What's in our trash catch in rivers vs. the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)? Trash floating in rivers and near coastlines has a different composition than what we catch in the GPGP. The trash in rivers and coastlines consists of lighter, softer plastics such as bags, bottles, straws, single-use containers, and packaging. In the GPGP, we often find fishing nets and 'thick' plastics such as buoys and toothbrushes, which are long-lasting and can travel thousands of kilometers offshore. Around 80