Marine plastic pollution: using community science to address a global problem

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul. E. Duckett ◽  
Vincenzo Repaci
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Storm Water ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Local Schools ◽  
Community Science

It was once thought oceans were so vast they could not be affected by humans, but unfortunately rapid globalisation now threatens marine biodiversity. The negative effects of marine debris were recognised in the 1970s, and more recently globally acknowledged in scientific literature. We revisited the Greater Sydney region in New South Wales Australia, to research whether plastic waste on coastal beaches has reduced in recent years. This was achieved by designing a community science project in collaboration with local schools and volunteers. We discovered that plastic debris differed between beaches and strata, but was similar to Australian beaches that were sampled over a decade ago. The high correlations we found between plastic debris and both the frequency of storm-water drains and local population sizes suggested that storm-water drains may be responsible for delivering plastic waste to coastal ecosystems, and the amount of plastic debris was proportional to the size of the surrounding population. Involving local communities has the potential to rapidly raise awareness about key conservation issues to large and broad demographic audiences. Ultimately, this may inspire public and political change.

scholarly journals Sustainostic Nusantara: Managing marine plastic debris for sustainable tourism in the ‘New Bali’ of Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaisar Akhir ◽  
Mary S Wisz
Keyword(s):  
Global Analysis ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Indonesian Government ◽  
The Government ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Indonesia’s rich marine biodiversity, endemism and long natural coast lines attract visitors from around the World. Its tourism industry contributes to a high percentage of the country’s GDP, and is a vital source of income for many local communities. Recently, the Indonesian government announced a plan to focus in developing two coastal regions (Mandalika and Labuan Bajo) as the “New Bali” in 2018. These marine tourism areas are however challenged by high levels of plastic pollution and require restoration. Mass cleanups are planned on the islands with support from the government in cooperation with the stakeholders such as local communities and industries. However, there is so far no integrated plan to safeguard the areas from the accumulation of future plastic debris. The Sustainostic (Sustainable No Plastic) Nusantara project will provide stakeholders and the Indonesian government with a policy roadmap to manage marine plastic debris in these areas. Recommendations will be based on a global analysis of plastic waste management approaches and Indonesia’s National Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris for 2017-2025. With intense stakeholder involvement, it will include methods applied on national, sub-national and community levels of governance, market-based and techno-entrepreneurial solutions, education and outreach.

Environmental impact assessment of plastic waste during the outbreak of COVID-19 and integrated strategies for its control and mitigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrah Al Qahtani ◽  
Fatimah Al Wuhayb ◽  
Hacene Manaa ◽  
Adnan Younis ◽  
Shama Sehar
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Plastic Products

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, many positive shifts have been observed in the ecosystem, with a significant decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. On the other hand, there were unavoidable negative shifts due to a surge in demand for plastic products such as food and groceries’ delivery packaging, single-use plastics, medical and personal protective equipment to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Plastic pollution can be considered as a key environmental issue in world due to the huge footprints of plastics on natural ecosystems and public health. Herein, we presented an overview on the rise of plastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential sources of plastic waste during COVID-19 with its negative effects on the environment such as marine ecosystems and the global economics are highlighted. We also suggested some strategies and recommendations to tackle plastic leakages by applying feedstock recycling, sterilization, and with the use of biodegradable plastics that have become a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel plastics. Also, the importance of elevating public awareness and some recommendations to mitigate plastic generated during the pandemic has been addressed as well.

Marine birds and plastic debris in Canada: a national synthesis and a way forward

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer F. Provencher ◽  
Alexander L. Bond ◽  
Mark L. Mallory
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Marine Birds ◽  
Multiple Regions ◽  
United Nations Environmental Program ◽  
Subsequent Effect ◽  
The 1960S

Marine plastic ingestion by seabirds was first documented in the 1960s, but over 50 years later our understanding about the prevalence, intensity, and subsequent effect of plastic pollution in the oceans is still developing. In Canada, systematic assessments using recognized standard protocols began only in the mid-2000s. With marine plastic pollution identified by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) as one of the most critical challenges for the environment, a greater understanding of how plastics affect marine birds in Canada, along with a national strategy, is timely and necessary. To better understand which and how many marine birds are affected by marine debris, we reviewed reports of plastic ingestion and nest incorporation in Canada. Of the 91 marine bird species found in Canadian waters, detailed plastic ingestion data from multiple years and locations are available for only six species. Another 33 species have incidental reports, and we lack any data on dozens more. Future efforts should focus on characterizing the risk of plastic ingestion among understudied species and on continued monitoring of species that are known indicators of plastic pollution internationally and found in multiple regions of Canada to facilitate comparisons at the national and international levels.

