IMIS

Publications | Institutes | Persons | Datasets | Projects | Maps
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean
Jambeck, J.R.; Geyer, R.; Wilcox, C.; Siegler, T.; Perryman, M.; Andrady, A.L.; Narayan, R.; Law, K.L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science (Wash.) 347(6223 ): 768-771. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1260352
In: Science (Washington). American Association for the Advancement of Science: New York, N.Y. ISSN 0036-8075; e-ISSN 1095-9203, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Jambeck, J.R.
  • Geyer, R.
  • Wilcox, C.
  • Siegler, T.
  • Perryman, M.
  • Andrady, A.L.
  • Narayan, R.
  • Law, K.L.

Abstract
    Plastic debris in the marine environment is widely documented, but the quantity of plastic entering the ocean from waste generated on land is unknown. By linking worldwide data on solid waste, population density, and economic status, we estimated the mass of land-based plastic waste entering the ocean. We calculate that 275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste was generated in 192 coastal countries in 2010, with 4.8 to 12.7 million MT entering the ocean. Population size and the quality of waste management systems largely determine which countries contribute the greatest mass of uncaptured waste available to become plastic marine debris. Without waste management infrastructure improvements, the cumulative quantity of plastic waste available to enter the ocean from land is predicted to increase by an order of magnitude by 2025.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors