In our ready-made world, it is all too easy to fall into a mindset of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. But the fact is, our waste has a vast effect on the world at large — not only to people, but to all living creatures on the planet. Plastics that are carelessly discarded perpetually leach toxic chemicals into the land and sea, and in the short term, our garbage can maim, strangle, and kill marine animals. You don’t have to be part of a club or program to assist in making sure that these animals are protected from hazards caused by human waste. Taking the initiative to pick up litter, purchase less plastic, and recycle or reuse whatever materials you can are all great ways to take action against ocean trash. Make sure if you pack it in, you pack it out. Leave as little trace as you can. Every little bit counts!

Photos via angrysunbird, tedxgp2, Tim Zim, ‘Scratch’, SeaLife Conservation, NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Inspiration Pending, Infidelic, -Shyam-, Mike Forsman, Debby Ng, Hantu Blogger, e_monk,