Chloe Zhang
Plastic is reaching the ocean from a variety of sources. Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with 70% to 80% transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. Rainwater and wind carry plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contributor, with illegal dumping of waste adding to the plastic surge in our seas. Another 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic in oceans from land-based sources | 70% to 80% |
| Plastic in oceans from marine sources | 20% to 30% |
| Plastic in oceans from fishing industry | 10% |
| Plastic in oceans from Asia | Over 80% |
| Plastic in oceans from Europe | Some |
| Plastic in oceans from Russia | Some |
| Plastic in oceans from the United States | Some |
| Plastic in oceans from South America | Some |
| Plastic in oceans from Japan | Some |
| Plastic in oceans from China | Some |
What You'll Learn
Plastic waste from land-based sources
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources. By weight, 70-80% of plastic in the ocean is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. Rainwater and wind carry plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean. A lot of trash is either mismanaged after disposal or simply thrown into the environment, where it makes its way into rivers and the ocean.
Over 80% of ocean-bound plastic comes from Asia, but it is worth remembering that many European countries still ship their plastic waste to these countries. Many of the world's largest emitting rivers are in Asia, with some also in East Africa and the Caribbean.
Plastic waste can stay in coastal waters, but it can also be picked up by rotating ocean currents, called gyres, and transported anywhere in the world. Marine plastic debris often groups up in what we call garbage patches, plastic accumulation areas, in the centre of the ocean's gyres.
Microfibres are released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine. They are too small to be filtered out by wastewater plants and end up being consumed by small marine species, eventually even ending up in our food chain.
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Plastic waste from marine sources
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources, with 70-80% of plastic transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. The remaining 20-30% comes from marine sources, such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
The plastic waste from marine sources is largely attributed to the fishing industry, which directly throws plastic waste overboard. It is estimated that 10% of ocean waste is ghost gear, which includes lost or abandoned fishing nets, traps, and lines. This waste can be carried by ocean currents to various parts of the world and accumulate in garbage patches or plastic accumulation areas in the centre of ocean gyres.
To address the issue of plastic waste from marine sources, it is crucial to focus on the fishing industry and implement measures to prevent the disposal of plastic waste into the ocean. This may involve improving waste management practices, promoting responsible fishing practices, and providing alternatives to single-use plastics commonly used in fishing activities.
Additionally, it is important to address the issue of abandoned vessels, which can contribute significantly to plastic waste in the ocean. Proper disposal and recycling of these vessels can help reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine environment. By targeting both the fishing industry and abandoned vessels, we can make significant progress in reducing plastic waste from marine sources and protecting our oceans.
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Plastic waste from rivers
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources, with 70% to 80% of plastic transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. The remaining 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Rainwater and wind carry plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contributor, with illegal dumping of waste adding to the plastic surge in our seas. Many of the products we use daily are flushed down toilets, including wet wipes, cotton buds, and sanitary products. Microfibres are even released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine.
To tackle plastic pollution, we need to stop it from entering the ocean from our rivers. This is challenging due to the vast number of river outlets through which plastics reach the oceans. Most of the world's largest emitting rivers are in Asia, with some also in East Africa and the Caribbean. Over 80% of ocean-bound plastic comes from Asia, but it's worth noting that many European countries still ship their plastic waste to these countries.
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Plastic waste from illegal dumping
Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with 70% to 80% of plastic transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The remaining 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Rainwater and wind carry plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Drains lead to the ocean. Careless and improper waste disposal is also a big contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean. Illegal dumping of waste adds greatly to the plastic surge in our seas. Many of the products we use daily are flushed down toilets, including wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products. Microfibres are even released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine. They are too small to be filtered out by waste water plants and end up being consumed by small marine species, eventually even ending up in our food chain.
To tackle plastic pollution, we need to stop it from entering the ocean from our rivers. We have hundreds of thousands of river outlets through which plastics reach the oceans. Prioritising mitigation efforts and understanding which rivers transport plastic to the sea, and which ones contribute the most, is key.
Most ocean-bound plastic has a land-based origin. A lot of trash is either mismanaged after disposal or simply thrown into our environment, where it makes its way into rivers and the ocean. Over 80% of ocean-bound plastic comes from Asia, but it’s worth remembering that many European countries still ship their plastic waste to these countries.
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Plastic waste from fishing gear
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources, with 70-80% transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. The remaining 20-30% comes from marine sources, including fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
The fishing industry is a significant contributor to plastic waste in the ocean, with an estimated 10% of ocean waste consisting of ghost gear. Ghost gear describes fishing nets, traps, and lines that are lost at sea. These items can be abandoned or thrown overboard, and they can also be carried into the ocean by rainwater and wind, which transport plastic waste into streams and rivers.
To tackle plastic pollution, it is essential to focus on preventing plastic from entering the ocean through rivers. This involves understanding which rivers transport the most plastic and addressing the issue of improper waste disposal, including illegal dumping.
Additionally, it is worth noting that many European countries ship their plastic waste to Asian countries, which are the largest contributors to ocean-bound plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic reaches the ocean through a variety of ways. Most plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, which are transported from land to sea via rivers, coastlines, and drains. Rainwater and wind also carry plastic waste into streams and rivers.
Marine sources of plastic in the ocean include fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Rivers play a significant role in transporting plastic to the ocean. While larger rivers emit more plastic, smaller rivers also contribute significantly to plastic pollution.
Plastic in the ocean comes from various regions, including Asia, Europe, South America, Russia, the United States, Japan, and China. Over 80% of ocean-bound plastic originates in Asia, but it's important to note that many European countries ship their plastic waste to Asia.
Plastic waste in the ocean includes items such as wet wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products, and microfibres from clothing.
