Ethan Clarke
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans. By weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels. Several different emissions models have been created to determine how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of ocean plastic that originated on land | 70% to 80% |
| Percentage of ocean plastic that comes from marine sources | 20% to 30% |
| Estimated amount of plastic waste in the ocean | 75 to 199 million tons |
| Amount of plastic entering the ocean each year | 33 billion pounds |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is recycled | 9% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that goes to landfill | 50% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is mismanaged | 20% |
What You'll Learn
Plastic waste entering the ocean from rivers
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources. By weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Several different emissions models have been created to determine how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land. Jenna Jambeck led the first global emissions model, which was published in the journal Science in 2015. Jambeck et al. (2015) used projected population growth, plastic waste per capita, and proportions of mismanaged waste to estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the environment from each country annually. Using distance from the ocean to project how much plastic would reach the ocean, they estimated that 4–12 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic waste entered the ocean in 2010. This model became the baseline.
There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every single year. This constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. Plastic pollution permeates every inch of the ocean – from microplastics in the food chain to plastic water bottles floating on the surface.
According to National Geographic, scientists found plastic coming from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China on Henderson Island, an uninhabited isolated atoll halfway between Chile and New Zealand. Usually, marine plastic debris groups up in what we call garbage patches, plastic accumulation areas, in the centre of the ocean’s gyres.
The Ocean's Daily Plastic Influx: An Environmental Crisis
You may want to see also
Marine sources of plastic pollution
The majority of plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with 70% to 80% of plastic transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. This plastic often flows downstream through rivers and can be picked up by rotating ocean currents, called gyres, which can transport it anywhere in the world.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for example, is an accumulation of marine debris containing 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. It is made up of plastic from a variety of sources, including Russia, the United States, Europe, South America, Japan, and China.
Several emissions models have been created to estimate how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land. One model estimated that 4-12 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean in 2010. Another study found that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean.
To tackle plastic pollution, it is essential to focus on preventing plastic from entering the ocean from rivers and improving waste management practices.
Disposable Plastic Spending: America's Costly Environmental Concern
You may want to see also
Global emissions models
Several different emissions models have been created to determine how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land. Jenna Jambeck led the first global emissions model, which was published in the journal *Science* in 2015. Jambeck and her team used projected population growth, plastic waste per capita, and proportions of mismanaged waste to estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the environment from each country annually. Using distance from the ocean to project how much plastic would reach the ocean, they estimated that 4–12 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean in 2010. This model became the baseline.
There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tonnes of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year. This constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. Plastic pollution permeates every inch of the ocean – from microplastics in the food chain to plastic water bottles floating on the surface.
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources: by weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Previous studies have given similar regional estimates. A 2017 study estimated that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean. While we might think that much of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, only 9% is. Half of the world’s plastic still goes straight to landfill. Another fifth is mismanaged – meaning it is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills – putting it at risk of being leaked into rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Recycling Plastic: Energy Conservation and Environmental Benefits
You may want to see also
Plastic waste per capita
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources. By weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Several different emissions models have been created to determine how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land. Jenna Jambeck led the first global emissions model, which was published in the journal Science in 2015. Jambeck et al. (2015) used projected population growth, plastic waste per capita, and proportions of mismanaged waste to estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the environment from each country annually. Using distance from the ocean to project how much plastic would reach the ocean, they estimated that 4–12 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic waste entered the ocean in 2010. This model became the baseline.
There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every single year. This constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. Plastic pollution permeates every inch of the ocean – from microplastics in the food chain to plastic water bottles floating on the surface.
Previous studies have given similar regional estimates. A 2017 study estimated that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean. While we might think that much of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, only 9% is. Half of the world’s plastic still goes straight to landfill. Another fifth is mismanaged – meaning it is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills – putting it at risk of being leaked into rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Plastic Companies: Billion-Dollar Industry Profits Revealed
You may want to see also
Mismanaged waste
Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources. By weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. The other 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
Several emissions models have been created to determine how much plastic waste enters the ocean each year from land. Jenna Jambeck led the first global emissions model, which was published in the journal Science in 2015. Jambeck and her team used projected population growth, plastic waste per capita, and proportions of mismanaged waste to estimate the amount of plastic waste entering the environment from each country annually. Using distance from the ocean to project how much plastic would reach the ocean, they estimated that 4–12 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the ocean in 2010. This model became the baseline.
The constant flow of plastic production is simply too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure. There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year.
The Cost of Plastic Fascia Board: How Much?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
70-80% of ocean plastic comes from land-based sources.
20-30% of ocean plastic comes from marine sources, such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels.
There is an estimated 75-199 million tons of plastic waste in the ocean.
33 billion pounds of plastic enters the ocean every year.
The most common source of ocean plastic is land-based sources, such as rivers and coastlines.
