E.P.I.C. | Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™
E.P.I.C. | Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™
Ocean Legacy recovers ocean plastic pollution from sensitive coastal and marine environments, transforming reclaimed marine debris into plastic circular economy solutions! Our EPIC innovations are actively protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy… This is our legacy.
Innovating a circular economy revolution, with our EPIC ocean plastic recycling & reclamation solutions.
1 - COLLECTED / COLLATED
-Plastic is collected from beaches and waterways.
2 - SORTED & SEPARATED
-Plastic is sorted & separated by resin type
3 - SHREDDED/GRANULATED
-Ocean plastic is shredded/granulated and broken down at our facility
4 - WASHED/PREPARED
-Plastic is washed and readied for extrusion/pelletization.
5 - EXTRUDED/PELLETIZED
- Plastic is pelletized and ready for manufacturing!
6 -REMANUFACTURED/RECLAIMED
- Plastic is made into new, durable products!
LBS OF PLASTIC COLLECTED FROM CLEANUPS
The EPIC Program incorporates a four pillar hands-on approach to transform plastic pollution: EDUCATION, POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE & CLEANUP.
Our EPIC Mission is to End Ocean Plastic Pollution!
As a Canadian-based, international non-profit organization, founded in 2013, we are dedicated to ending ocean plastic pollution around the world. Our mission is to develop and implement international response programs that combat this critical challenge. We combine innovative technologies, education, and skills training to transform plastic pollution into economic value. Additionally, we collaborate closely with local communities, tailoring circular economy tools to prevent further plastic pollution and protect their unique environments.
Our vision is a world where oceans thrive, free from the devastating impacts of plastic pollution. We envision a planet working together to support the plastic circular economy where everyone, and everything, benefits. We believe in the power of collective action, empowering communities and individuals to be stewards of their marine environments while supporting and developing a sense of responsibility for leaving future generations a legacy of healthy, thriving ocean ecosystems and a plastic pollution free world.
Here at Ocean Legacy Foundation we are a diverse team, driven by a deep responsibility to protect our oceans for present and future generations. Our integrated approach, called EPIC, focuses on Education & Research, Policy & Advocacy, Infrastructure Development, and Cleanup & Restoration. Through EPIC, we aim to restore critical ecosystems, improve both human and wildlife health, and establish sustainable infrastructure and policies to prevent oceanic plastic pollution at its source.
How many tons of plastics are in the ocean and how did it all get there? Why is ocean plastic a global problem? What are some facts about plastic pollution in our oceans and on our shorelines? Are we eating Microplastics? How do microplastics affect our health? How does ocean plastic affect sea creatures? How should we deal with the recovered plastic from beach cleanups?
Transforming ocean plastic pollution into plastic circular economy solutions! Our EPIC program: Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™ consists of a 4-pillar approach to dealing with ocean plastics: Education, Policy, Infrastructure and Cleanup. Learn more about how you can get involved and help us transform, cleanup and prevent ocean plastic problems in the first place... Our solutions are developed to END ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic Product Ads (That No One Asked For) – Episode 1
Introducing The Classic Plastic Bottle™.
Designed for minutes of convenience and centuries of environmental impact.
Plastic bottles are among the most common items found during shoreline cleanups worldwide. When mismanaged, they can travel through waterways, enter the ocean, and persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Over time, these materials break down into microplastics that can spread throughout marine ecosystems.
Behind the satire is a serious issue. Plastic pollution continues to accumulate in our oceans, affecting wildlife, coastal communities, and ecosystems.
Through cleanup, recycling, and circular economy solutions, Ocean Legacy works to remove and responsibly manage these materials before they continue causing harm.
Learn more about our work:
www.oceanlegacy.ca
#plastic #plasticpollution #OceanLegacy #circulareconomy #marinedebris #oceansolutions
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Understanding plastic materials is the first step toward designing effective recycling and circular economy solutions.
