Plastic Pollution: Understanding The Weight Of The Crisis

Every year, 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the sea. That's 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every metre of coastline (excluding Antarctica). China is the biggest contributor, accounting for up to 3.5 million tons a year, with Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka also being main offenders. So, how much is 8 million tons of plastic?

Eight million tons of plastic is dumped at sea each year

Eight million tons of plastic bottles, bags, toys and other plastic rubbish ends up in the world’s oceans each year. According to the first rigorous global estimate published in Science, that’s equivalent to 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every metre of coastline (excluding Antarctica). By 2025, we will be putting enough plastic in the ocean (on our most conservative estimates) to cover 5% of the earth’s entire surface in cling film each year.

Around a third of this likely comes from China, and 10% from Indonesia. In fact, all but one of the top 20 worst offenders are developing nations, largely due to fast-growing economies but poor waste management systems.

China is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution

Around 8 million metric tons of plastic go into the oceans each year. That's equivalent to 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every metre of coastline (excluding Antarctica).

China has a poor waste management system and is home to about a third of the world's companies operating single-use plastic production facilities. Despite this, China has made serious efforts in the last two decades to address plastic pollution, including strengthening its regulatory frameworks with an ambition to significantly reduce plastic leakage into the environment.

Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are also major polluters

Around 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped at sea each year. That's five whole bags full for every foot of the world's coastline. China is the biggest offender, contributing up to 3.5 million tons a year. Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are also major polluters, with Indonesia alone contributing around 10% of the total.

In 2016, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Municipal Waste Recycling Program (MWRP) to address, fund, and catalyze initiatives that reduce plastic pollution. The program focused on improving municipal solid waste management (MSWM) practices and reducing land-based sources of ocean plastic pollution in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The Development Innovations Group (DIG) was contracted to manage the five-year program, which awarded a total of 5.5 million USD to 32 projects. Indonesia received the most funding, with 1.14 million USD, followed by the Philippines with 1.09 million USD, Sri Lanka with 0.88 million USD, and Vietnam with 1.49 million USD. The MWRP has a strong interest in receiving proposals that promote innovative approaches or technologies and effectively engage underrepresented groups such as women, youth, and informal waste pickers.

The US contributes less than 1% of plastic pollution

Eight million tons of plastic is a lot of plastic. To put it into perspective, this is the amount of plastic dumped at sea each year. It's the equivalent of five whole bags of plastic for every foot of the world's coastline.

The United States contributes just 77,000 tons of plastic pollution, which is less than 1%. However, the US is still among the top contributors to ocean plastic pollution. In 2016, the US generated 42 million metric tons of plastic waste, more than any other country in the world. This is up to five times larger than the amount estimated for 2010. On US soil, littering and illegal dumping contributed another 1.2 million metric tons of plastic pollution.

The US's plastic waste problem is due to a combination of factors, including plastic manufacturing, consumption, and recycling. The country's plastic waste often ends up in the ocean, where it contaminates all major ecosystems and impacts wildlife and human health.

The plastic ends up in the oceans and sediments

It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans each year. This is equivalent to 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every metre of coastline (excluding Antarctica). By 2025, we will be putting enough plastic in the ocean to cover 5% of the earth's entire surface in cling film each year.

China is the top offender, accounting for up to 3.5 million tons of plastic dumped in the ocean each year. Other main offenders include Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. The United States contributes just 77,000 tons, which is less than 1%. All but one of the top 20 worst offenders are developing nations, largely due to fast-growing economies but poor waste management systems.

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