On January 27th, my group and I decided to take action and clean up the pier. We gathered early in the morning with gloves and trash bags, ready to make a positive impact on our environment.

Walking along the pier, we encountered various types of litter, including plastic wrappers, cardboard, and even pages from books. Despite the amount of trash, it felt rewarding to know that each piece we picked up was one less item polluting our ocean. We also noticed a significant amount of trash and plastic in the river, which was shocking to see, as it affected the homes of many animals, including ducks, fish, geese, and more.

By the end of the day, we had filled an entire bag with trash, leaving the pier cleaner and more inviting. The experience was not only enjoyable but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our environment clean, as we are not the only ones living here. It illustrated that even small actions can lead to positive changes and highlighted the importance of getting involved in small ways to help our health and the environment.

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On January 10th my group and I visited Washington Square Park to see how many people knew about composting. We talked to 16 people: 10 knew about composting and 6 did not. Those who knew about composting shared some cool facts. One person compared it to growing herbs, while another mentioned that Boston has a great composting system. We also learned that Seattle has a good composting system, and some cities even turn waste into bio.

However, some people said that their city makes it hard to compost because of a lack of support and infrastructure. Overall, this experience showed us that while some places are doing well with composting, there’s still a lot of work to be done to make it easier for everyone. This highlights the need for better systems and more awareness to support composting efforts and make it accessible to all.

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On December 13th, we interviewed Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine, a chef and food system expert. She discussed the impact of microplastics and their potential effects on our health. Colombe highlighted that seafood, while nutritious, can contain significant amounts of microplastics due to marine pollution. Larger fish, such as tuna and swordfish, tend to contain higher levels of toxins, so it’s better to consume them less frequently.

Microplastics can disrupt our hormones and infiltrate vital areas of our bodies. To minimize risk, Colombe recommends using glass or metal containers and avoiding plastic wrap and microwaving plastic containers. Microplastics predominantly enter our food supply through the ocean, as fish ingest these particles. In addition to fish, microplastics can be found in various other products, such as sea salt, plastic water bottles, BPA-free cans, and saran wrap. By opting for alternatives like glass or metal containers and choosing Himalayan salt over sea salt, we can reduce our exposure to microplastics and protect our health.

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On December 11th our group met with Eliza Zygmutowicz, our science teacher and an expert on our environment. We talked to her about various issues related to microplastics and their effect on the world. It was so interesting to learn about how big of an impact microplastics have on our environment and everyday life.

We talked about the impact that fast fashion has on our environment and learned that when we buy clothes, we should aim to wear them more than once to reduce waste. Fast fashion is a big contributor to pollution and uses up natural resources, which has very bad long-term effects on our planet.

We also learned a lot about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is a huge area in the ocean filled with trash and plastic debris. Eliza told us that microplastics from this patch can get into the food chain not only affecting animals but also people who eat seafood. We talked about ways to take action to help solve these problems. She encouraged us to use less plastic, support eco-friendly clothing brands, and participate in beach cleanups to make a positive difference.

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