Our Plastic Analysis Lab provides specialized testing services to help organizations better understand the materials they produce, recover, or recycle.
Our lab supports:
• Plastic identification and characterization
• Mechanical and performance testing
• Recycling pathway assessments
• Material quality verification for recycled plastics
• Product and material development using recycled polymers
Whether you are a manufacturer, recycler, researcher, product designer, or organization working with plastic waste, our team can help you better understand your materials and improve their end-of-life outcomes.
Our work is built on years of experience processing marine plastics and complex waste streams, giving us a unique perspective on how plastics behave across their full lifecycle.
If your organization is working with plastics and needs material analysis or testing support, we would be happy to collaborate.
Learn more about our Plastic Analysis Lab services:
oceanlegacy.ca/plastic-testing-ocean-legacy-analysis-laboratory/
For inquiries, contact:
lab@oceanlegacy.ca
#plasticrecycling #MaterialScience #circulareconomy #PlasticTesting #OceanLegacy #SustainableMaterials
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Recent marine debris recovery efforts continue to show both the scale of plastic pollution and the importance of proper end-of-life solutions.
Across several recent cleanup operations, we removed over 10,510 kg of marine debris from coastal environments, double the amount originally estimated.
What we found reinforces a pattern we see in many coastal cleanups: large volumes of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) and other plastic materials that fragment easily and persist in the environment.
Through our processing systems and recycling pathways, 85.29% of the recovered material was successfully diverted from landfill, ensuring that plastics are properly managed and, where possible, returned to the circular economy.
Marine debris is not just about removing waste from shorelines. It is about building the infrastructure, systems, and partnerships needed to ensure materials are responsibly managed after they are recovered.
Every cleanup provides critical data that helps improve how we prevent, recover, and recycle plastic pollution.
Learn more about our work and how you can support long-term solutions to plastic pollution:
www.oceanlegacy.ca
#PlasticPollutionSolutions #OceanLegacy #circulareconomy #marinedebris #oceanprotection #plasticrecycling #cleanuptocircular
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Breaking the vicious cycle of marine plastic.
In many coastal communities, debris collected during shoreline cleanups is sent to nearby landfills because there are limited options for disposal. But when waste systems fail, through stormwater, erosion, or poor infrastructure, plastic can escape and return to rivers and the ocean.
This creates a cycle where plastic pollution continues to circulate through the environment.
Ocean Legacy Foundation works to break this loop. Through our Ocean Plastic Depot Network, our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility, and our Legacy Plastic™, marine debris collected from coastlines can be sorted, processed, and recycled, ensuring these materials are reintroduced into the circular economy instead of returning to landfill.
Because solving plastic pollution requires more than cleanup, it requires systems that close the loop.
Learn more:
oceanlegacy.ca
#OceanLegacy #circulareconomy #PlasticPollutionSolutions #marinedebris #oceanconservation #RecyclingInnovation #plasticpollution
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Plastic pollution doesn’t begin in the ocean, but it often ends there.
Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic leak into rivers, coastlines, and marine ecosystems. What we recover during shoreline cleanups tells an important story: plastic waste is a systems problem that requires systems solutions.
At Ocean Legacy Foundation, our work focuses on building those solutions. From supporting community cleanups and operating Ocean Plastic Depots, to recycling marine debris into new materials through Legacy Plastic™, we are working to ensure plastic pollution doesn’t remain in the environment.
Recovery is only one part of the equation. Preventing plastic leakage at the source and improving end-of-life pathways are essential if we want lasting change.
Support solutions that keep plastic out of the ocean.
Learn more:
www.oceanlegacy.ca
#OceanLegacy #PlasticPollutionSolutions #CircularEconomy #MarineDebris #OceanConservation #RecyclingInnovation #LegacyPlastic
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Are you ready to support marine life and have a chance to fill your pocket? BC Marine Trails Network is having a 50/50 raffle, the total pot will be divided and the winner takes half!!
Your contribution will support their work, the jackpot now is sitting at $5,320 and vastly growing, so get yours before it’s too late!
Get your raffle ticket here: bcmt.rafflenexus.com/a/4u5f4mu7qq?fbclid=PARlRTSAQX8ZlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1Nz...
Working to secure access for paddlers and boaters to the BC coast
bcmt.rafflenexus.com
Checkout for the BC Marine Trails 2026 50-50 Draw. Order tickets for the 50/50.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
'Reuse and Reduce' strategies are essential in the fight of plastic pollution. Our Co-Founder & Executive Director, Chloe Dubois, will be joining an impactful panel today at the 13th annual World Ocean Summit & Expo, hosted by The Economist.
Chloé will join global leaders in the panel “Compelling ‘Reuse and Reduce’ Strategies for Ocean Health,” discussing how circular economy strategies and real-world infrastructure can help reduce plastic pollution at the source. This panel will be moderated by Charles Goddard, Editorial Director of the Economist Impact.
She will be speaking alongside:
Cher Mereweather — Managing Director, Canadian Plastic Pact
Brian Gooding — Vice President & Managing Director, Sæplast Americas
Frances Edmonds — Head of Sustainable Impact, HP Canada
Benjamin Maurer — Research Oceanographer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Together, the panel will explore how businesses, policymakers, and environmental organizations can accelerate reuse systems, waste reduction, and circular solutions to protect ocean health.
Learn more about the panel and the speakers:
events.economist.com/world-ocean-summit/agenda/?RefID=house-ads_digital-ad-np_MA00005904#day2+cat...
#OceanLegacy #WorldOceanSummit #OceanHealth #PlasticPollutionSolutions #CircularEconomy #OceanAction #ReuseAndReduce #SustainableOceans
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Ocean Legacy Expands Plastic Testing Laboratory Services
Ocean Legacy Foundation is expanding its Plastic Testing Laboratory services to better support recyclers, manufacturers, product designers, and innovators working with recycled plastics across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
With support from the CleanBC Plastic Action Fund, our lab now offers additional testing capabilities including:
• Tensile strength
• Flexural strength
• Impact testing
• Solid density analysis
• Ash testing
Alongside existing melt flow index and moisture analysis, these services help ensure recycled plastics meet the performance standards required for real-world manufacturing applications.
As the circular economy grows, reliable testing and quality assurance are essential to integrating recycled materials into products with confidence. Our laboratory works with partners to build technical data sheets, perform quality control testing, and troubleshoot processing challenges for recycled, virgin, and compounded plastics.
Press Release_OLF Plastic Testi…
Through accessible testing services, Ocean Legacy continues to strengthen the infrastructure needed to transform plastic waste into valuable materials.
Learn more or book a consultation:
lab@oceanlegacy.ca
#circulareconomy #plasticrecycling #OceanLegacy #SustainableMaterials #recycledplastics #PlasticPollutionSolutions
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Today is World Wildlife Day 2026! This year's theme is Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods
Marine plants like seaweeds and algae contribute to medicines, nutritional products, and traditional healing practices around the world. They support coastal livelihoods, cultural heritage, and global health.
But plastic pollution threatens these ecosystems. Microplastics, ghost gear, and chemical additives degrade marine habitats, harm wildlife, and weaken the biodiversity that medicinal resources depend on. Protecting marine wildlife also means protecting the plant life and ecosystems that sustain human well-being.
By removing, intercepting, and recycling plastic pollution through circular systems, we help safeguard ocean biodiversity for future generations.
Healthy oceans are essential to healthy communities.
Learn more about World Wildlife Day: wildlifeday.org/
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Thank you so much @Nevil and all the efforts at the Quadra island beach clean dream team! Your relentless dedication to keeping Quadra Island and the surrounding region clean is a true testament to community action and coastal restoration.
We, and so many others, continue to be inspired by you and applaud every effort, THANK YOU!
