OCTOBER 2020
The United States Federal Strategy for
Addressing the Global Issue of Marine Litter
USAID



PRO^
'ENT OF

-------
Table of Contents
Introduction								3
Marine Litter Costs	5
Defining the Challenge: What is Marine Litter?	7
The Two Main Sources of Marine Litter	8
The U.S. Strategy for Success: Four Pillars	9
Ongoing U.S. Initiatives Addressing Marine Litter	10
Additional Ongoing International Efforts to Address Marine Litter		 12
Stakeholder Feedback on Ongoing U.S. Initiatives			..... 14
U.S. Strategy for Success: Implementing the Four-Pillars	15
Utilizing the Five Pillars in Addressing Land-Based Sources	15
Utilizing the Five Pillars in Addressing Sea Based Sources		 17
Moving Forward	.18
Future U.S. International Efforts to Address Land-based Sources	18
Future U.S. International Efforts to Address Sea-based Sources	19
Conclusion												 20
Appendix	21
< eku
rm
¦¦ via
u
\X w
I ,5 S

-------
Introduction
The United States prioritizes responsible and sound environmental policies, both at home and abroad.
Various agencies throughout the federal government are leading global efforts to prevent and remove
litter from entering our oceans. Marine litter, legally defined as "marine debris"1, describes man-made
solid materials that have been intentionally or accidentally released by humans into inland water bodies,
near or on the shore, and in the open ocean.
In one year an average of eight million tons of marine plastic litter ended up in oceans across the world
due to poor management of solid waste, insufficient infrastructure, littering, and dumping. In 2016,
China was responsible for 7.4 percent of the world's mismanaged plastic waste that entered into aquatic
ecosystems (freshwater lakes, rivers, and oceans).' This mismanaged waste degrades our ecosystems,
affects the health of marine life, and threatens sectors within the economy that rely on the well-being of
the marine environment, including fishing and tourism. Further, waste that becomes marine litter often
represents missed economic opportunity as many types of waste and scrap, including plastics, may be
recycled into new products and re-enter commerce.
On October 11,2018, PresidentTrump signed the Save Our Seas Act, which directed the U.S. Government
to continue its critical ongoing work of addressing the growing problem of marine litter in our oceans,
both domestically and abroad.
"The United States has some of the most beautiful beaches and oceans in the world,
and the coastlines are incredible. As President; I will continue to do everything I can to
stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills"
-President Donald J. Trump
1 The NOAA Marine Debris Program is authorized by Congress to work on marine debris through the Marine Debris Act, signed into law in 2.006 and
amended in 2012 and 2018.
https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2018%20Save%20our%20Seas%20Act%2C%20Title%20l%20%28S.%203508%29.pdf
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
In addition to enhancing domestic efforts to prevent and reduce marine litter, PresidentTrump also
engages foreign governments and the private sector to hold them accountable and stop improperly
managed waste from getting into the oceans. The recently signed United-States-Mexico-Canada-
Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement includes commitments by parties to address both land-and
sea-based marine litter as well as promote waste management infrastructure. In addition, Federal
agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State
(DOS) have improved interagency coordination and have been sharing expertise and resources with
governments, organizations, and companies willing to address this global issue constructively.
DID YOU KNOW:
Five countries in Asia account for over half of the plastic waste input into the ocean - The
People's Republic of China (China), Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam."
Specifically, data estimates are that China not only produces the largest quantity of plastic,
nearly 60 million tons, but is the largest source of global plastic leakage, e.g., plastics that are
not properly managed that leak into the environment."' A recent study estimates that 88 to 95
percent of the global load of river-origin mismanaged plastic originates from just ten rivers.
Eight of the ten rivers are in Asia, and two of the top polluting rivers are Chinese, specifically
the Yellow and the Yangtze rivers.iv
Global Percentage of Mismanaged plastic waste by Country
in MMT/year
United States
Thailand
Vietnam
Philippines
Indonesia
China
As shown in the figure above, the
most recent data indicates that
China contributed the highest
share of mismanaged plastic waste
with around 28 percent of the
global total, followed by Indonesia
(10percent), the Philippines and
Vietnam (both 6 percent), and
Thailand (5 percent).
