GPS tracking bottles will monitor garbage levels in Georgian Bay
If you notice some plastic bottles floating around Georgian Bay, take a second look before throwing them away.
'Georgian Bay Forever,' an organization dedicated to conserving the bay, has dropped dozens of bottles into the water, each outfitted with GPS tracking devices.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local news updates sent to your inbox
According to the group, the plan is to track each bottle to locate the pathway that trash may end up into Georgian Bay and where it feeds.
"One of the most notable items we found was a garbage bag from a grocery store that had closed in the '70s in Collingwood, washed up on shore," said David Sweetnam, Georgian Bay Forever Executive Director. "It pollutes the environment for life inside the bay, as well as for us, and even the impacting just the aesthetic views of the bay for people."
The bottles were launched at 20 different locations offshore on Saturday, stretching from Thornbury to Balm Beach.
In addition to researchers, Georgian Bay Forever said the public could track the bottles online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

It’s here! Rare asteroid sample lands on Earth after OSIRIS-REx drops cargo
Seven years after OSIRIS-REx was sent into space to retrieve a sample of an asteroid, the NASA-led spacecraft has delivered its cargo into Earth’s orbit, and Canada is set to receive a piece.
A year after Fiona, a traumatized Newfoundland town backs away from the sea
One year after a wave driven by post-tropical storm Fiona slammed into the back of her house and twisted it like a corkscrew, some residents of Port aux Basques, N.L., are backing away from the sea.
Man hospitalized in life-threatening condition after incident at Calgary pub holding eating contest
Calgary paramedics took a man to hospital in life-threatening condition on Saturday after an incident at the Ship and Anchor pub.
Hot rental market makes search 'stressful' for many -- and it won't get better soon
The competitive rental market across the country is seeing multiple factors combine: high interest rates deter buyers and add to rental demand, still-high inflation is squeezing renter budgets, there's an undersupply of purpose-built rental units and population growth is fuelling demand.
Passengers stuck upside down on Canada’s Wonderland ride
Passengers on a ride at Canada’s Wonderland were stuck upside down for almost 30 minutes on Saturday night.
BREAKING Canadian autoworkers ratify deal with Ford Motor Company
Five days after reaching a tentative deal, Unifor members have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement with the Ford Motor Company.
Murder charge laid in killing of B.C. Mountie
The day after an RCMP officer was killed and two others were injured while executing a search warrant in Coquitlam, B.C., charges of murder and attempted murder have been laid.
Sikh groups ask Canadian political parties to present 'united front' against India
Two groups in the Canadian Sikh diaspora are calling for Canada's political parties to "present a united front" on India after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a "potential link" between the shooting death of a local leader and the Indian government.
Lender can't foreclose on B.C. woman's home because mortgage was obtained through fraud
A B.C. woman has won the right to stay in her home after convincing a judge that the mortgage her son took out on the property was obtained fraudulently.