Beyond the Shoreline

Our amazing Adopt-a-Beach volunteers removed 541,750 pieces of litter – more than 23,000 pounds – from Great Lakes beaches, trails, parks, and marinas in 2025! Their work kept more than […]