The U.S. is 20th on this list,
responsible for less than 1 percent of
mismanaged plastic waste.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Top 10 Polluters
Circle area shows Total in ocean -
amount of plastic
100,000
metric tons
Yellow-
¦ Nile
1 Plastic from
African rivers
Yangtze
All other
rivers
		Meghna,
Ganges
Pearl
Amur
Niger
Mekong
Source: Amanda Montanez; Source: "Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea," by Christian Schmidt et al., in Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 51, No.
21; November 7, 2017.
Marine Litter Costs
A recent study rioted that marine litter hurts tourism and fishing, among other industries reliant on the
marine ecosystem, and is estimated to cost the world, an average of $264 billion annually.2 v
Domestically, potential economic losses can be experienced across the country. In Orange County,
California, a 2018 study estimated that doubling the amount of marine litter on beaches would result
in an estimated loss of $414 million in tourism dollars, and a decrease of nearly 4,300 jobs.vi Additional
economic costs from marine
litter may include those
associated with clean-up
operations including litter
removal. Communities
along the West Coast of
the U.S. spend over half a
billion dollars a year on the
clean-up of beaches and
waterways, street-sweeping,
the installation of storm-water
capture devices, the cleaning
and maintenance of storm
drains, the manual clean-up of
litter, and public anti-littering
campaigns to clean up and
prevent marine litter.™
<
<
O
o
-I—1
o
2 Annual number extrapolated from the mid-range of $3300-$33,000 per ton of marine plastic/per year.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
The Economic Impacts of Marine
Debris on Beaches
The NOAA Marine Debris Program funded a study with Abt Associates to better understand
the economic impacts of marine debris on beaches. The results of the study showed that the
varying amounts of marine debris on beaches can have an impact on the number of days
visitors spend on those beaches, resulting in changes to the amount of tourism dollars spent,
the number of local jobs, and the value of beach recreation.
Eliminating Marine
Debris
Doubling Marine
Debris
0-%

National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Marine Debris Program
= Coastal County
~ 2.1 million tor days
t $130 million n
recreational value
t $187 million \
tourism spending
t 1,900 jobs
4 4.6 million visitor days
~ $275 million in
recreation value
4 $414 million in
tourism spending
*4,300 jobs
Coastal Ohio
t 2.8 million isitor days
t $88 million m
t $217 million
tourism spending
t 3,700 jobs
~	2.8 million visitor days
I $84 million r
recreation value
~	$218 million in
tourism spending
~	3,700 jobs
Coastal Delaware & Maryland
t 478,000 visitor days
~ $20 million in
recreational value
t $35 million in
tourism spending
t 460 jobs
4 3.5 million visitor days
4 $141 million in
recreation value
~	$254 million in
tourism spending
~	3,400 jobs
Coastal Alabama
t 308,000 visitor days
t $10 million in
recreational value
t $35 million in
tourism spending
t 670jobs
~	1 million visitor days
~	$32 million n
recreation value
~	$113 million in
tourism spending
~	2,200 jobs
TogetherWe Can Address the Challenge
Marine litter is clearly a complex, global problem. Nonetheless, we know from experience that progress
is possible, particularly when the public and private sectors work together with engaged citizens. This
environmental challenge also presents an opportunity. Plastic and other materials can be recovered and
recycled, creating sustainable supply chains and jobs across a diverse set of industrial sectors, but only if
we can work together globally to find solutions.
This document contains various components. It first identifies the challenges of marine litter. It
also highlights our federal government's four pillars for tackling the issue and for finding economic
opportunities while doing so. The document identifies existing U.S. legal authorities and existing federal
programs already underway and that are working hard to address the challenges of marine litter. Finally,
this document identifies how the four-pillars will continue to address the top two sources of marine litter
prospectively.
It is important to note that the overall strategy presented in this document draws upon previous
experiences in the management of domestic marine litter and recyclable materials throughout
government, the private sector and non-governmental sectors.3 It is also informed by international
efforts aimed at stopping the flow of waste into our waters and create economic opportunities through
recovery and recycling of waste materials before they become marine litter.
3 This strategy includes a long-term planning horizon that can be used to inform future actions, but is not representative of formal federal funding
commitments.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Defining the Challenge: What is Marine Litter?