#cleanup #QuadraIslandBeachCleanup #OceanLegacy #marinelife #quadraisland #beachcleanup
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Help Advance Marine Plastic Sorting Innovation!
Ocean Legacy Foundation is calling on innovators to improve how we sort marine plastics recovered from coastlines, fisheries, and aquaculture.
We’re seeking solutions that enhance the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of manual sorting and quality control for complex marine plastic waste streams, from ropes and fishing nets to barrels and tiny fragments. The goal is to support human sorters with tools like computer vision and AI that can provide real-time decision support in non-conveyor, manual environments.
Your tech could help:
• Identify and classify highly irregular and degraded marine plastics
• Improve downstream recycling quality
• Strengthen data collection for circular solutions
• Expand recycling capability in remote or variable conditions
This challenge is an opportunity to advance circular solutions for the marine plastic crisis and set a new standard for how ocean plastics are handled and recycled.
Learn more and apply: lcbacanada.converve.io/MarinePlasticSorting.html
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A few photos from the Klahoose-led cleanup around the more inaccessible areas of Cortes Island.
Crews have been busy on the East side retrieving shellfish debris, despite storm delays affecting scheduled recycling days along the shoreline. This work in remote areas is critical to preventing further accumulation and fragmentation of plastic pollution along the shoreline.
Collected materials will be directed into our depot network to ensure they are properly sorted and managed through responsible end-of-life pathways.
We want to sincerely thank the @Klahoose crew, @Comox Strathcona Waste Management and all collaborators involved for their continued leadership and coordination. These efforts make a measurable difference on the coast.
The broader community shoreline cleanup is confirmed for June 6, when accessible beach debris will be tackled. We look forward to supporting the community again and continuing this important work together.
#cortesisland #klahoose #marinedebris #beachcleanup #OceanLegacy PlasticPollutionSolutions CoastalStewardship BCcoast
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The The Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF), a non-profit based in British Columbia, has expanded its Plastic Testing Laboratory to offer a wider suite of services for plastics analysis. These services support businesses, innovators and recyclers who are looking to improve recycled-content performance and benchmark material properties. OLF’s lab also helps troubleshoot processing challenges and build technical data for recycled plastics, making it easier to use recycled materials confidently.
Learn how this expanded lab is helping build confidence in recycled plastics: wasterecyclingmag.ca/business-operations/non-profit-expands-plastic-testing-lab-in-b-c
#Recycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #BC #WasteManagement #Plastic #MaterialTesting #Innovation
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High Tides and Low Temperatures didnt stop this crew from staying High Spirited and making a Large Impact!
🌊💪❄️🥰
Together with Mamalilikulla Guardians, this cleanup removed:
17 Cubic Meters of Polystyrene (Styrofoam!) Thats equivalent to the size of 4 Orca Whales!
14 Styro filled tires
So so many Micros, Nurdles, and other materials.
All from one small section of shoreline in just 2 short, very cold days!
These beautiful beaches and delicate ecosystems deserve the chance to breathe. If we continue working together to remove pollution from the Pacific coastlines, we can restore balance to these environments. Imagine the incredible marine life, coastal habitats, and future generations that will continue to thrive as a result of such collective efforts.
#plasticpollution #CollaborativeEfforts #oceanconservation #workingtogether #cleanerfuture
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On 7 February, the third part of the fifth session (INC-5.3) of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop a global, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution took place in Geneva. This meeting focused on procedural steps in the treaty process, an important reminder that international negotiations on plastic pollution continue and unfold over time rather than in a single event.
Highlights of INC-5.3 (7 February 2026)
• The third part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 7 February 2026.
• This session was administrative and organizational in nature rather than substantive (there were no negotiated treaty texts discussed or debated).
• A primary focus of the day was the election of a new Chair to guide the ongoing treaty process going forward.
• Delegates elected Julio Cordano (Chile) as the new Chair of the INC, taking over leadership as negotiations continue.
