United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protect ton Emergency Response EPA/530-SW-90-017B
Agency (OS-305) February 1990
Office of Solid Waste
v°/EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
THE FACTS ABOUT PLASTICS
IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
FROM EPAfS REPORT TO CONGRESS ON
METHODS TO MANAGE AND CONTROL
PLASTIC WASTES
Discarded plastic products and packaging make up a
growing proportion of municipal solid waste. By the year 2000,
the amount of plastic we throw away wiR increase by 50 percent.
Current volume estimates for plastic waste range from 14 to 21
percent of the waste stream. By weight plastics contribute seven
percent, and less than one percent of plastic waste is currently
recycled. Additionally, some plastic items end up as litter that
poses ecological risk to the marine environment and aesthetic
and economic loss. The identification of the types, sources and
impacts of plastic marine debris is necessary for the evaluation of
solutions.
Plastics Found in the Marine Environment
The majority of items collected during EPA's harbor surveys and beach
cleanups are plastic. These efforts have identified a wide variety of
plastic items, including plastic pellets (the raw materials plastic
processors use to make plastic products); plastic bags and sheeting;
fishing gear (e.g., nets, traps, and monofilament lines); tampon
applicators, condoms, beverage ring carriers, plastic straps, and a
variety of plastic packaging.
Where Does this Plastic Come From?
Plastic wastes come from both marine-based and land-based sources.
Possible land-based sources include plastic manufacturers and
processors, sewage treatment systems, stormwater runoff, solid waste
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disposal activities (e.g., barges), and litter. Marine-based sources
include: intentional waste disposal from vessels (now prohibited by Coast
Guard regulations); waste disposal from off-shore oil and gas platforms;
and accidental loss of fishing gear.
The major sources vary from region to region. For example, fishing gear
loss is a major concern in the North Pacific, while plastic from sewer-
related activities is a problem in the Northeast.
Problems Caused by Plastic Wastes
The major impacts of marine plastics are entanglement and ingestion by
marine animals, and aesthetic and economic losses caused by lost fish-
ing gear and by litter on beaches.
Entanglement affects seabirds, seals, whales, turtles, fish and crusta-
ceans, and may have an adverse impact on the populations of endan-
gered species. Fish continue to be caught and killed by lost "ghost" nets.
Ingestion of plastic wastes is particularly serious among birds and
turtles, who mistake plastic items for food. Impacts include injury to the
digestive tract, intestinal blockage and starvation.
Aesthetic and related economic losses associated with marine debris may
be severe (e.g., loss to the tourism and fishing industries). For example,
beach debris incidents in New Jersey and New York in 1987 and 1988
cost an estimated $1 billion.
Where Can I Find Additional Information?
Call EPA's RCRA/Superfund Hotline for a free copy of the Executive
Summary of the Report to Congress on Methods to Manage and Control
Plastic Wastes (EPA/530-SW-89-051 A). The toll-free number is 1-800-
424-9346, or TDD 1-800-553-7672 for the hearing impaired. In Wash-
ington D.C., the number is 382-3000 or TDD 475-9652. The Hotline is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Ask the
Hotline for information on ordering the full report.
Original Printing on Recycled Paper
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