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This is the result of carbon emissions in the atmosphere as they are absorbed by the ocean, causing seawater to become more acidic. This results in the destruction of many marine animals, from plankton and coral to sea stars, salmon, sea otters, whales — and in the end people, who rely on oceans as a food source.
*Definition adapted from The Center for Biological Diversity.

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Play these interactive games by QUEST to understand more about this process.

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Did you know that carbon dioxide (CO2) from burning fossil fuels is changing the chemistry of the ocean? Excess CO2 means the ocean is becoming more acidic - and fast. This may threaten the survival of marine life as we know it.

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This site is great for finding where you can recycle locally and has information on how to recycle efficiently.

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Learn about what recycling can do for you and what you can do for your recyclables! Here is where you'll find how and why to recycle common items you generate at home, work, and while out and about.

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Ocean acidification changes the pH of the ocean which in turn changes the ability for marine life to calcify. This makes it difficult for corals and animals that rely on the calcification process unable to rebuild their shells or grow. Coral bleaching has been a result of ocean acidification.
* Photo credit NOAA

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Artula Institute for Arts and Environmental Education. (2016). Washed Ashore. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://washedashore.org/

Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). Endangered Oceans. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/endangered_oceans/index.html

Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., . . . Reisser, J. (2014). Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea. PLoS ONE,9(12), 1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111913

García-Ibáñez, M. I., Zunino, P., Fröb, F., Carracedo, L. I., Ríos, A. F., Mercier, H., . . . Pérez, F. F. (2016). Ocean acidification in the subpolar North Atlantic: rates and mechanisms controlling pH changes. Biogeosciences,13(12), 3701-3715. doi:10.5194/bg-13-3701-2016

Hartin, C. A., Bond-Lamberty, B., Patel, P., & Mundra, A. (2016). Ocean acidification over the next three centuries using a simple global climate carbon-cycle model: projections and sensitivities. Biogeosciences,13, 4329-4342. doi:10.5194/bg-13-4329-2016

Ivanina, A. V., & Sokolova, I. M. (2015). Interactive effects of metal pollution and ocean acidification on physiology of marine organisms . Current Zoology,61(4), 653-658. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from http://www.actazool.org/temp/%7B3DF3E91E-1867-4D5D-98EE-3D766CFBDBCF%7D.pdf

Lusher, A. L., Burke, A., O’Connor, I., & Officer, R. (2014). Microplastic pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean: Validated and opportunistic sampling. Marine Pollution Bulletin,88(1-2), 325-333. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.08.023

National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Marine Pollution -- Pristine Seas. Retrieved March 31, 2017, from http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/explore/pristine-seas/critical-issues-marine-pollution/

Peart, C. (2016, August 26). Poll: Reducing Colorado carbon emissions. The Denver Post. Retrieved April 2, 2017, from http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/26/poll-reducing-colorado-carbon-emissions/

Zeng, X., Chen, X., & Zhuang, J. (2015). The positive relationship between ocean acidification and pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin,91(1), 14-21. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.12.001

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Please take this survey in order to better understand how to educate others on ocean acidification and pollution.

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This graphic demonstrates how plastics in the ocean are broken down, and the final effects that it has on humans and animals.
* Photo credit: Plastic Oceans

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The Colorado Association of Recycling was instituted in order to help people who want to recycle and provide the resources needed. It also provides information for government legislature as well as industry in order to further the recycling efforts in Colorado.

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Colorado Association for Recycling: Resources

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Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR) © 2009-2017. Unless otherwise stated, photographs contained in this site are © Jupiterimages Corporation or contributed by CAFR Members with permissions granted to CAFR. Unless otherwise stated, all text and other images contained in this site are the property of CAFR, Denver, Colorado USA.

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What happens to the plastic we throw away?

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What happens to the plastic we throw away?

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Ever wonder what happened to that plastic bottle you threw away? Look no further!

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What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce

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Effects of Plastics in the Ocean and Art

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Effects of Plastics in the Ocean and Art

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Washed Ashore Exhibit

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For all current USA exhibit locations including the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, and Open Hours for our Hometown Exhibit in Bandon, Oregon, please click here.
The New York Times / March 9, 2020
When the Ocean Gives You Plastic, Make Animals
"BANDON, Ore. - Angela Haseltine Pozzi stands shoulder to shoulder with Cosmo, a six-foot-tall tufted puffin, on a cliff overlooking the blustery Oregon coast. It is January and the deadly king tides have come to Coquille Point, making the shoreline look like..."

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We turn plastic pollution from the ocean into art to bring attention to a global issue. It's estimated that there are MILLIONS of pounds of plastic in our oceans today. Join environmental artist, Angela Haseltine Pozzi and the Washed Ashore movement to educate and create awareness of ocean debris an

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How can we keep plastics out of the ocean? - National Geographic
National Geographic provides some alternatives to plastic in the ocean and what you can do!

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How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | National Geographic

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Currently,  300 million tons of plastic is produced every year half of which is produced as single use plastic.

Out of the 300 million tons produced, 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into the ocean.

Packaging accounts for about 40% of the plastics produced and is usually just thrown away instead of recycled.

500 million plastic bags are produced yearly and worldwide.

In 2014, 100.7 billion plastic bottles were sold in the United States (315 bottles/person).

14% of the garbage in the ocean comes from plastic water bottles.

* Statistics from Plastic Oceans and Container Recycling Institute

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Ocean Acidification and Colorado (What can we do to help?)

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Ocean Acidification and Colorado (What can we do to help?)

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In a land locked state, we should not claim to not have any responsibility on the affects of CO₂ on the ocean.
There are different ways we can help reduce ocean acidification:

reduce carbon emissions as a state.

eating less meat reduces the need for animal products, which reduces the amount of methane and CO₂ produced during farming.

invest in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, water.

Use less energy at home, turn lights off, unplug items from the socket, and conserve water.

Reduce your use of plastics: use reusable shopping bag; refillable water bottles; buy environmental friendly products.

Take advantage of Bike to Work day, and the benefits of using the HOV lane and carpooling to work.

Support your local legislature to make changes, for example, instituting a plastic bag ban like in California.

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This is a TedEx presentation done by Dr. Triona McGrath. It outlines the process of ocean acidification and how this has a relationship with climate change.

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Ocean acidification - the evil twin of climate change | Triona McGrath | TEDxFulbrightDublin

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Ocean Acidification  Origins and Climate Change

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Ocean Acidification  Origins and Climate Change

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Alliance for Climate Education

Carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of ocean acidification. Wondering how this happens? How do you contribute to this affect? Or, do you just want a general understanding of this problem? This brief video is a great introduction to this issue that affects plant and animal life, as well as humans.

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Ocean Acidification by the Alliance for Climate Education

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22 million tons of CO2 that comes from carbon emissions and burning fossil fuels is released into the air every day and absorbed by the ocean.

For about 250 years (since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution) the ocean has absorbed 560 billion tons of CO₂. Since then the oceans have become 30% more acidic because of this increase in CO₂.

The current pH of the ocean is around 8.1 but could dip as low as 7.8 by the end of the Century.

* Statistics from the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Climate Assessment.