• The session followed the resignation of the previous Chair and aims to set the stage for further substantive talks in future meetings.
Staying informed on this process helps us all understand how global solutions to plastic pollution are shaped.
For official updates and documents from the session, visit UNEP’s INC-5.3 page: www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/session-5.3/documents
#GlobalPlasticsTreaty #PlasticPollutionSolutions #CircularEconomy #OceanLegacy
www.unep.org
UNEP is the global champion for the environment with programmes focusing on sustainable development, climate, biodiversity and more.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Congratulations to the Association of Cameroonian Youth who are doing an amazing work to tackle plastic pollution in Cameroon!
Their work is definitely making a powerful impact in their community and we want to spread it out! You can follow their socials to learn how to help organizations in vulnerable countries that are highly affected by plastic pollution.
Follow them at www.instagram.com/s.t.e.c._association?igsh=MXRwamVpNmpreWY3aw==
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Sunshine Coast Cleanup Complete.
From February 13–16, Ocean Legacy crews worked across Keats Island, Gambier Island, Cotton Bay, Brigade Bay, Douglas Bay, and Gibsons Marina to remove large marine debris from local shorelines.
Together with community members, we recovered:
• 7 broken dinghies
• Foam-filled tires
• Large dock floats and styrofoam blocks
• Derelict dock sections
• Fiberglass debris and rope
Huge thank you to Dan Rogers, Brett Paskar, Bob Rabnett, Patty Wiese, Trish Cowley, Diane Charette, Ruth Simons, Ken Bigelow, Ellika Cairns, Craig Pretto, and partners at Howe Sound Biosphere for helping organize and consolidate debris for pickup.
When communities prepare and stage debris, we can remove more material efficiently and prevent it from breaking down into microplastics.
If you’re grateful for this kind of work, consider supporting future cleanups:
oceanlegacy.ca/donate/
#SunshineCoast #HoweSound #CommunityCleanup #OceanLegacy #PlasticPollutionSolutions
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Lower Sunshine Coast Cleanup Complete.
From February 13–16, Ocean Legacy crews worked across Keats Island, Gambier Island, Cotton Bay, Brigade Bay, Douglas Bay, and Gibsons Marina to remove large marine debris from local shorelines.
Together with community members, we recovered:
• 7 broken dinghies
• Foam-filled tires
• Large dock floats and styrofoam blocks
• Derelict dock sections
• Fiberglass debris and rope
Huge thank you to Dan Rogers, Brett Paskar, Bob Rabnett, Patty Wiese, Trish Cowley, Diane Charette, Ruth Simons, Ken Bigelow, Ellika Cairns, Craig Pretto, and partners at Howe Sound Biosphere for helping organize and consolidate debris for pickup.
When communities prepare and stage debris, we can remove more material efficiently and prevent it from breaking down into microplastics.
If you’re grateful for this kind of work, consider supporting future cleanups:
oceanlegacy.ca/donate/
#SunshineCoast #HoweSound #CommunityCleanup #OceanLegacy #PlasticPollutionSolutions
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Vancouver apartment and condo residents can now recycle flexible plastics using the new pink recycling carts!
Materials like chip bags, Ziploc bags, bread bags, and bubble wrap, are commonly found in household waste and shoreline cleanups. Expanding access to flexible plastics recycling is an important step toward keeping more plastic out of landfills and the environment. We are so excited to see the City of Vancouver - Local Government and Recycle BC taking a step forward to address flexible plastics and find recycling pathways!
What is the next material you think they should incorporate? Leave it in comments!
Follow this quick guide to make sure your plastics actually get recycled.
Learn more at: recyclebc.ca/what-can-i-recycle/
Support end-of-life solutions for plastic pollution:
www.oceanlegacy.ca/donate
#PlasticPollutionSolutions #RecyclingGuide #circulareconomy #OceanLegacy #FlexiblePlastics #zerowaste
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Every piece of marine plastic we process moves through our facility multiple times.
