Don't Trash St. Albert

Waste harms wildlife, water, and humans.

• Ingestion: Wildlife mistake plastic, foam, and insulation for food. This can cause internal blockages or fill stomachs without providing nutrition, potentially leading to starvation or death.
• Entanglement: Plastic sheeting, straps, and debris can wrap around animals' limbs, wings, and necks—restricting movement, causing injuries, and sometimes leading to drowning or death.
• Microplastics: Plastics break down into microscopic fragments that spread through water and sediment. These particles enter food, drinking water, and accumulate in humans and wildlife.
• Injuries: Nails, staples, glass, and sharp debris can cut feet, beaks, and mouths, leading to infections that may become fatal.
• Habitat damage: Debris smothers aquatic plants and disrupts wetland habitat, reducing habitat quality for fish, birds, and insects.
• Blockages: Animals lose access to food sources and shelter when debris piles create impassable barriers.
• Community impacts: Beyond wildlife, plastic pollution creates real costs for residents—cleanup expenses, degraded public spaces, and potential health concerns for children and pets.

Read more:

• Government of Canada on plastic pollution 🔗
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on marine debris 🔗
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature on plastic pollution 🔗