Ways That Plastic Gets Into the Ocean: Everyday Actions and Hidden Sources

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a growing concern. About 1.7 million tonnes of plastic waste find their way into marine environments every year. Roughly 80% of this pollution comes from land-based sources, including litter, wind-blown debris, and industrial and municipal waste. Once it reaches the oceans, plastic decomposes slowly, breaking into microplastics that significantly harm marine life.

Many have seen or heard about tragic scenes of marine animals suffering due to plastic waste, such as whales entangled in plastic bags or sea turtles caught in soda can rings. Around 82% of all plastic entering the oceans is transported through rivers, showing the extensive reach of land-based pollution.

Direct Littering and Dumping

Direct littering and careless waste disposal in oceans, rivers, and beaches are widespread practices. Rain, stormwater, and wind can easily transport this plastic waste into the sea, or into drains that eventually lead there.

Poor waste management systems on beaches result in plastic waste being either directly or indirectly dumped into the ocean.

Plastic items discarded even far from the ocean can still find their way there. Wind can blow litter into rivers and streams, which then carry it out to sea.

On coastal beaches, vacationers frequently leave behind plastic water bottles and food packaging, which then end up in the ocean. Trash from streets can also be swept into waterways, sewers, and directly into oceans.

Steps need to be taken to address the practice of improper waste disposal to reduce the amount of plastic reaching our oceans.

Windblown Plastic Rubbish

Plastic waste is a significant issue with nearly 400 tonnes produced annually, but only about 9 per cent of it gets recycled. Most of this plastic waste is discarded, with a considerable amount of it being lightweight and easily moved by the wind.

During transportation to landfill sites, light plastics like LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and packaging bags are often blown away.

Windblown plastics accumulate around drains, and stormwater can easily sweep them into rivers, eventually reaching the ocean.

Even when plastics are properly disposed of in landfills, they’re not safe from being transported by the wind. They can be washed out through storm drains from these sites too, and end up in nearby rivers and seas.

Key points:

• Heavy Production: Approximately 400 tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually.
• Low Recycling Rate: Only about 9 per cent of plastic waste is recycled.
• Wind’s Role: Wind can carry lightweight plastics away during waste management processes.

Lightweight plastics, unlike denser materials, often sink quickly when they enter water bodies, adding another layer of complexity to this environmental challenge.

Municipal wastewater (what does our toothpaste have to do with it?)

Many personal care products, like toothpaste, wet wipes, and shower gels, contain tiny plastic particles known as microbeads. These microbeads are small enough to easily be washed down our sinks and toilets, making their way into municipal wastewater systems. Alongside microbeads, synthetic fibers released during laundry also contribute to microplastic pollution.

Unfortunately, many water treatment facilities are not equipped to filter out these microplastics. As a result, these particles pass through treatment processes and enter rivers, eventually reaching the ocean.

Agricultural runoff, particularly from farmlands using municipal sewage sludge as fertilizer, further exacerbates this issue. This runoff often carries additional microplastics downstream from treatment plants.

Moreover, stormwater runoff can carry plastics and microplastics from urban sewage into river systems. These rivers flow into the ocean, bringing with them a cocktail of pollutants that pose serious threats to marine life and ecosystems.

Industrial Leakages

When companies don’t properly manage the disposal of plastic-containing products, these products can escape into nature. This issue arises during both production and transportation phases.

For example, a survey from 2019 highlighted that the UK’s coastlines are frequently contaminated with tiny industrial plastic pellets, affecting almost three-quarters of the beaches each year.

These plastics are then carried by ocean currents across the globe, even reaching isolated, uninhabited islands. This shows how industrial plastic waste can spread far beyond its origin, leading to widespread environmental pollution.

Where Do We Go from Here?

The issue of plastic pollution in our oceans demands action on multiple fronts.

Littering, particularly in areas lacking adequate waste management, remains a major problem.

A staggering two billion people worldwide still have no access to solid waste collection services, as highlighted by the UN Environment Programme.

Tackling ocean plastics requires addressing the problem at its roots.

Companies must step up and reduce the production and sale of single-use plastics.

By cutting down on lightweight, disposable plastics, we can significantly reduce the amount that gets discarded.

Governments have a crucial role to play.

Improving waste management infrastructure and promoting effective recycling can greatly protect marine ecosystems.

Implementing policies that encourage the reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastic products will help in this endeavor.

Every small action counts.

By making better choices in our daily lives and supporting policies that address plastic waste, we collectively contribute to a cleaner and healthier ocean.