The world’s quantity of plastic waste entering the oceans now exceeds one million metric tons every year. While (according to https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-future-of-the-worlds-plastic/) half of all plastic waste is estimated to be recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in landfills, a significant portion of the remainder ends up with different fates ending up in water bodies or storm drains which deposit into our oceans. A huge number of pieces of ocean plastic waste has been observed to join together to form a vortex of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean three times the size of France.

So here is a quiz. Which is the top country responsible for plastics found in our oceans? One would think it is the US where we make and use so much plastic and so much of our society is “single use and throw out” functionality. But the US is not number 1, nor is it in the top 10. The answer may surprise you. The #1 country from where the most plastic waste ends up in oceans is the Philippines (356,000 metric tons per year). Why? Because it is an archipelago of over 7,000 of islands which, therefore, has tens of thousands of miles of coastline and rivers feeding oceans from which plastic waste can easily enter. In fact, except for China, which is #3, all of the other top ten countries in plastic waste to the oceans are smaller developing nations with large coastlands, high rainfall, and underdeveloped recycling infrastructure (poor wastewater and solid waste management systems), such as India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh, etc. China generates 10 times the plastic waste of Malaysia, but only 0.6% of it reaches the ocean. The percentage in Malaysia is estimated to be about 9%.

Plastic products are relatively cheap and light weight and, therefore, can be used by people of all means. Most of the plastic waste found in oceans derive from discarded plastic in parks, beaches, or along streets which enter larger bodies of water by wind or by storm drains. Some ocean plastics derive from items used in fishing operations, too.

How can we reduce plastic waste accumulation in the oceans? The first, and most obvious, way is to reduce the use of plastics. Less plastics around means less waste. But plastics will not disappear. Thus, it is also critical to better manage the plastic waste generated. The problem here is that, as you see, the countries with the greatest access to waste in the ocean (those with large coastlines and river flow) are also poorer and are less able to implement robust waste management practices. While there is a popular movement to reduce foreign aid to countries to help them with their own problems, this is a problem that affects the US and other developed countries. So funds earmarked for improving plastic waste management infrastructure will not only benefit them, but the US and others, as well.

CCES can bring in solid waste management experts to help you manage this and other environmental issues for you. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.