TEAM MARINE and 5 GYRES to turn 2000 Lighters into a Paddleboard

By Stiv Wilson on February 21, 2011

Once again, Team Marine, made up of students from Santa Monica High School, are lending their creative minds and motivation to 5 Gyres to turn 2000 disposable plastic lighters into a functional paddleboard. The lighters were donated by John Klavitter, M.S., of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. "The disposable plastic lighters either washed ashore or were carried here in the stomachs of Laysan Albatross," John said. After learning about this project, John eagerly took the time to send them to 5 Gyres and Team Marine for this project.

Using a broken paddleboard, the Team Marine students, led by their teacher Benjamin Kay and 5 Gyres co-founder Marcus Eriksen, will use the lighters to repair and decorate the board so it can once again surf the California waves. The finished board will premier at the first International Youth Summit on Plastics, held by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation on March 11th,12th, and 13th. Stay tuned to see the finished work in the coming weeks! You can also read the student's blog about the project, here.