Isle Of Palms Magazine Spring/Summer 2019

9 www.IsleOfPalmsMagazine.com | www.ILoveIOP.com | www.IOPmag.com [ Feature ] for recycling now go to Indonesia and too often find their way into the ocean. According to the World Wildlife Fund’s website, “Scientists estimate that more than 8.8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year.” And a recent New York Times article stated that in some parts of the country, cities have even discontinued their recycling programs. This makes reducing the usage of plastics all the more necessary. Meanwhile, there is pressure from the plastics industry to halt the bans. Even as this goes to print, single-use plastic bans are at risk as the South Carolina Senate considers whether to prohibit home rule on such matters. Mayor Carroll met with the Regulatory and Local Government Subcommittee of the South Carolina Senate earlier this year. He told senators, “I love the beauty of our coast and want to protect it for not only now, but for generations to come.” South Carolina’s wildlife, clean water and quality of life, has called the single-use plastic bag “one of the most harmful pieces of litter entering our environment today.” The Charleston chapter of Surfrider Foundation organizes local beach, marsh and highway cleanups. Chapter Chair Marlo Shedlock said that plastic bags, plastic water bottles, Styrofoam to-go containers and cups, cigarette butts, straws and plastic bottle caps are the types of trash volunteers pick up most frequently. Teams on Folly Beach have seen an 80 percent reduction in plastic bags during cleanups since that island community’s single-use ban took effect. She noted that even when plastic breaks down and is no longer perceptible to the human eye, it’s still present and ingested by sea life and continues up the food chain until it reaches humans. Recycling programs help curb ocean pollution, but they aren’t enough. “Less than 10 percent of all plastics worldwide are recycled,” Mayor Carroll said. Plastics that once went to China 2 Mount Pleasant locations: 1110 Park West Blvd & 1973 Riviera Drive Hot yoga. Strong Body. Calm Mind. NOW OPEN Seaside Farms and Park West 843.270.8568 info@powerflowsc.com You get powerful hot yoga classes in a room heated to 98 degrees with 50% humidity. We use the latest infrared heat technology so you can strengthen, lengthen, and detoxify your body while you sweat and burn calories.