Explore Solutions to Plastic Pollution at the Bridgehouse Museum

Studies show that plastic pollution is the most common form of litter found in the Chicago-Calumet River system, accounting for 85% of all litter. From food wrappers and plastic bottles to polystyrene foam takeout containers, these materials threaten the health of the river system and wildlife. As plastics break down into microplastics, they become nearly impossible to remove and increasingly harmful to aquatic ecosystems. Reporting by The New York Times highlights that microplastics and nanoplastics have infiltrated human tissues—including the brain, blood, and placenta—raising concerns about cardiovascular disease, endocrine disruption, and cancer risks

Learn more about this growing challenge, and what can be done about it, at the next McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum Happy Hour Speaker Series, Plastic Pollution and Solutions in our Rivers, on Thursday, July 30, from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

One of the featured speakers, Dr. Timothy Hoellein of Loyola University Chicago, has spent years studying river trash and the impacts of plastic pollution in the Chicago area. His research has shown that food packaging and plastics are by far the most common items found in local waterways, with about one-third consisting of polystyrene foam, commonly used in takeout containers and packing materials. Dr. Hoellein's research has also found that more than 93% of fish sampled in Chicago-area waterways contain plastic. Joining Dr. Hoellein is Emily Kowalski, Associate Director of Environment Illinois, who will discuss policies and practical solutions that can help reduce plastic pollution before it reaches our rivers.

The Happy Hour Speaker Series is a free discussion series celebrating the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum's 20th anniversary. Enjoy a local beverage on the museum's riverfront plaza while hearing from experts who explore the science, history, public policy, and community efforts shaping the Chicago-Calumet River system and its continued renaissance.

Special thanks to Goose Island Beer Co. and the Fletcher Family for making this year's Happy Hour Speaker Series possible.