From sorting and shredding to molding and shipping finished materials, a forklift is not a luxury for us, it is essential infrastructure.
Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we have already raised $8,655 toward a new forklift. This equipment will allow us to move finished Legacy Plastic™ products, fulfill orders more efficiently, and keep our recycling operations running smoothly.
Right now, our single forklift is stretched across multiple areas of operation. It supports both our processing floor and the handling of finished materials, which often slows down production and order fulfillment. A second forklift will help us increase efficiency, reduce delays, and strengthen our ability to build a circular economy for marine plastics.
For organizations like ours that operate in the field and in the recycling space, investing in our own equipment is critical. It allows us to direct more resources into wages, shipping, and community support instead of ongoing rentals.
If you would like to help us reach our goal and keep marine plastics moving through the circular economy, please consider making a donation.
Donate here: donorbox.org/forklift
Every contribution helps us move one step closer to a more efficient, sustainable future.
#OceanLegacy #circulareconomy #marineplastic #plasticpollution #recyclinginfrastructure #supportnonprofits
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Thank you again Gord Johns for Courtenay-Alberni for speaking up about ghost gear and pushing this petition to reinstate the Ghost Gear Fund!
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Not all plastic pollution is visible, and not all of it fits into conventional systems.
Much of the most difficult material sits in remote places, arrives contaminated, and requires time, labour, and infrastructure to process responsibly. This is why marine plastics are often overlooked, even though addressing them is essential.
At Ocean Legacy Foundation, our work focuses on building the systems needed to recover and process these materials, working alongside communities and partners to turn marine debris into usable resources.
Real solutions are built through infrastructure, partnerships, and the willingness to take on the difficult work.
Learn more about how to become part of the solution at oceanlegacy.ca
#plasticpollution #MarinePlastics #oceansolutions #circulareconomy
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We’re honoured to share that Ocean Legacy Foundation has been selected as the Ocean Plastic Pollution Solutions Specialists of the Year – Canada as part of the International Elite 100 Global Awards.
This recognition reflects the work of our team, partners, and communities who continue to show up for coastlines, build systems where none existed before, and push forward real solutions to plastic pollution.
There is still much work ahead, but moments like this remind us that persistence, collaboration, and solution-based approaches matter.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work.
To see more winners visit: internationalelite100.com
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Beach Clean Up THIS WEEKEND 🥳
'Namgis First Nation and Ocean Legacy will be doing a few days of shoreline cleanup work, starting this Sunday!
We would like to invite you all to join us from 10:00am-2:00pm on Sunday February 8th!
We will provide gloves, bags, experience, laughs and disposal for this cleanup!
Why is disposal mentioned and important?
Because we dont want to put anymore burden on our local transfer station! All debris and garbage that will be collected will be transported over to 7 Mile Landfill for further sorting. Materials will be recycled or landfilled from there.
We will meet in front of U'mista Cultural Society before dispersing to other beaches like Grassy Point. You will need to sign in and grab the provided bags.
All collected materials will be brought over to the staging area where bins will be filled at a later date.
Please be kind, work together, and remember that this is a shoreline beach cleanup only!
We hope to see you all there.
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Important to read.
People often see large volumes of recovered plastic and wonder why processing takes time. What’s less visible are the many steps required behind the scenes: storing material across multiple sites, cleaning and preparing marine plastics, separating mixed materials, maintaining equipment, and managing processing timelines that don’t always match recovery rates.
Marine plastics are some of the most challenging materials to work with, and they are often overlooked by conventional recycling systems because the work is complex and not always profitable. But plastic pollution doesn’t solve itself, someone has to take on that responsibility.
Organizations like ours exist to do the work that needs doing, even when it isn’t easy or financially attractive. This carousel offers a closer look at why that work matters and what it takes to keep marine plastics out of the ocean.
