1.8
trillion
Estimated number of
pieces of plastic floating
in the garbage patch.
• Litter dropped into the
Pacific Ocean floats to
garbage patches.
• Much of the trash in
garbage patches is
plastic.
• Many marine animals die
from eating plastic in the
ocean.
There is a lot of garbage in the
world’s oceans. People on shore
drop plastic bottles, bags, and
other items into the water. Other
trash comes from boats and oil
rigs.
The litter rides on ocean currents.
In the Pacific Ocean, it is carried
to one of two growing patches
of garbage. One patch is off the
shore of Japan. The other
lies between the US states
Huge Floating Garbage
Patch Threatens
Marine Life
10
24
