The Problem.
Staggering amounts of trash float on our beautiful blue planet.
“Approximately 8 million tons of plastic finds its way into the ocean each year,” reported Laura Parker with National Geographic, 2019. She further explained “this is equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.”
And its not just the oceans suffering from the crisis.
According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, 80% of the trash in our oceans originated on the main lands and traveled to the ocean via water ways. Trash travels by way of storm drains, sewers, and other similar routes.
On our 225 mile stretch of waterway alone there are currently more than 460 Permitted Discharges, or LEGAL point source water pollution, and countless unpermitted sources of pollution.
There are 23 lakes in South Carolina that have been tested and found to have BACTERIA levels exceeding the state standard for swimming.
