From City to Sea: Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution

Ocean plastic pollution has reached a crisis level, threatening the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, major industries such as fishing and tourism, food security, and ultimately human health.

Ocean plastic pollution has reached a crisis level, threatening the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, major industries such as fishing and tourism, food security, and ultimately human health. Every minute, the equivalent of an entire garbage truck of plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans—roughly eleven million tons annually. 

USAID’S APPROACH TO REDUCING OCEAN PLASTICS

Stopping plastic pollution at the source is the most effective way to address this challenge. The majority of plastic ocean debris comes from rapidly urbanizing coastal cities in the developing world—where waste management systems, infrastructure, and governments struggle to keep pace with growing populations and increasing amounts of waste.