The summer season brings with it a variety of opportunities to enjoy our local waters and to reflect on how we can preserve these natural spaces for generations to come. Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing challenges facing our freshwater ecosystems, including the Great Lakes. The complexity of the issue requires a whole of society approach to finding meaningful solutions and the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup and its collaborators are playing a key role in ensuring our waters are safe and clean for everyone to enjoy. We’re celebrating Plastic Free July this year by inviting more people to join us in the fight to end plastic pollution in our Great Lakes!

Research shows that hands-on experiential learning and community involvement can profoundly deepen our understanding of nature and inspire lifelong environmental stewardship. Since 2020, the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup has built a volunteer community of over 650 individuals, including students, rotary clubs, corporate groups, international visitors and members of the boating community. These volunteers not only help to remove plastic waste from the lakes, but also to collect much needed data on the types and sources of plastic they find. The events also provide opportunities to learn more about plastic pollution and to inspire a diverse range of individuals to take further action within their communities. Our volunteers play a critical role in helping us to ensure that our Great Lakes remain vibrant, healthy and free from plastic pollution.

When asking Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup volunteers why they join waste characterization events, they often mention their desire to learn more about the types of plastic that end up in the environment and note that they are eager to find outdoor experiences where they can be a part of local action. Their participation fosters a sense of community and a deeper understanding of how their efforts contribute to broader impacts across the Great Lakes region. Check out our website to learn more about OUR IMPACT: https://www.greatlakesplasticcleanup.org/our-impact and our wonderful partners and collaborators, including C-Tow Marine Assistance: https://www.greatlakesplasticcleanup.org/about-the-project/partners

“There are a lot more microplastics in the lake than I thought! It’s easy to focus on larger debris or plastic pieces when thinking about pollution…but this experience taught me that microplastics are a huge problem for our lakes and should be [part of the discussion] about plastic pollution.”

– Volunteer from Innisfil, Ontario

“I think it is important to keep our waterways clean and therefore we have to know what is in there.”

– Volunteer from Whitby, Ontario

The United Nations identifies youth as key stakeholders in addressing emerging environmental issues. Involving youth audiences in initiatives like the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, not only provides an opportunity for them to learn firsthand about the impacts of pollution, but also empowers them to become proactive leaders and stewards in their communities. The initiative has been fortunate to work with a range of different youth groups over the past few years and looks forward to finding new opportunities to do so again this season!

The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup is also a popular way for our corporate partners across the Great Lakes region to support employee engagement and personal development, while contributing to tangible, long-lasting impacts on the environment. In addition to support the initiative’s goal of ending plastic pollution, our customizable events engage employees in meaningful activities that foster stronger relationships and further enhance teamwork.

How You Can Get Involved

We’ll be hosting events throughout Plastic Free July and the summer season. If you are interested in joining the initiative, hosting a volunteer or employee engagement event, or if you would like to learn more about the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, visit greatlakesplasticcleanup.org or contact info@greatlakesplasticcleanup.org.

About the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup

The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, an initiative of Pollution Probe and the Council of the Great Lakes Region, uses innovative capture technologies to prevent and remove plastic in the Great Lakes, from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Superior and everywhere in between. By analyzing the plastic collected, the initiative provides vital information about pollution sources and pathways, while engaging local communities, government, industry, and consumers around how we can all work together to end plastic pollution. The largest initiative of its kind in North America, the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup is made possible through support from a network of funders and collaborators across the binational Great Lakes region.