Smaller Than a Grain of Sand
Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters long. That is smaller than a grain of rice!
You can help clean up the St. Johns River right from your neighborhood. Learn cool facts, see how trash travels, and find out how to safely pick up plastic.
Microplastics are tiny plastic pieces smaller than a pencil eraser. Here is what makes them tricky.
Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters long. That is smaller than a grain of rice!
When we wash fleece jackets, tiny plastic fibers can wash down the drain and into rivers.
Fish, turtles, and birds can eat microplastics by accident, which can make them sick.
Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down, so every piece we pick up helps.
Watch how a piece of trash can travel from land to the St. Johns River.
Rain washes litter into storm drains, and storm drains lead straight to the river.
Follow these steps to safely pick up trash near the St. Johns River.
Put on gloves and grab a trash bag. Never touch trash with bare hands.
Look near riverbanks, parks, and storm drains. Stay away from deep water.
Use a grabber or gloved hands. Keep sharp objects away from your body.
Recycle what you can. Throw the rest in a trash can with a lid.
The St. Johns River collects plastic bottles, food wrappers, straws, and tiny foam pieces. Every item you remove keeps the river safer for fish, birds, and people.
Curious young heroes can learn more here.