Cleaning Up Plastic Pollution: The Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge

Plastic pollution is a global issue that has a significant economic impact. The cost of cleaning up plastic waste is substantial, with governments, NGOs and citizens incurring costs of up to $15 billion per year. In addition, plastic pollution has a detrimental effect on marine life and coastal activities, resulting in further economic losses for local communities and nations. The total cost of plastic pollution to coastal countries is estimated to be between $6 billion and $19.2 billion annually, with clean-up costs making up a significant proportion of this figure. In the UK, the direct costs to the government were estimated to be between $7.1 and $31.7 million, but the total costs were significantly higher when taking into account the impact on marine industries and tourism.

The direct costs of cleaning coastlines, waterways, marinas and ports are between $5.6 and $15 billion

One of the main costs associated with plastic pollution is the increased cost of waste management. Every year, it costs more than $32 billion to collect, sort, dispose of and recycle the vast quantities of plastic waste generated. This is a significant burden for governments, NGOs and concerned citizens, who often incur high costs from undertaking clean-up activities to remove the waste.

In addition to the financial costs, plastic pollution also has a detrimental impact on marine life and coastal activities. This can result in further economic losses for local communities and nations, as the health of marine ecosystems is closely linked to the economic benefits derived from marine and coastal industries. For example, marine plastic pollution can create huge economic costs in the form of GDP reductions, driven by losses in revenue from tourism, fishing, aquaculture and other industries.

The cost of cleaning up plastic litter can also vary depending on the location and the amount of litter present. For example, in March 2019, a clean-up operation on Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, removed 25 tonnes of plastic litter at a cost of $224,537, which equates to around $10,000 per day of clean-up operations or $8,900 per tonne of litter. It is estimated that 513 tonnes of plastic litter remain on Aldabra, and removing it will cost approximately $4.68 million and require 18,000 person-hours of labour.

To address the issue of plastic pollution and the associated costs, it is important for governments and organisations to invest in waste management and pollution prevention measures. For example, the EPA in the United States has announced a $524 million investment to improve the health of waterways and oceans, as part of a larger package totalling $895 million to address marine pollution. By investing in these types of initiatives, we can help reduce the direct and indirect costs of plastic pollution and work towards a more sustainable future.

The cost of plastic pollution to coastal countries is between $6 and $19.2 billion

The cost of clean-up operations and litter removal is also significant. In 2019, a clean-up operation on Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, removed 25 tonnes of plastic litter at a cost of $224,537, equating to around $10,000 per day of clean-up operations or $8,900 per tonne of litter. It is estimated that a further 513 tonnes of plastic litter remain on the island, which will cost approximately $4.68 million to remove and require 18,000 person-hours of labour.

The cost of plastic pollution is also disproportionately borne by marginalised communities. According to Judith Schäli, a researcher at the World Trade Institute, the environmental damage to marine ecosystems is estimated to equate to some $13 billion per year, with related economic costs including those linked to clean-up operations and litter removal. The cost to marine industries in the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be around $1.17 billion per year.

In recognition of the vast majority of plastic trash entering our oceans being due to inadequate waste management, the EPA has announced a $524 million investment to improve the health of waterways and oceans, as part of a package totalling $895 million to address marine pollution.

The cost of plastic pollution to the UK is between $29.6 and $266.2 million

In addition to the direct costs of cleaning up plastic pollution, there are also significant indirect costs. For example, polluted beaches and stranded debris can impact tourism, which is estimated to cost between $237.8 million and $2.4 billion per year. The harm to marine ecosystems and the fisheries and aquaculture industries that depend on them is also significant, costing between $114.4 million and $1.9 billion annually.

The cost of plastic pollution is not just financial. It also has a detrimental impact on marine life and the environment. Environmental damage to marine ecosystems is estimated to cost around $13 billion per year. This includes the costs of clean-up operations and litter removal, as well as the loss of economic benefits that local communities and nations derive from marine and coastal activities.

The cost of removing plastic litter from small island states is particularly high. For example, removing 25 tonnes of plastic litter from Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, cost $224,537, or around $10,000 per day of clean-up operations. It is estimated that there is still 513 tonnes of plastic litter on Aldabra, which will cost approximately $4.68 million and require 18,000 person-hours of labour to remove.

The cost of plastic pollution to marine industries in the Asia-Pacific region is $1.17 billion

Plastic pollution costs coastal countries between $6 billion and $19.2 billion every year. The direct costs of cleaning coastlines, waterways, marinas, and ports make up the majority of this, with governments spending between $5.6 billion and $15 billion.

In 2018, the loss of revenue from tourism, fishing, aquaculture and other marine industries due to plastic pollution was estimated to be up to $7 billion. This is particularly felt by marginalised communities, who disproportionately bear the cost of the plastic lifecycle.

In California, 95 cities collectively spend nearly $500 million annually to clean up litter and prevent trash from entering waterways. The top 10 cities in California spending money on this are Los Angeles ($36.3 million), San Diego ($14 million), Long Beach ($13 million), San Jose ($8.8 million), Oakland ($8.3 million), Sacramento ($2.6 million), Hayward ($2.3 million), Merced ($2.3 million), and Redondo Beach ($2.1 million).

In 2019, a clean-up operation on Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, removed 25 tonnes of plastic litter at a cost of $224,537, or $8,900 per tonne. It is estimated that a further 513 tonnes of plastic remain on the island, which will cost approximately $4.68 million to remove.

The EU's Single-Use Plastic Directive has marked plastic filters for reduction measures

The cost of cleaning up plastic waste is high, with governments, NGOs and citizens spending as much as US$15 billion per year. In 2019, a clean-up operation on Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, removed 25 tonnes of plastic litter at a cost of $224,537, equating to around $10,000 per day of clean-up operations or $8,900 per tonne of litter.

The EU's Single-Use Plastic Directive has been implemented to reduce plastic pollution. The Directive bans several single-use plastic products and addresses additional items with measures such as extended producer responsibility and obligatory requirements for product redesign. For example, where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States. This applies to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and sticks for balloons. The EU is also focusing on limiting the use of other single-use plastic products through reducing consumption and introducing design requirements, such as a requirement to connect caps to bottles.

The Directive also lays down marking requirements for certain products, provided they contain plastics. These include sanitary pads, tampons and applicators, wet wipes, tobacco products, and cups for beverages. Member States will have to ensure compliance with this rule and notify the EU of any measures taken, reporting on their compliance.

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