Little Steps You Can Take To Preserve Lake Erie

LAKEWOOD, OH — Earth Day was Sunday. It was a time of reflection, a time to contemplate how each of us can reduce the burden we place on the planet. One of the steps each Northeast Ohioan should consider taking is dumping their use of single-use plastics.

Macroplastics (any plastics bigger than 5 mm) are found in some abundance during clean-ups of Lake Erie, according to a study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Macroplastics can be anything from cigarette butts to kids' toys, the Cleveland Water Department said.

"Reducing potential macroplastic pollution starts with simple choices – like choosing tap water over bottled water and bringing reusable bags to the store instead using flimsy plastic bags," the Cleveland Water Department explained in a blog post.

"Ask yourself every time that you are considering buying a disposable plastic item: Do I absolutely need this? Can I use something else that I already have? Could I buy something that I can use long-term instead? A small investment in reusable containers can pay huge dividends for your pocketbook and the environment," the blog post continued.

The benefits aren't just aesthetic, they're financial. With less refuse pooling in the lake, there is less clean-up Cleveland Water has to do to provide clean, drinkable water. That makes the department more efficient and cheaper, savings that could be passed on to customers.

About 15 percent of the plastics that are found in Lake Erie are microplastics, which (as you may have surmised) are smaller than 5 mm. However, microplastics have been banned by the federal government. Starting July 1, 2018 companies will no longer be able to make products with microplastics in them.

Microplastics can be found in everything from cigarette butts to diapers, the U.S. Geological Survey said. “These microplastics, which are harmful to animal and possibly human health, will continue to accumulate in the Great Lakes well into the future,” said Austin Baldwin, a USGS scientist and lead author of a 2016 report on the subject.

Northeast Ohioans who may have products containing microplastics should consider replacing them once the ban is in-place.

Learn more about the impact of plastics on the lake in this Cleveland Water Department blog.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch