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The main organisations that are helping stop this issue are

Surfrider foundation

A grassroots non-profit organization working to protect and preserve the world's oceans by focusing on water quality, coastal ecosystems, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation. They operate mainly in North America as well as parts of Europe and Japan.

Sustainable Coast line Hawaii

This organization is supported by Chris Hemsworth and he has helped clean up most of the coast lines in Hawaii and in Australia

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First World Countries - Such as USA, England and France.

What is currently being done to solve the problem?

Developed countries have invested a great deal of technical support in the restoration and construction of marine ecology.

In general, these technologies are basically divided into three categories:

First, marine ecological construction technologies, such as the construction of various types of artificial algae, artificial benthic environments, and artificial reefs.

The second is marine ecological restoration technology. The European Union's Seventh R&D Framework Programme (FP7) provides funding support for the partial removal of marine litter R&D projects, and has shown significant advantages in the use of natural microbes (bacteria or fungi) to clean marine litter. For example, the Kill-Spill R&D project utilises a self-developed biodegradable bio-based dispersion agent to convert leaking oil from seawater into a mist-like mass containing tiny oil droplets, rapidly increasing the progress of marine oil-oil digestion and leakage. The ocean self-cleaning process, which originally required several years for complete absorption of leaking petroleum residues, can be completed in a few weeks using new technologies.

The third is the conversion technology of marine litter resources. In Tokyo, Japan, garbage will be recycled on the shore, some of the waste will be burned to generate electricity, and high-value waste such as plastics and sawdust will be used as fuel. Singapore uses refuse ashes to reclaim the islands. Thailand Establishing a waste plastics re manufacturing fuel project can consume 6 tons of waste plastics per day, produce 4500 liters of fuel, and produce 1.35 million liters of oil per year, thus realizing the conversion of marine refuse resources.

Plastic Bags are being banned in more states across Australia
USA refuse to do anything about the problem
Who are the main actors or groups involved in the solution?
France
Australia
Norway
England
Sweden
New Zealand
What is planned in the future by your group and the actors to solve the problem?
Australia will begin to take more action on cleaning up the great barrier reef

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DOING?                                           The United Nations Environment Programme has created ‘The Clean Seas’ campaign to try and reduce the amount of plastics that end up in our oceans. By 2022 they aim to achieve a global ban on plastic microbeads found in cosmetic products and they also hope to see a drastic reduction in the use of single use plastic.                          As part of the Clean Seas campaign they are urging governments to pass plastic reduction policies; targeting industry to minimize plastic packaging and redesign products; and calling on consumers to change their throwaway habits before irreversible damage is done to our seas.                                     The United Nations have managed to get more than 200 countries to eliminate plastic packaging which is clogging our ocean and having a devastating impact on marine ecosystems. At a UN Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, a resolution has been passed, aimed to end marine plastic pollution

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DOING?                                           The United Nations Environment Programme has created ‘The Clean Seas’ campaign to try and reduce the amount of plastics that end up in our oceans. By 2022 they aim to achieve a global ban on plastic microbeads found in cosmetic products and they also hope to see a drastic reduction in the use of single use plastic.                          As part of the Clean Seas campaign they are urging governments to pass plastic reduction policies; targeting industry to minimize plastic packaging and redesign products; and calling on consumers to change their throwaway habits before irreversible damage is done to our seas.                                     The United Nations have managed to get more than 200 countries to eliminate plastic packaging which is clogging our ocean and having a devastating impact on marine ecosystems. At a UN Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, a resolution has been passed, aimed to end marine plastic pollution

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Stef, Fraser, Janani, Sophie

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Marine animals and plastic pollution statistics

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Marine animals and plastic pollution statistics

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he government are the main enforces of this with the green party influencing the decision the government are making 

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vic gov action

what is currently being done to solve the problem? Victoria is already reducing litter and plastics attempting to stop it before it enters the ocean. this is created a 27% reduction in litter over the past year. Victoria is the first Australian jurisdiction to establish
a long term, comprehensive waste infrastructure planning framework. Victoria is i the process of banning single uses plastic bags replacing it with eco bags
who are the main actors or groups?
the government are the main enforces of this with the green party influencing the decision the government are making
what is planned to be done in the future?
the government is in the process of banning all single use plastic bags and trying to stop the waste from entering the ocean in the first place

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Sources of Marine Plastic Pollution in Australia

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Sources of Marine Plastic Pollution in Australia

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Developing Countries - what are they doing to solve the problem of plastics in our oceans?

what is currently being done to solve the problem?

A city in the Philippines called San Fernando is fighting trash by making a new program of collecting the waste. The waste was originally collected by garbage trucks but it was expensive and ineffective. They are thinking about paying people to go from house to house to collect the rubbish. They would then bring them to warehouses and sort the rubbish. This would allow the rubbish to be recycles or composted rather than be dumped.

who are the main actors or groups involved in the solution?

The Bahamas Plastic movement:
Founded by Bahamas-native Kristal Ambrose, the Bahamas Plastic Movement’s goal is to make the region free of plastic debris using research, education, citizen science, and policy change. The mission of the movement is to build a community of education and activism around plastic pollution. Launched in 2014, the movement conducts plastic education campus encourages people to join the programme by adopting a beach, etc.

what is planned in the future by your group and the actors to solve the problem?

