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.

Press Release

June 5, 2023

Environmental Advocates Applaud Illinois General Assembly’s Efforts to Reduce Plastic Pollution

Chicago, IL (June 5, 2023) – With eyes on Paris for the recently completed crucial second round of global plastics treaty negotiations, groups in Illinois and across the Great Lakes […]

Diving Deep for Solutions

May 9, 2023

Putting an end to plastic pollution

For our Diving Deep for Solutions series, we commissioned author and journalist Kari Lydersen to examine big issues facing the lakes today and how our expert team at the Alliance […]

Blog

April 21, 2023

20 Years of Adopt-a-Beach Data Collection: What Have We Learned?

Adopt-a-Beach volunteers are on the front lines of keeping litter off our beaches and out of the Great Lakes. But did you know that these volunteers are also citizen scientists? […]

Podcast

April 18, 2023

Celebration of National Volunteer Week: Adopt-a-Beach Volunteers Season 2, Episode 15

This week marks national volunteer appreciation week, and on this Lakes Chat episode, we’re chatting about volunteering to help the Great Lakes. Guests included: Olivia Reda – the Alliance for […]

Podcast

April 4, 2023

Plastic Pollution Season 2, Episode 14

Andrea Densham is a Senior Strategic Advisor to the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Resources: Take Action

Blog

March 24, 2023

Single-Use Plastic Foam Foodware Ban Advances to Illinois Senate

Lake Michigan is one of Illinois’ greatest assets. But plastic pollution puts Lake Michigan and all our waterways at risk, polluting our drinking water and harming wildlife. Polystyrene foam – […]

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 […]