Freshwater Microplastics And Lake Ontario Municipalities

In 2005, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) identified plastic pollution as a top environmental crisis facing our species (Mason, et al., 2016, p. 1045), and yet plastic production and pollution has drastically increased over the last ten years. Researchers have reported the presence of plastic particles in almost every part of the world (Geyer, Jambeck, & Law, 2017, p. 1), and while awareness of marine plastic pollution has increased, research on dangerous microplastic (MP) pollution in Lake Ontario is limited. This MES Portfolio first explores freshwater microplastics and the role of Ontario municipalities in mitigating them, then focuses the City of Toronto’s ability to protect Lake Ontario. Finally, the Portfolio reviews my outreach experience supporting a prominent environmental non- governmental organization (ENGO) to raise awareness of plastic pollution and identify the top corporations who are polluting Canada with single-use plastics (SUPs).