Support our work! Visit oceanlegacy.ca/donate
#PlasticPollution #MarinePlastics #CircularEconomy #OceanProtection
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Join our Co-Founder & Executive Director Chloé Dubois at the Economist’s 13th annual World Ocean Summit & Expo on March 4th-5th 2026 in Montreal, Canada!
The summit will focus on the transition to a sustainable ocean economy, ocean stewardship, strategies to restore ocean health, advancements in marine technology and collaborative efforts to address ocean pollution.
Learn more or register for this event at: events.economist.com/world-ocean-summit/
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Today, we recognize #WorldWetlandsDay2026, a global moment to honour wetlands as sacred, life-sustaining ecosystems and a timeless legacy we are responsible for protecting.
Wetlands play a vital role in ocean health. They filter pollutants and plastics before they reach the sea, buffer coastlines from storms and erosion, store immense amounts of carbon, and support rich biodiversity. Just as importantly, wetlands are deeply connected to traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and community livelihoods, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
This year's The Convention on Wetlands's theme is 'Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage', and it highlights how generations of ecological knowledge have helped sustain wetlands and why protecting these systems also means protecting culture, identity, and wellbeing. As wetlands disappear faster than they are restored, the impacts are felt across water quality, climate resilience, biodiversity, and human rights.
At Ocean Legacy, we see how land-based pollution moves downstream into marine environments. Protecting and restoring wetlands is a critical part of addressing plastic pollution at its source and strengthening nature-based solutions for healthy oceans.
Learn more and explore the official campaign resources: www.worldwetlandsday.org/en/home
#WWD2026 #CelebratingWetlands #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage
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We really appreciate the support of representatives like Gord Johns for Courtenay-Alberni who strongly support policy and fiscal investment for communities and coastal ecosystems across Canada.
Thank you to all those who have been collecting signatures and raising their voices in support of the reinstatement of the Ghost Gear Fund, a federal fund that has historically supported retrieval and recycling of ghost gear from Canadian waters.
Today, there are no major active provincial or federal funds to continue plastic pollution cleanup.
We continue encouraging community members across the country to raise their voices and ask our governments to continue investing in this critical work to help ensure that the wildlife and ecological impact of this pollution can be minimized.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this call to action. We are crossing fingers to hear what our government has to say in response, so stay tuned!
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Everyday work, long-term impact.
This is what an average day looks like at our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility. While we love participating in cleanups, that work represents only a fraction of the extensive work we do. Most of our day-to-day operations focus on what happens with the materials after they have been collected from the natural environment.
We want to thank all of our crew members, both current and former, for their hard work and continued dedication.
Supporting community-collected marine debris means having systems in place to receive, sort, and responsibly manage materials, day in and day out.
To support our work, visit oceanlegacy.ca/donate/
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Today, the Federal Court of Appeal issued a unanimous decision affirming the federal government’s authority to list “plastic manufactured items” as toxic, the classification that enabled the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations to be implemented and remain in force.
The Court overturned a 2023 lower-court ruling that had struck down the decision, meaning Ottawa’s ban on six common single-use plastic items continues.
Here is what this means for Canadian plastic policy:
• Stronger legal foundation for national action
The unanimous ruling confirms that the federal government can regulate certain plastic manufactured items under CEPA, providing long-term legal clarity for national plastics policy.
• Stability for existing and future regulations
With the single-use plastics ban upheld, current measures remain enforceable and future plastic pollution policies can be designed with greater confidence.
• Enables a shift from cleanup to prevention
Clear federal authority supports upstream policy tools that reduce plastic pollution at the source, complementing downstream systems for responsible collection, processing, and end-of-life management.
Sources:
• Federal Court of Appeal decision: decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/fca-caf/decisions/en/item/521771/index.do
• CBC News coverage: www.cbc.ca/news/politics/appeal-court-single-use-plastics-9.7066678
#BreakingNews #PlasticPollution #PlasticsPolicy #EnvironmentalPolicy #PolicyNews #SingleUsePlastics #OceanProtection #CEPA
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