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.

Adopt-a-Beach Team of the Week

August 17, 2018

Pathways program removes 86 lbs. of litter from Foster Beach

Beachgoers flooded Chicago’s lakefront for fun and fireworks on a toasty Fourth of July. In the aftermath of the festivities, it became apparent the beach was in need of some […]

Adopt-a-Beach Team of the Week

August 3, 2018

Middle School Green Team supports Green Day in the Bay

When the Whitefish Bay Middle School Green Team stumbled upon a broken air conditioning unit at their local beach cleanup, they kept their cool. And, they did what they do […]

Blog

June 29, 2018

Tiny Plastic, Huge Victory

As of July 1st, the final phase of the nationwide microbead ban will take effect, ending the sale of personal care products containing plastic microbeads by retailers. Microbeads are tiny […]

Adopt-a-Beach Team of the Week

June 7, 2018

Cleveland Young Professional Council hosts its first-ever Adopt-a-Beach cleanup as a group

This Cinco de Mayo, the Alliance’s Cleveland Young Professional Council did not spend the day cheers-ing drinks. Rather, they dedicated their morning to protecting Lake Erie. The council hosted its […]

Adopt-a-Beach Team of the Week

May 24, 2018

Sacred Keepers Sustainability Lab: Keeping and sustaining relationships between generations

A baby, bundled up. A toddler, picking up plastic before constructing sand castles. High school youth groups. College sorority sisters. Religious group Sisters. The Earth Day cleanup — the 6th […]

BLOG

May 19, 2018

Kicking Off Adopt-a-Beach 2018

The Future Is Bright for Adopt-a-Beach and the Lakes Adopt-a-Beach volunteers across the region took to their local beaches for Spring Kickoff this year with a record 108 cleanups in […]

BLOG

January 4, 2018

Finishing What You Started: Important victory on plastic microbeads to take effect in 2018

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the Great Lakes and the world’s oceans. Tiny plastic particles have been found in everything from drinking water to beer, according to researchers in the […]

Press Release

January 4, 2018

Illinois Environmental Leaders Resolve To Reduce Great Lakes Plastic Pollution In 2018

Joint Press Release from Alliance for the Great Lakes, Illinois Environmental Council, and Shedd Aquarium CHICAGO (January 4, 2018) – Local elected officials, alongside leaders from Shedd Aquarium, Alliance for […]

CELEBRATING YOUR SUCCESS

December 6, 2017

Keeping Plastic Pollution Out of the Great Lakes

Adopt-a-Beach volunteers (or Great Lakes superheroes, as we like to call them) clean beaches on all 5 Great Lakes and in all 8 Great Lakes states. And across that huge […]

BLOG

April 22, 2017

Microplastics = Major Problem

By: Nate Drag, Alliance for the Great Lakes Water Project Manager Every year since joining the Alliance, I have made an extra trip to my hometown in western New York on […]