Olympic swimmer turned environmental activist Merle Liivand has seen a rise in plastic waste while navigating the Intracoastal canals of South Florida over the years and has decided to take action. Liivand actively participates in cleanup efforts alongside environmental groups and has grown frustrated by the amount of plastic waste discarded by people. She is encouraging people to do better and said it could be as simple as avoiding the use of materials containing microbeads which are banned by federal law as additives in toothpaste and facial cleansers -- yet allowed in other personal care products -- even in makeup. ...