San Fernando have implemented compost and recycling systems to improve the amount of plastic and waste that reaches the ocean. So far they have managed to recycle 75% of their litter and in the future hope to increase this number once again to 93%. in South East Asia there are also people that glitter picking for a living. they sort through the trash and find recyclables and sell it to people use it for other things. To improve this fix, they plan on selling other things such as food scraps and increasing the amount of pickers that there are.

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Mornington Peninsula

What is currently being done to solve the problem?

Advocating for a ban on single use plastic bags

Silage wrap recycling for Mornington Peninsula farmers.

A restructure of waste processing activities with the awarding of new waste contracts to provide a cost effective and efficient waste management service to the community.  These contracts will meet Council’s efforts to increase the volume of waste diverted from landfill.

A letter from the Mayor, Cr Bryan Payne to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change to advocate for an alternate waste technology facility in the South East Metropolitan Area.

Weekly summer kerbside recycling bin collection service..

The Shire has a Waste Education Program to help residents avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle their waste.

The ecological and environmental impact caused by the increased use of plastic bags creates a significant threat to Port Phillip Bay and the Mornington Peninsula.

Plastic Bags can require between 20 to 100 years to break down and are often mistaken for food by marine animals.

Council has been actively protecting the bay in partnership with the Association of Bayside Municipality (ABM) and member councils, recently endorsing the ABM agreed policy position on a ban for plastic bags.

Places like Woolworths and Richies has already started to stop using plastic bags in some of these stores already.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire has stated that protecting our environment and marine life is an important initiative. Council continues to strongly support the proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act to ban the sale of single-use plastic bags.

Who are the main actors or groups involved in the solution?

The main actors are the people of the Mornington peninsula. And the council.

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Australia at a national level
What is currently being done to solve the problem?
Australia currently has a national waste policy in effect.
The aim of this policy avoid the generation of waste and to manage waste as a resource.
Selling garbage to countries like China, to recycle.This is used as a garbage bin in rivers, it can also be used in the open ocean.
Who are the main actors or groups involved in the solution?
The Australian Government.
The Australian department of the environment.

What is planned in the future by your group and the actors to solve the problem?
The government is considering a plastic fee.
They are installing new marine bins around popular beaches to prevent plastic getting in the ocean..

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international corporations: e.g. coca-cola

what is currently being done to solve the problem?
Recycling and water management.
Activewear companies are known for using synthetic fibers and plastics in their products to make them more durable. Alongside Patagonia and Nike, sportswear giant Adidas will start showcasing sleek, ocean-friendly designs. Last year, Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans, an organization that provides a platform for designers, to focus on creating inventive, sustainable new products. The Adidas x Parley, which hits the market later this year, will be made from recovered ocean plastic, run through a 3-D printer to create a stylish running shoe.

Bank of America, the financial institution is actually a big supporter of ocean conservation efforts. It has been a “dedicated sponsor” of the International Coastal Cleanup for 13 years

who are the main actors or groups involved in the solution?
The CEO Water Mandate
Coca Cola
Bank of America
Adidas
Norton Point: recovers plastics from beachs and turns them into eyewear

what is planned in the future by your groups and actors to solve the problem?
reaching their fundraising goals
releasing clothing/footwear that effect the planet in an eco friendly way - could be the beginning to a future of clothing

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What are International Organisations such as the UN doing about this problem?
What is currently being done?

Who are the main actors/ groups involved in the solution?

what is planned in the future by your group and the actors to solve the problems?
The UN states that "Instead of targets, the resolution “urges all actors to step up actions to by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds” and “encourages” member states to “prioritise policies” that “avoid marine litter and micro plastics entering the marine environment”".
Things our group can do include:
1. writing to local councils to change policies/ organise clean-ups/ become more sustainable
2. write petitions for local community to sign for the benefit of the environment, then send to local council/ government
3. start at home by reducing amount of plastic used/ bought
4. talk to family and friends about the problem so that more people are aware of the problem.
If everyone makes little sacrifices/ changes to their life then we can fix the ocean waste problem much quicker by preventing more garbage being put into the oceans. This means we only have to clean-up and collect what is already out there.

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What is currently being done to solve the problem?
Beach cleanups around Australia including one in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon where 100,000 items were removed from the ocean.
Bans on plastic strapping bands in WA - preventing items being made that can enter the ocean.
Reduction of balloons ie release of helium balloons from festivals or birthday parties.
Reduction of waste, after cleanups performed by them, they then try and recycle almost everything they collect to minimize any of that waste re-entering the ocean.

Who are the main actors or groups?
This is a non government company therefore the Australian Government has no involvement with this company

What is planned in the future by your group and the actors to solve the problem?
-Started local communities and is now being scaled up
-Going into schools to target the next generation who will have to deal with this problem
-Running workshops for communities on how to reduct waste
-more cleanups on a larger scale
-increase number of bins
-management of microplastics - taking out of the coean the rubbish that is already there

3 main aims
1. Remove whats already there
2. Stop flow of litter into the ocean
3. Reduce amount of waste produced