The Mediterranean's Plastic Crisis: Italy's Dumping Problem

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world. A 2019 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that 600,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year by 22 countries. Egypt, Turkey and Italy are responsible for two-thirds of the mismanaged waste, with Italy contributing 7.6% of plastic pollution from water-based sources.

Italy is responsible for 7.6% of plastic pollution from water-based sources in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea receives waste from coastal areas and rivers, such as the Nile River, which brought around 200 tonnes of plastic waste into the Mediterranean basin yearly as of 2017. A report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2019 estimated that 70% of plastic pollution from water-based sources comes from three areas: Egypt (41.3%), Turkey (19.1%), and Italy (7.6).

Egypt, Turkey, and Italy together account for two-thirds of the mismanaged waste in the Mediterranean. This waste is often dumped illegally and is the main source of waste in the sea. The WWF report also found that a quarter of the plastic waste produced by the 22 countries and territories is released into nature every year, with roughly 563 plastic bottles being dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every second.

The plastic waste in the Mediterranean Sea poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, human health, and the blue economy of the area, which is heavily reliant on tourism. Studies have found that plastic consumption and waste are frequent in the region, with humans potentially consuming between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastics per year.

Egypt, Turkey and Italy account for two-thirds of the Mediterranean's mismanaged waste

Of the 24 million tonnes of plastic waste generated by the countries and territories in the Mediterranean region, only 72% is disposed of properly. The rest is mismanaged in uncontrolled landfills or dumped illegally and is the main source of waste in the Mediterranean. Every country in the Mediterranean mismanages a portion of its waste, but Egypt, Turkey, and Italy together account for two-thirds of the mismanaged waste.

A WWF report estimates that 600,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year by 22 countries. Of this, 11,200 tonnes come from France. A separate study conducted by the WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative in 2019 estimated that 0.57 million metric tons of plastic enter the Mediterranean Sea every year. This corresponds to the dumping of 33,800 plastic bottles into the waters every minute.

A World Wide Fund for Nature report of 2019 estimates that, considering the Mediterranean countries, around 70% of plastic pollution coming from water-based sources comes from three areas: Egypt (41.3%), Turkey (19.1%) and Italy (7.6%). Plastic litter originating from land-based sources is instead estimated to come from Turkey, Morocco, Israel, Spain, France, Syria, Egypt, Albania, Tunisia and Italy.

600,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped in the Mediterranean Sea every year

The Mediterranean Sea receives waste from coastal areas and from waters, such as rivers. A study found that in 2017, the Nile River brought around 200 tonnes of plastic waste into the Mediterranean basin yearly.

The WWF estimates that 0.57 million metric tons of plastic enter the Mediterranean Sea annually. This is a significant amount of pollution, representing important risks for marine ecosystems, human health, and the blue economy of the area. The plastic waste kills wildlife, contaminates food chains, and is ingested by people from food and drinking water.

22 countries are responsible for the plastic dumped in the Mediterranean Sea

22 countries and territories are responsible for dumping plastic into the Mediterranean Sea. A report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that a quarter of the plastic waste produced by these countries and territories is released into nature every year, of which roughly 600,000 tonnes ends up polluting the Mediterranean Sea. This is the equivalent of 563 plastic bottles being dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every second.

The WWF report also estimates that 70% of plastic pollution from water-based sources comes from three areas: Egypt (41.3%), Turkey (19.1%) and Italy (7.6%). Egypt, Turkey and Italy also account for two-thirds of the mismanaged waste in the Mediterranean. However, on a per capita basis, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia have the highest levels of plastic waste leakage into the Mediterranean.

Plastic waste kills wildlife, contaminates food chains, and is ingested by people from food and drinking water. It also releases harmful chemical substances into the environment. The WWF estimates that the economic losses attributed to the plastic pollution in the region are at least €641 million per year.

Plastic waste kills wildlife, contaminates food chains, and is ingested by people from food and drinking water

It is estimated that 600,000 tonnes of plastic are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year by 22 countries. Of this, 11,200 tonnes come from France, making it the largest producer of plastic waste in the region. Egypt, Turkey and Italy together account for two-thirds of the mismanaged waste. A World Wide Fund for Nature report of 2019 estimates that, considering the Mediterranean countries, around 70% of plastic pollution coming from water-based sources comes from these three areas: Egypt (41.3%), Turkey (19.1%) and Italy (7.6%).

The WWF's Mediterranean Marine Initiative of 2019 found that 0.57 million metric tons of plastic enter the Mediterranean Sea every year. This quantity corresponds to the dumping of 33,800 plastic bottles into the waters every minute, representing important risks for marine ecosystems, human health, and the blue economy of the area.

The Mediterranean Sea receives waste from coastal areas and from waters, such as rivers. For example, the Nile River brought around 200 tonnes of plastic waste into the Mediterranean basin yearly as of 2017.

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