In mid-March, the Grande America freighter sank near the Basque coast. Although the first news indicated that our environment would be safe from the fuel spot, the finding of a capped bird on Hendaia beach warned of the possibility that the size of the damage was greater.

Unfortunately, these kinds of events are not strange to us. In recent years we have seen and suffered the consequences of maritime accidents. How can we forget the Prestige disaster and the regrettable comparison with the harinitos in the form of plastilin! According to the European Environment Agency, however, only 20% of the garbage accumulated at sea comes from maritime activities, while the remaining 80% comes from rivers. Moreover, it is estimated that 80% of marine litter is made up of plastics. The images of the Indian Ocean, which look like islands composed of polymers and which have been called the seventh continent, have had a great impact on the world level; in our case, the video showing the remains accumulated in the flysch of the Zumaia area also became viral.

Gradually, awareness of this issue is spreading, and there are several initiatives to collect the garbage that is perceived to the naked eye. However, there's also a garbage called microplastic or nanoplastic, invisible to the eyes. Initially, as the pieces of plastic crumbled, the belief prevailed that plastic was destroyed and that the environment would absorb; but time has shown that we were in a mistaken conviction: these residues become microscopic fibers.

All this may have consequences if no action is taken to resolve the situation. The toughest estimates point to the fact that by 2050 most marine living things will have devoured plastic. Damage to human health will therefore be inevitable. So far, plastic residues have been found in the air, in salt, in water taps and in human excrement.

The situation is really complex and the possible solutions too. On the one hand, the powerful plastic lobby. It is directly or indirectly linked to the oil sector, and it is known that more than 90% of world oil reserves are in the hands of sixteen countries. Furthermore, from 1980 to the present, plastic production has increased by 500%, and I do not believe that producers have a desire to take a step backwards. On the other hand, the regulations, prohibitions and sanctions intended to reduce the production and consumption of plastic come from the institutions. Restrictions have already been put in place to reduce the use of plastic bags, and new European bans are planned for the coming years to restrict single-use plastic products.

Apart from the attitudes that producers and public institutions can adopt on the subject, there is another personal area of consumer habits. In general, the pace of life on the counter is what we have every day, and conscious consumption takes time. In short, it means putting the basic needs of life at the centre, devoting time, consuming responsibly and having an environmental look. They say that the best garbage is not generated.
It is expected that in the coming months we will be able to see on our shores the mortal remains of Greater America, and the situation will cause discomfort and alarm. But let's not forget the invisible residue that is working silently. I have often heard it said that the garbage we have created will devour us, but are we not going to devour it?