The Ocean's Trash Crisis: Understanding The Weight Of Pollution

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans. The typical American creates around 4.9 pounds of trash each day, and a significant amount of this waste ends up in marine environments. While the exact amount of trash in the ocean is challenging to determine, researchers predict that the amount of trash released into the oceans could rise to 64 billion pounds by 2040 if more actions aren't taken.

Plastic waste in landfills

Plastic waste is a huge problem, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, and a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year. This is a huge amount of waste, and it's only projected to get worse. Researchers predict that the amount of trash released into oceans could rise to 64 billion pounds by 2040 if more actions aren’t taken.

The typical American creates around 4.9 pounds of trash each day, on average. This disposable waste is now a common feature of many marine environments. Ocean trash is largely made up of plastics, accounting for around 80% of it. Plastics can become embedded along coastlines, sink into sediment, return to beaches and even settle in the deep ocean. Surface plastic is thought to only make up a fraction of the trash littering the oceans.

Fishing gear is a major contributor to the problem. According to a 2021 study, more than 100 million pounds of plastic from industrial fishing gear wind up as ocean trash each year. A previous study by the World Wildlife Foundation found that fishing gear contributes around 10% of ocean litter each year, or somewhere between 1 and 2 billion pounds.

Food wrappers, cigarette butts, bottles (and their caps) and grocery bags are some of the most commonly found items making their way into the oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of the most famous examples of ocean pollution. This monolith of marine debris contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas.

Ocean surface trash

It is difficult to know exactly how much trash is in the ocean, but we do know that it is a lot. In 2014, the amount of plastic floating on the ocean's surface was calculated at more than 593 million pounds, or 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic. However, this is likely to be an underestimate as it is hard to measure the plastic that is on the seabed or buried in sediment. Plastics can become embedded along coastlines, sink into sediment, return to beaches and even settle in the deep ocean.

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. This is a constant flow that is too much for existing waste management and recycling infrastructure to handle. Plastic pollution is everywhere in the ocean, from microplastics in the food chain to plastic water bottles floating on the surface.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of the most famous examples of ocean pollution. It is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. Researchers have also found plastics dating from as far back as the 1960s and '70s in this area.

Fishing gear is a major contributor to the problem. According to a 2021 study, more than 100 million pounds of plastic from industrial fishing gear end up as ocean trash each year. A previous study by the World Wildlife Foundation found that fishing gear contributes around 10% of ocean litter each year, or somewhere between 1 and 2 billion pounds. Other commonly found items include food wrappers, cigarette butts, bottles and their caps, and grocery bags.

Industrial fishing gear

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. 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.

Fishing gear is made from a variety of materials, including plastic, metal, and wood. When it is lost or discarded in the ocean, it can have serious and harmful effects on marine life. For example, nets can entangle marine animals, such as dolphins, seals, and turtles, causing injury or death. Lines and hooks can also be ingested by marine animals, leading to internal injuries or death.

In addition to the direct harm caused by lost or discarded fishing gear, it can also contribute to the creation of marine debris. Over time, fishing gear can break down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics. These microplastics can then be ingested by marine animals, potentially causing health issues. They can also absorb and accumulate toxic chemicals, which can then be passed up the food chain.

Efforts are being made to reduce the impact of industrial fishing gear on the ocean. For example, some organisations are working to develop biodegradable fishing gear that will naturally degrade over time if it is lost or discarded in the ocean. There are also initiatives to improve the recycling of fishing gear, such as the Fishing for Energy partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA Marine Debris Program, which aims to recycle old fishing gear into energy.

Food wrappers and cigarette butts

Estimates of the total amount of plastic waste in the ocean range from 75 to 199 million tons, with a further 33 billion pounds entering the marine environment each year. The problem is only projected to get worse, with researchers predicting that the amount of trash released into the oceans could rise to 64 billion pounds by 2040 if more actions are not taken.

To address this issue, it is important to reduce the use of single-use plastics, such as food wrappers and cigarette butts, and to properly dispose of waste to prevent it from entering the ocean. This may include recycling or reusing these items whenever possible and supporting initiatives that aim to clean up and protect the ocean environment.

Plastic water bottles

According to Forbes, plastic bottles account for 12% of all plastic waste in the world's oceans. This is a huge problem as plastic bottles do not decompose and will remain in the ocean for hundreds of years. Even more alarmingly, what we see floating on the surface is only a portion of the problem. Approximately half of all plastic pollution is submerged below the ocean surface, much of it in the form of microplastics so small that we may never be able to clean them up completely.

Fewer than half of the plastic bottles purchased are collected for recycling, and just 7% of those collected are turned into new bottles. With no clear alternative, plastic bottles end up in landfill or in the ocean. This is a major issue as plastic waste already outnumbers fish in the ocean today. Conservation.org estimates that by 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean's fish, not only in number but also by weight.

The typical American creates around 4.9 pounds of trash each day, on average. This disposable waste is now also a ubiquitous feature of many marine environments. While it is difficult to calculate exactly how much plastic has wound up in the oceans, global estimates reach several thousand tons of floating plastics.

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