Check out How to De-junk the Coast, a compelling photo essay from The Tyee that highlights the tireless work of Let’s Talk Trash and Ocean Legacy Foundation in removing massive amounts of plastic and marine debris from British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast.

Over the past seven years, these teams have dedicated themselves to cleaning shorelines and nearby islands. They have collected a wide array of waste, from Styrofoam-filled tires and plastic bottles to oyster baskets and fishing nets. “Styrofoam and Styrofoam-filled tires are amongst the most common items found during cleanups in the Salish Sea. Styrofoam’s buoyancy makes it useful for docks. The problem is, when polystyrene breaks down, it has deleterious effects on marine life, ocean health and human health,” as shared by Andrea Bennett in the article noted above.

Every piece is carefully sorted to maximize recycling and diversion from landfills, with Ocean Legacy Foundation leading the intricate recycling process.

Ocean Legacy Foundation, the only facility of its kind in North America, transforms challenging marine debris like ropes and nets into reusable plastic pellets. They have even found innovative uses for Styrofoam-filled tires, supported by Tire Stewardship BC. “With the support of Tire Stewardship BC, for example, they purchased a tire guillotine, which quickly and efficiently separates tires from their Styrofoam centres. Tire Stewardship BC donates to Ocean Legacy annually to support this work, and recycles the tires after Ocean Legacy has processed them,” explains Abby McLennan of Let’s Talk Trash.

Related: Turning Treads into Treasure: How Tire Recycling in BC Drives a Circular Economy

With provincial funding, Let’s Talk Trash has expanded operations significantly. This expansion enables them to remove tens of thousands of kilograms of ocean waste each year. It is a challenging task that continues to motivate their mission to protect marine ecosystems. Read the full article to discover how these dedicated organizations are transforming environmental responsibility into impactful action.