Part 1/3: As Oceanic Trash Islands Grow, What You Can Do from the Tennessee River Valley

“Would you like that in a bag?”: A great blue heron catches a fish wrapped in plastic.

Believe it or not, litter from any location along the Tennessee River—even as far inland as Knoxville, Tennessee—can make it to the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s true! In fact, Knoxville is considered an international port because of its navigability to the Gulf. 

HERE’S HOW LITTER FLOW TO THE GULF OF MEXICO HAPPENS:

As you read this, additional litter is flowing toward an Atlantic Ocean floating trash island that’s long enough to cover the distance between Cuba and Virginia. In the Pacific, there’s another one between Hawaii and California’s coast that’s twice the size of Texas!

While conservation groups are working worldwide to remove the debris forming these floating wastelands, we’re going to have to change our culture in order to stop their growth once and for all.

If you live in any city along the Tennessee River, you have the power to help!  Click HERE to read Part 2 of this three-part blog series!