scholarly journals A review paper on the hazardous effect of plastic debris on marine biodiversity with some possible remedies

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Abul Hasnat ◽  
Mohammad Atikur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Organic Pollution ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

The consequences of plastic debris in the marine environment were reviewed, and possible solutions were presented. The extent of marine plastic debris-related problems surpasses many other marine problems, as plastics may be transported globally and no unaffected areas seem to exist. Many animal species are in risk, most commonly studied are the effects on marine mammals and seabirds. Marine plastic debris creates new concerns such as entanglement, ghost fishing, and impaction of digestive tracts in animals. It also increases the severity of already existing concerns such as transport, exposure and uptake of organic pollution, with reduced fitness and impaired reproduction and increased mortality rates as consequences. To alleviate the problems, reducing the extent of marine plastic pollution is critical. Possible methods were identified as collecting and incentivizing recycling of marine plastic debris; redirecting production from petroleum plastics to biodegradable varieties; increase public awareness to reduce marine littering; stricter enforcement of current legislation as well as implementation of stricter legislation and harsher penalties for breaking it.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. September 2018, 4(3): 233-241

scholarly journals Sustainostic Nusantara: Managing marine plastic debris for sustainable tourism in the ‘New Bali’ of Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaisar Akhir ◽  
Mary S Wisz
Keyword(s):  
Global Analysis ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Indonesian Government ◽  
The Government ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Indonesia’s rich marine biodiversity, endemism and long natural coast lines attract visitors from around the World. Its tourism industry contributes to a high percentage of the country’s GDP, and is a vital source of income for many local communities. Recently, the Indonesian government announced a plan to focus in developing two coastal regions (Mandalika and Labuan Bajo) as the “New Bali” in 2018. These marine tourism areas are however challenged by high levels of plastic pollution and require restoration. Mass cleanups are planned on the islands with support from the government in cooperation with the stakeholders such as local communities and industries. However, there is so far no integrated plan to safeguard the areas from the accumulation of future plastic debris. The Sustainostic (Sustainable No Plastic) Nusantara project will provide stakeholders and the Indonesian government with a policy roadmap to manage marine plastic debris in these areas. Recommendations will be based on a global analysis of plastic waste management approaches and Indonesia’s National Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris for 2017-2025. With intense stakeholder involvement, it will include methods applied on national, sub-national and community levels of governance, market-based and techno-entrepreneurial solutions, education and outreach.

scholarly journals Reducing plastic waste by visualizing marine consequences

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Luo ◽  
Jeremy Douglas ◽  
Sabine Pahl ◽  
Jiaying Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Randomized Control

Plastic pollution has become a major global conservation challenge. To reduce the generation of plastic waste, we designed and tested several behavioral interventions in a randomized control trial to reduce plastic waste in a high-rise office building. We randomly assigned eight floors in the building to four conditions: (1) simplified recycling signage, (2) signage with a marine animal trapped in plastic debris, (3) signage with a pledge that invited people to be plastic wise to protect ocean life, and (4) control. We found that the signage with the animal reduced plastic waste by 17%, the largest effect among the other conditions. After implementing the signage to the entire building, we found an overall reduction in plastic waste over six weeks. The current study demonstrates the effectiveness of visualizing marine consequences of plastic waste and provides a new behavioral solution connecting disposal actions and the downstream consequences for plastic waste reduction.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Environmental Impacts of Personal Protective Equipment Use by the General Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Lombardy (Northern Italy)

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Gilberto Binda ◽  
Arianna Bellasi ◽  
Davide Spanu ◽  
Andrea Pozzi ◽  
Domenico Cavallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Lombardy Region ◽  
Life Habits

