As reported by the Mercury News, Project Kaisei researchers have sailed to collect data about the Great Pacific Garbage patch (or plastic vortex), which is created by plastic debris and other trash brought together by ocean currents. Some scientists estimate it is twice the size of Texas.

Courtesy of NOAA Marine Debris Program.

The goal of the expedition is:
“To study the North Pacific Gyre and the marine debris that has collected in this oceanic region, to determine how to capture the debris and to study the possible retrieval and processing techniques that could be potentially employed to detoxify and recycle these materials into diesel fuel. This first research expedition, scheduled for the summer of 2009, will be critical to understanding the logistics that would be needed to launch future clean-up operations and testing existing technologies that have never been utilized under oceanic conditions.”

NOAA encourages individuals to help prevent the creation of marine debris by taking the following steps:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Choose reusable items and use fewer disposable ones.
• Keep streets, sidewalks, parking lots and storm drains free of trash – they can empty into our waterways and oceans.
• At the beach, park or playground, dispose of all trash in the proper
  receptacles or take your trash home with you. Pick up any debris you
  see while out.
• Support legislation and other measures that help stem the marine debris problem.
• Practice mindful meditation (okay, I added this last one)

For more information about how we can all help reduce the impact of all this garbage, see the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.

You can follow Kaisei researchers progress during their expedition on their latest video updates on YouTube.