PALM BEACH, Fla. – Shoes, bottle caps, and random leftovers of what was once something larger are not hard to find on our local beaches. According to a new study it's only going to get worse.
Local surfer Joe Pregadio says he sees this all the time on Palm Beach. "The most common things that I find are actually unidentifiable because they're just pieces of plastic that have broken off," said Pregadio.
According to a recent study published by the World Economic Forum plastics production has surged over the past 50 years. The plastic nestled in the sand of our local beaches is just a side effect.
"It is a reflection on our lifestyle," Pregadio explained. "Our modern consumer society."
In 35 years some scientists believe you could find more plastic in the ocean than fish.
"It's absolutely frightening, it's very difficult to comprehend," Pregadio said.
Slightly north, another Palm Beach clean-up is underway. Diane Buhler combs through the seaweed, plucking plastic as she finds it.
"It makes me feel horrified and that if we don't do something about it immediately as consumers this will become fact," Diane explained. "A lot of it is plastic caps, straws, tooth brushes, shoes. This unfortunately is medical waste which is likely coming off the ships."
Needles open or still in plastic wrap. Needles that don't contain anything to give the ocean the healing it needs.
"The ocean is a living thing that provides to us," said Pregadio. "We have to do everything that's possible in order to ensure that we continue to enjoy and reap the benefits of what she provides."
Pregadio not only picks up trash, he also wrote a book about his experience. The book titled 'Be Ocean' promotes a federal bill and excise tax on surfboards, paddle boards and other water sport items to raise money for ocean advocacy projects. Be Ocean is scheduled for release in early February.
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