Microtrash removal is important in helping to restore our public lands. It may seem like a small deal, but the small bits of trash can add up into the tons.
Microtrash is a subset of the larger problem of illegally dumped waste, particularly where natural ecosystems and wildlife are concerned. These tiny bits of litter are usually not biodegradable and can have adverse effects on wildlife by creating choking hazards or intestinal blockages.
Microtrash is often so small that it gets left behind, either intentionally or unintentionally. Micro-trash is more than just an unsightly reminder of human encroachment on wild lands.
Microtrash pollutes the rivers, major lakes, and oceans. They can have chemical effects on the natural balance in an ecosystem, carry invasive seeds, bugs, or algae, trap animals if the trash is large or intricate enough to do so or even wind up in our watersheds.
Long-lasting and far traveling microplastics (tiny particles of plastic shred from larger products) is a growing modern concern, as plastic is non-biodegradable scientists have found small pieces of plastic in every part of the globe, from the deep sea beds of our oceans to the highest peaks in the world.
National Land Steward volunteers are dedicated to the clean-up of our lands. Every little bit of trash removed from our lands counts.
