Economies of Scale
Pam Longobardi | © 2014
orange net float
Shuyak Island, Alaska, 2013
compressed styrene float
Kodiak Island, Alaska, 2013
yellow net float
Afognak Island, Alaska, 2013
white net float with japanese
Bulldog Island, Resurrection Bay, Alaska, 2011
black knight decorative bottle
South Point, Hawaii, 2007
driftnet float
Afognak Island, Alaska, 2013
driftnet float
Kodiak Island, Alaska, 2013
driftnet float
Shukay Island, Alaska, 2013
Compressed styrene net float
Shuyak Island, Alaska, 2013
compressed styrene net float
Kodiak Island, Alaska, 2013
wooden net float
Whale Skull Island, Alaska 2013
styrene net float
Gore Point, Alaska, 2013
hard plastic net float
Afognak Island, Alaska, 2013
Reach toothbrush
Midway Atoll, 2010
bent baby spoon with Korean text
Midway Atoll, Hawaii 2010
black female figure toothbrush
Midway Atoll, Hawaii, 2010
Styrofoam ball
sea cave at Cape Liakas, Kefalonia, Greece 2012
red crushed polystyrene float
Resurrection Bay, Alaska, 2010
container with text
Jaco, Costa Rica
decorative fish bottle
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
melted turquoise bottle
South Point, Hawaii 2006
Plastics found on the Big Island near South Point are often melted in this fashion, possibly from floating past the coastal zone flow field of the world’s most active volcano, Kīlauea, where lava spectacularly erupts into the ocean. Melted plastics found in other parts of the world are usually the product of human attempts to dispose of plastic by burning it. This is ineffective and releases toxic chemicals in the smoke. This was a detergent or bleach bottle, that was contact-melted by lava, which has left black traces visible in the contours.
blue driftnet float, fish logo
South Point, Hawaii, 2010
net float with giant barnacles
Kure Atoll, Hawaii, 2008
orange net float
Resurrection Bay, Alaska, 2011
Marker or mooring buoy. The first recorded buoy was mentioned in La Compasso de Navigare, although some types of floating markers may have existed before the 13th century. Back then they were mostly hollow wooden casks bound with iron bands and moored with chain and a large stone. In the 1940’s, plastic buoys were tested, and now virtually every one of the billions of floats, buoys, and mooring balls is made from plastic. Plastic floats are one of the most ubiquitous plastic debris found in Alaska.
melted plastic mesh
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
action figure torso
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
Vintage toy Clark Kent action figure torso with movable arms and legs. Clark Kent is the human pre-superhero form of Marvel comic’s popular Superman, evidenced by the molded business attire form of the torso.
Sweet Scent bear decanter
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
Vintage perfume decanter from 1960-70’s likely a knockoff of the popular Avon bear decanter collection.
fireworks aerial spinner
Neptune’s Vomitorium, Pescadero, CA 2011
action figure legs encrusted with bryozoans
Kure Atoll, Hawaii, 2008
white log toy; Flintstones?
Neptune’s Vomitorium, Pescadero, CA, 2012
black net float
South Point, Hawaii, 2009
bobber
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
unidentified pink blob
South Point, Hawaii, 2006.
Possible extrusion molding tube spillover.
doll hand
Neptune’s Vomitorium, Pescadero, California, 2011
toy corn on the cob
Minies Beach,
Kefalonia, Greece, 2011
BP lid
Witches Cave, Assos, Kefalonia, Greece, 2012
small net float
Bulldog Island, Resurrection Bay, Alaska, 2010
cracked ball
Chattahoochee River bank, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008
This is a dog squeak toy. Inside is a small plastic bulb that makes them squeak. Some believe the sound is similar to a dying small animal and that is what triggers dogs to like them, and so remove them from the toys so as not to encourage dog predation. Other dog owners have experienced near-fatal swallowing of the squeakers and warn consumers of the dangers of buying these for dogs.
Styrofoam pierced by Bic pen body and Coffee stirrer
Witches Cave, Assos, Kefalonia, Greece, 2012
dinosaur leg
Gulf Shores, Alabama, 2009. Gulf of Mexico
decorative turquoise bottle
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
crab cookie cutter
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
flat Mickey Mouse head
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
turret from toy tank
South Point, Hawaii, 2009
turret from toy tank
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
unidentified blob (red heart)
South Point, Hawaii, 2010
lobster trap part cut from car tire
Biddeford, Maine, 2012.
humming bird feeder (part)
Katmai National Park,
Alaska, 2013
air freshener cover
South Point Hawaii, 2007
Endless cap
Vouti Beach, Kefalonia, Greece, 2012
Indian warrior
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
King Kong
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
two pit crew workers toy
Midway Atoll, Hawaii, 2010
This toy depicts workers carrying the refueling tank and rolling a replacement tire for NASCAR or Formula 1 race cars.
unidentified blob (black animal)
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
amputee army man
South Point, Hawaii, 2007
Mayan bead
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
Balance bottle top
Spree River bank, Berlin, Germany, 2012
green alien head
Neptune’s Vomitorium, Pescadero, California, 2012
unidentified green button
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
cap gun bullet round
Playa Samara, Costa Rica, 2009
unidentified red cross
Playa Samara, Costa Rica, 2011
Tile spacer for laying tiles. These small plastic tools create uniform gaps for regularity in tiled floors and walls. Although they are totally reusable, they are also so cheap they are often considered disposable.
unidentified green ball
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
Pluto™ head
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
Hello Kitty head
Gore Point, Alaska, 2013
squeak toy squeeze ball
Playa Jaco, Costa Rica, 2010
Astroturf door mat
South Point, Hawaii, 2008
purple hat
Playa Jaco, Costa Rica, 2009
red airsoft ball
Chattahoochee River bank Atlanta, Georgia, 2009
tiny warrior head
South Point, Hawaii, 2006
nurdle
Witches Cave beach, Assos, Kefalonia, Greece, 2013
manicure decal
Spree River bank, Berlin, Germany, 2012
Styrofoam ball
sea cave in Greece,
Cape Liakas, Kefalonia, 2011
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