The Ocean's Plastic Crisis: How Much Do We Dump?

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with around 80% of all plastic waste in our oceans coming from land. The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean every day, and there are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans. This is a result of humans recycling only nine per cent of plastic waste and dumping 10 million tons of it into the seas annually. If we continue on this path, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040.

The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean every day

There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, according to the World Economic Forum. If we continue on this path, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040 as plastic production continues to increase. Marine plastic pollution may be costing the world economy trillions of dollars every year because it affects fisheries, coastlines, tourism, marine life, and the food we eat. Some ocean plastic ends up in one of five major gyres, systems of ocean currents that corral marine garbage into their vortexes.

Nearly one-quarter of the world’s plastic waste is mismanaged or littered. Around 82 million tonnes of plastic are not stored in secure landfills, recycled or incinerated. One-quarter of that – 19 million tonnes – is leaked into the environment.

80% of plastic waste in oceans comes from land

The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean each day. This equates to 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, according to the World Economic Forum. If we continue on this path, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040 as plastic production continues to increase.

Around 80% of all plastic waste in our oceans comes from land, while the rest comes from marine practices. This waste makes its way from land into our oceans in many ways. For example, local communities without waste management infrastructure may dump their plastic waste in local nature or rivers, where it is washed away.

Nearly one-quarter of the world’s plastic waste is mismanaged or littered. This means it’s not stored in secure landfills, recycled or incinerated. One-quarter of that – 19 million tons – is leaked to the environment.

Marine plastic pollution may be costing the world economy trillions of dollars every year because it affects fisheries, coastlines, tourism, marine life, and the food we eat. Some ocean plastic ends up in one of five major gyres, systems of ocean currents that corral marine garbage into their vortexes.

Humans recycle only 9% of plastic waste

The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean each day, with around 80% of all plastic waste in our oceans coming from land. This waste makes its way from land into our oceans in many ways. For example, local communities without waste management infrastructure may dump their plastic waste in local nature or rivers, where it is washed into the ocean.

Humans recycle only nine per cent of plastic waste, with 10 million tons of plastic dumped into the seas each year. If we continue on this path, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040 as plastic production continues to increase. Marine plastic pollution may be costing the world economy trillions of dollars every year because it affects fisheries, coastlines, tourism, marine life, and the food we eat.

Around 0.5% of the world's plastic waste ends up in the ocean. Nearly one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered, with around 82 million tonnes not stored in secure landfills, recycled or incinerated. One-quarter of that, 19 million tonnes, is leaked into the environment.

Marine plastic pollution may be costing the world economy trillions of dollars every year

The majority of plastic waste in our oceans comes from land, with local communities dumping their plastic waste in local nature or rivers, where it is washed out to sea. Nearly one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered, and around 82 million tonnes are not stored in secure landfills, recycled or incinerated. One-quarter of that, 19 million tonnes, is leaked into the environment.

The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean every day. This waste ends up in our oceans in many ways, with plastic affecting fisheries, coastlines, tourism, marine life, and the food we eat. Some ocean plastic ends up in one of five major gyres, systems of ocean currents that corral marine garbage into their vortexes.

Nearly one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered

The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean every day. According to the World Economic Forum, there are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans. This is a result of humans recycling only nine per cent of plastic waste and dumping 10 million tons of it into the seas annually. If we continue on this path, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could triple by 2040 as plastic production continues to increase.

Around 80 per cent of all plastic waste in our oceans comes from land, while the rest comes from marine practices. In some cases, local communities don't have waste management infrastructure and dump their plastic waste in local nature or rivers, where it is washed into the sea.

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