Maria Lisa Polegatto May 5, 2026
Waste, Water and Responsibility
The tide rolls in
with reverence,
purpose,
intending to cleanse.
From the surface,
water looks alive--
endlessly moving,
breathing,
living.
Beneath the surface
the shallow is warm,
inviting,
At depths we may never see,
a whale moves through its world.
Powerful,
intelligent,
ancient.
A species that has survived
for millions of years,
Has been,
is endangered,
extinct,
surviving.
And yet, today,
its greatest threat
is not a predator,
It’s us.
The tide rolls in
with reverence,
purpose,
intending to cleanse.
From the surface,
water looks alive--
endlessly moving,
breathing,
living.
Beneath the surface
the shallow is warm,
inviting,
At depths we may never see,
a whale moves through its world.
Powerful,
intelligent,
ancient.
A species that has survived
for millions of years,
Has been,
is endangered,
extinct,
surviving.
And yet, today,
its greatest threat
is not a predator,
It’s us.
“It Starts With One Piece”
While not intentionally, humanity has and continues to be a predator. Not all at once. But rather piece by piece.
A plastic fragment. A bag caught in the current moves long distances ingested by species who starve as a result of its blockage. A rope drifting unseen entangles a tail, a fin, a whole species.
Waste that began somewhere far from the ocean—on a street, in a ditch, beside a fence, a hedge, or left behind where it didn’t belong (Polegatto, 2020).. What doesn’t get properly managed doesn’t disappear. It travels. Blowing in the wind - it become dangerous.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (2021), marine pollution now impacts hundreds of species through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat disruption. Whales, feeding by filtering massive volumes of water, are especially vulnerable. What we discard enters the water and eventually enters species - turtles, whales, fish, and species (Polegatto, 2020)., not familiar with it, assuming its purpose. And it doesn’t stop there or end well.
Water sources absorb what we ignore. Drinking water is affected by contaminants linked to waste and pollution, raising growing health concerns for human populations (World Health Organization, 2019). We also eat from the ocean the species we poison with pollution which can create sickness, disease and death (Polegatto, 2020).
We see signs more often now. Even global events like the Olympic Games have faced scrutiny when water quality becomes a risk to athletes (Reuters, 2024). If we must question the safety of water, what does that say about systems we rely on every day?
Closer to Home
Closer to home, the issue becomes more personal.
When waste systems become harder to access—more expensive, less frequent, or further away—people are faced with decisions. Research suggests increasing barriers to proper disposal can lead to unintended consequences, including illegal dumping in cities or nature or improper handling of waste (Kinnaman, 2006; Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2022) This leads away from the feeling of home and instead brings the issue closer to home.
Not necessarily because people don’t care. But because systems shape behavior. If disposal is easy, people use it. If the system is difficult, it becomes broken and some will find other ways.
And the “other ways” don’t stay local. They move through ecosystems, through waterways, air, land, and eventually, into the ocean. Often into the path of a whale, another species, or waterway.
But this is not just a story about harm. It’s also a story about choice. Because the same system that allows waste to travel can also stop it—one decision at a time.
Education matters.
Awareness matters.
Community action matters.
Programs that support recycling, composting, and accessible disposal have been shown to improve environmental outcomes and participation (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2022).
And then there are the simplest actions of all that we can all do. Picking up one piece of garbage. Choosing not to look away. Showing up to clean a space, even when it’s not yours.
These actions may seem small, but they ripple outward and can:
They also reconnect us. Cleaning a shoreline, a trail, or a roadside isn’t just environmental work—it’s physical movement, fresh air, shared purpose, revitalization. It’s a reminder that we are part of the environment that surrounds us. It can help us feel thankful.
A whale doesn’t necessarily know where pollution comes from. Although I feel they are smarter than we give them credit for. It doesn’t know about policies, budgets, or service changes. it has no need of them. It only needs freedom - freedom to live, to swim freely, to enjoy their family, to survive, A whale only experiences the outcome of what we leave behind. And that experience is not always pleasant.
The Question
What kind of outcome are we willing to create?
Cleaner cities are not just about appearance. They are about:
And it starts long before the ocean. It starts with one decision. one system, one piece of garbage.
A plastic fragment. A bag caught in the current moves long distances ingested by species who starve as a result of its blockage. A rope drifting unseen entangles a tail, a fin, a whole species.
Waste that began somewhere far from the ocean—on a street, in a ditch, beside a fence, a hedge, or left behind where it didn’t belong (Polegatto, 2020).. What doesn’t get properly managed doesn’t disappear. It travels. Blowing in the wind - it become dangerous.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (2021), marine pollution now impacts hundreds of species through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat disruption. Whales, feeding by filtering massive volumes of water, are especially vulnerable. What we discard enters the water and eventually enters species - turtles, whales, fish, and species (Polegatto, 2020)., not familiar with it, assuming its purpose. And it doesn’t stop there or end well.
Water sources absorb what we ignore. Drinking water is affected by contaminants linked to waste and pollution, raising growing health concerns for human populations (World Health Organization, 2019). We also eat from the ocean the species we poison with pollution which can create sickness, disease and death (Polegatto, 2020).
We see signs more often now. Even global events like the Olympic Games have faced scrutiny when water quality becomes a risk to athletes (Reuters, 2024). If we must question the safety of water, what does that say about systems we rely on every day?
Closer to Home
Closer to home, the issue becomes more personal.
When waste systems become harder to access—more expensive, less frequent, or further away—people are faced with decisions. Research suggests increasing barriers to proper disposal can lead to unintended consequences, including illegal dumping in cities or nature or improper handling of waste (Kinnaman, 2006; Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2022) This leads away from the feeling of home and instead brings the issue closer to home.
Not necessarily because people don’t care. But because systems shape behavior. If disposal is easy, people use it. If the system is difficult, it becomes broken and some will find other ways.
And the “other ways” don’t stay local. They move through ecosystems, through waterways, air, land, and eventually, into the ocean. Often into the path of a whale, another species, or waterway.
But this is not just a story about harm. It’s also a story about choice. Because the same system that allows waste to travel can also stop it—one decision at a time.
Education matters.
Awareness matters.
Community action matters.
Programs that support recycling, composting, and accessible disposal have been shown to improve environmental outcomes and participation (Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2022).
And then there are the simplest actions of all that we can all do. Picking up one piece of garbage. Choosing not to look away. Showing up to clean a space, even when it’s not yours.
These actions may seem small, but they ripple outward and can:
- protect waterways
- reduce harm to wildlife
- shift community standards
- build healthier environments—for ecosystems and for people.
They also reconnect us. Cleaning a shoreline, a trail, or a roadside isn’t just environmental work—it’s physical movement, fresh air, shared purpose, revitalization. It’s a reminder that we are part of the environment that surrounds us. It can help us feel thankful.
A whale doesn’t necessarily know where pollution comes from. Although I feel they are smarter than we give them credit for. It doesn’t know about policies, budgets, or service changes. it has no need of them. It only needs freedom - freedom to live, to swim freely, to enjoy their family, to survive, A whale only experiences the outcome of what we leave behind. And that experience is not always pleasant.
The Question
What kind of outcome are we willing to create?
Cleaner cities are not just about appearance. They are about:
- Protection.
- Responsibility.
- Connection.
And it starts long before the ocean. It starts with one decision. one system, one piece of garbage.
“For every piece we remove,
we make the ocean safer
for those who cannot ask themselves.”
we make the ocean safer
for those who cannot ask themselves.”
🌊 Call to Action
This is not just a global issue. It is a local one. It is a personal one. And it is something we can act on—right now.
Start small where you are.
Be a Part of the Change
Healthy oceans begin far from the shoreline. What we do on our streets, in our yards, and in our communities flows outward—into rivers, into ecosystems, into the ocean.
Every action matters. Every piece removed makes a difference for:
Take the First Step
This is not just a global issue. It is a local one. It is a personal one. And it is something we can act on—right now.
Start small where you are.
- Pick up one piece of garbage each time you go outside
- Use proper waste disposal systems
- Support recycling and composting in your community
- Speak up for accessible, responsible waste services
- Participate in or start a local clean-up effort
Be a Part of the Change
Healthy oceans begin far from the shoreline. What we do on our streets, in our yards, and in our communities flows outward—into rivers, into ecosystems, into the ocean.
Every action matters. Every piece removed makes a difference for:
- nature
- species
- water
- future generations.
Take the First Step
- Start with one piece
- Protect one place
- Be a part of something bigger.
References:
Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2022). Waste reduction and recycling initiatives in Canada. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html
Kinnaman, T. C. (2006). Policy watch: Examining the justification for residential recycling. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(4), 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.20.4.219
Polegatto, M. L. (2020). Deep dive into the ocean ecosystem with the giants: A learning tool about whales, interconnected species & organisms, climate change and humanity. http://bit.ly/deepdivewithwhales
Reuters. (2024). Paris Olympics face water quality concerns in Seine River events. https://www.reuters.com
United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). From pollution to solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution. https://www.unep.org
World Health Organization. (2019). Drinking-water. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2022). Waste reduction and recycling initiatives in Canada. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html
Kinnaman, T. C. (2006). Policy watch: Examining the justification for residential recycling. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(4), 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.20.4.219
Polegatto, M. L. (2020). Deep dive into the ocean ecosystem with the giants: A learning tool about whales, interconnected species & organisms, climate change and humanity. http://bit.ly/deepdivewithwhales
Reuters. (2024). Paris Olympics face water quality concerns in Seine River events. https://www.reuters.com
United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). From pollution to solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution. https://www.unep.org
World Health Organization. (2019). Drinking-water. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
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