The diffusion of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) impacted the whole world, changing the life habits of billions of people. These changes caused an abundant increase in personal protective equipment (PPE, e.g., masks and gloves) use by the general population, which can become a concerning issue of plastic pollution. This study aims to evaluate the negative effects of the abundant PPE use following the COVID-19 diffusion using the test site of the Lombardy region, an area highly affected by the pandemic. Population data were retrieved from national databases, and the COVID-19 national guidelines were considered to estimate the total use of PPEs during 2020. Then, the quantity of waste derived from their use was evaluated based on the weight of PPEs. As well, possible scenarios for 2021 were proposed based on 2020 estimations. The results suggested different negative effects of the diffusion of PPEs both on waste management and on the environment: The abundant increase in PPEs-derived waste caused an increase in terms of costs for management, and the potential direct spreading in the environment of these materials (especially masks) poses a serious threat for an increase in microplastics in water bodies. Following this evaluation, a careful choice regarding COVID-19 measures of containment should be performed especially by the general population, avoiding contagion diffusion and reducing the possible environmental impact derived from disposable PPE use.

scholarly journals Seagrasses provide a novel ecosystem service by trapping marine plastics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sanchez-Vidal ◽  
Miquel Canals ◽  
William P. de Haan ◽  
Javier Romero ◽  
Marta Veny
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Coastal Ocean ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Novel Ecosystem ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Lignocellulosic Fibers ◽  
Natural Aggregates ◽  
Negatively Buoyant

AbstractThere is strong evidence that the seafloor constitutes a final sink for plastics from land sources. There is also evidence that part of the plastics lying on the shallow seafloor are washed up back to the shoreline. However, little is known on the natural trapping processes leading to such landwards return. Here we investigate microplastics and larger plastic debris within beached seagrass remains including balls (aegagropilae) made of natural aggregates of vegetal fibers intertwined by seawater motion. We found up to 1470 plastic items per kg of plant material, which were mainly composed of negatively buoyant polymer filaments and fibers. Our findings show that seagrass meadows promote plastic debris trapping and aggregation with natural lignocellulosic fibers, which are then ejected and escape the coastal ocean. Our results show how seagrasses, one of the key ecosystems on Earth in terms of provision of goods and services, also counteract marine plastic pollution. In view of our findings, the regression of seagrass meadows in some marine regions acquires a new dimension.

scholarly journals Beverage bottle capacity, packaging efficiency, and the potential for plastic waste reduction

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Becerril-Arreola ◽  
R. E. Bucklin
Keyword(s):  
Product Category ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Pet Waste ◽  
Pet Bottles ◽  
Enormous Amount ◽  
Packaging Efficiency ◽  
The U.S

AbstractPlastic pollution is a pressing issue because authorities struggle to contain and process the enormous amount of waste produced. We study the potential for reducing plastic waste by examining the efficiency with which different polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles deliver beverages. We find that 80% of the variation in bottle weight is explained by bottle capacity, 16% by product category, and 1% by brand. Bottle weight is quadratic and convex function of capacity, which implies that medium capacity bottles are most efficient at delivering consumable product. Local data on PET bottle sales and municipal waste recovery validate the findings. A 20% shift in consumption from smaller to larger bottles could reduce the production of PET waste by over 10,000 t annually in the U.S. alone.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-induced PPE and single-use plastic waste generation scenario

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2098082
Author(s):  
Md. Sazzadul Haque ◽  
Shafkat Sharif ◽  
Aseer Masnoon ◽  
Ebne Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Polyethylene Bags ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Disposable Plastic ◽  
Do So

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated both positive and negative effects on the environment. Major concerns over personal hygiene, mandated and ease in lockdown actions and slackening of some policy measures have led to a massive surge in the use of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) and other single-use plastic items. This generated an enormous amount of plastic waste from both healthcare and household units, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Apart from the healthcare workers, the general public have become accustomed to using PPE. These habits are threatening the land and marine environment with immense loads of plastic waste, due to improper disposal practices across the world, especially in developing nations. Contaminated PPE has already made its way to the oceans which will inevitably produce plastic particles alongside other pathogen-driven diseases. This study provided an estimation-based approach in quantifying the amount of contaminated plastic waste that can be expected daily from the massive usage of PPE (e.g. facemasks) because of the countrywide mandated regulations on PPE usage. The situation of Bangladesh has been analysed and projections revealed that a total of 3.4 billion pieces of single-use facemask, hand sanitizer bottles, hand gloves and disposable polyethylene bags will be produced monthly, which will give rise to 472.30 t of disposable plastic waste per day. The equations provided for the quantification of waste from used single-use plastic and PPE can be used for other countries for rough estimations. Then, the discussed recommendations will help concerned authorities and policy makers to design effective response plans. Sustainable plastic waste management for the current and post-pandemic period can be imagined and acted upon.

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