EGLE invites Michiganders to learn, act, and help protect the Great Lakes from tiny plastic pollution
A big challenge to the health of the Great Lakes takes a tiny form: microplastics. These plastic particles – smaller than 5 millimeters – can be found in Michigan’s lakes, rivers, drinking water, wildlife, and even the air. To raise awareness of this growing concern, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) presents Michigan’s first-ever Microplastics Awareness Week, Oct. 19-26. Michiganders, businesses, and community organizations are invited to learn about microplastics, participate in cleanups and prevention, and explore ways to reduce plastic use at home and work. Governor Gretchen Whitmer dedicated the week in a proclamation. “Microplastics are a global issue that touches every part of Michigan, from our most remote inland lakes to our busiest cities,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “This week is about empowering people with knowledge and actions that make a real difference in keeping our waters clean and healthy for generations to come.”
Other key opportunities, events, actions, and resources include:
      * Lake-by-lake data from The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup showing the different types and relative amounts of plastic in each Great Lake. The                  website includes information on cleanup events throughout the state.
      * The Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Plastic Free Great Lakes Toolkit, which includes solutions, tools, and resources to help reduce plastic                     pollution. Exploring opportunities at home such as switching to reusable bags and bottles, limiting single-use plastics whenever possible, and         installing washing machine filters to reduce microfibers.
      * Microplastics webinars from the International Joint Commission and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and                                               Medicine’s Environmental Health Matters Initiative focusing on the monitoring, ecological risk assessment, and management of microplastics in         the Great Lakes; and human exposure and health effects of microplastics in the environment. 
       *Community action and regional advocacy to remove and prevent debris in the Great Lakes watershed through the Great Lakes Love                                  organization and its goal of picking up 1 million pieces of trash.
        *Learning more about microplastics on EGLE’s Microplastics webpage.