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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.

Categories

Agricultural runoff
Green Bay dead zoneLake Erie algal bloom
Climate change in the Great Lakes
Combined sewer overflowsGreat Lakes water levelsGreen stormwater infrastructure
Drinking water
Drinking water affordabilityLead service lines
Environmental justiceGreat Lakes restorationInvasive species
Invasive carpInvasive species in ballast water
Other topicsPlastic pollution in the Great Lakes
Adopt-a-BeachMicrobeadsMicroplastics

Blog

January 24, 2023

Top 5 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities for 2023

Significant progress has been made in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. But much more needs to be done. Too many Great Lakers experience polluted water, whether it is lead-tainted […]

Blog

November 14, 2022

Adopt-a-Beach 2022: Year-End Results

Every November, the weather turns cooler, the rush of beach cleanups begins to slow, and we take the time to compile our annual Adopt-a-Beach™ results. The Alliance for the Great […]

Blog

October 17, 2022

Why the Great Lakes Need Comprehensive Solutions to Plastic Pollution

This post is by Sofia Johansson, who worked as the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Public Policy and Governance Intern this summer. She is a third-year Environmental and Urban Studies […]

Blog

September 29, 2022

Adopt-a-Beach Reaches a Milestone

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adopt-a-Beach program. As we dug into the data we’d collected, we realized the program was approaching a […]

Podcast

September 27, 2022

Juliann Krupa: September Adopt a Beach Cleanup & Half a Million Pounds Goal

Juliann Krupa is the Volunteer Engagement Manager at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. In this role, Juliann utilizes her passion for aquatic science and conservation to oversee over 15,000 Adopt-a-Beach […]

BLOG

August 19, 2022

To the Beach: Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup Road Trip Recap 

This summer Juliann Krupa, Volunteer Engagement Manager, and Oliva Reda, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, set out to clean beaches and meet volunteers around the Great Lakes region. They cleaned up trash, […]

Blog

June 21, 2022

5 Ways to Celebrate Plastic Free July

Plastic pollution is a major problem in the Great Lakes. More than 22 million pounds of plastic end up in the lakes every year. And plastic never really goes away. […]

BLOG

June 21, 2022

5 Ways Plastic Pollution is Different in the Great Lakes

What comes to mind when you hear the words “plastic pollution”? Maybe the phrase conjures up images of the infamous trash island plaguing the north Pacific. Maybe you think of […]

BLOG

June 21, 2022

9 Tips for a Plastic-Free Summer Holiday at the Beach

The Great Lakes are one of the best places to spend a holiday weekend. And, if you’re like us, plastic pollution at the beach isn’t a part of your perfect […]

Podcast

May 31, 2022

Dr. Sherri Mason – Plastic Pollution

Dr. Sherri Mason, is a leading expert on plastic pollution. Her award-winning work has drawn international attention to the threat of microplastics in our waters and led to the passage […]

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