What is the area of the rubbish dump in the Pacific ocean?

Every year approximately 14 billion pounds of tires, cardboard boxes, plastic cups, bottles, cans, and other trash are dumped into the Pacific Ocean. Some of this trash sinks, and some of it is eaten by ocean creatures. Most of this trash, especially plastic, floats and eventually this floating refuse, carried by ocean currents and waves washes up onto beaches. Even in remote areas like Antarctica, researchers have found plastic bottles, bags, and sheeting washed ashore. Almost all of this trash can create problems for wildlife and people. The plastics, which can exist indefinitely, can be especially harmful.