Marine litter includes any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and is directly or
indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment. In
other words, it is human-created waste that is discharged into the marine environment from land or
sea. Uncollected waste accounts for 75 percent of plastic waste that ends up as marine litter.™ Global
waste generation will increase 70 percent by 2050 from 2.01 billion tons today to 3.4 billion tons of waste
generated annually in 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia will increase the fastest, generating 35
percent of all global waste.ix The most common materials that make up marine litter are plastics, glass,
metal, paper, cloth, rubber, and wood. Plastics make up 80 percent of all marine debris from surface
waters to deep-sea sediments." Marine plastic litter is particularly problematic because it is unlikely to
biodegrade under marine conditions and has the propensity to wash up on beaches due to its buoyancy.
Plastic is light and easily transported by wind, rain and weather - unique characteristics that differentiate
it from other parts of the waste stream. Plastic waste is often the most visible component of marine
litter. It is largely these factors that have drawn an increasing amount of attention to the problems and
impacts associated with plastic waste.
Reduced global demand for recyclable goods due in large part to China's National Sword policy is an
important reality facing countries attempting to improve their solid waste management systems. China's
National Sword policy, enacted in January 2018, abruptly banned the import of most plastic scrap and
other materials. Prior to this policy, most of the world sent its scrap material to China to be processed
into raw materials and eventually manufactured into valuable products. By the beginning of 2021, a full
ban on unprocessed scrap materials will go into effect, which will further disrupt the global market for
recyclable commodities.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
The Two Main Sources of Marine Litter
Land-based Sources
Rivers and other waterways are common entry points
for land-based waste to enter the marine environment.
Marine litter from land-based sources comes primarily
from littering, dumping, and poor waste management
practices.
Sea-based Sources
Marine litter from sea-based sources, like cargo, solid
waste, and fishing gear, come from shipping vessels, ferries
and cruise liners, fishing vessels, private vessels, and other
industry infrastructure. Abandoned, lost, or otherwise
discarded fishing gear is the most prevalent source of
sea-based marine litter and can be the most damaging
from both an economic and environmental perspective.
Discarding fishing gear leads to the entanglement of
marine species, the smothering of coral reefs and other
critical habitats, and navigational hazards to safety at sea.xi
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
9
The U.S. Strategy for Success: Four Pillars
Building on a longstanding, successful, and holistic nationwide approach, the following four pillars for
addressing marine litter can be replicated and adapted throughout the world:
1.	Building capacity for better waste and litter management systems, including through
improving infrastructure, government coordination, and public education and
engagement.
2.	Incentivizing the global recycling market in partnership with the private sector.
3.	Promoting research and development for innovative solutions and technology.
4.	Promoting marine litter removal, including litter capture systems in seas, rivers and
inland waterways.
Following these four pillars, the U.S. has leveraged our expertise and a range of regulatory authorities
and current funding sources to create both domestic and international programs aimed at preventing
and reducing marine litter.
U.S. Legal Authorities for Addressing Marine Litter
Robust environmental regulations and laws that reinforce the systems for the management of solid
waste are critical to preventing marine litter.This document highlights Federal government laws,
regulations, and initiatives are highlighted here, but it is important to understand that state and local
laws, regulations, and initiatives, as well as voluntary efforts undertaken by private companies and
ordinary citizens acting individually and in association with one another, are also crucial to preventing
and addressing the consequences of marine litter in the U.S.
In the U.S., the Federal Government establishes minimum national criteria for solid waste facilities
through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which ensures that the management of waste
is done so in an environmentally sound manner.
To prevent waste from entering the ocean, efforts to capture and dispose of solid waste also should
involve systems to manage stormwater and wastewater. The Clean Water Act requires the development
of standards for addressing waters impaired by pollutants, including solid waste.
The primary authority for the U.S. to prevent and respond to marine debris is the Marine Debris Act,
originally passed in 2006 and amended in 2018 when PresidentTrump signed the Save Our Seas Act of
2018.The Marine Debris Act established the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Marine Debris Program (MDP) to "identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove
marine debris and address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the economy of the United States,
marine environment, and navigation safety."This program has occurred in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
as well as the Great Lakes.
The Save Our Seas Act also encourages the U.S. Government Departments and Agencies to work with
representatives of the governments of foreign countries that discharge the largest amounts of solid
waste from land-based sources into the marine environment, to develop mechanisms to reduce such
discharges.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Ongoing U.S. Initiatives Addressing Marine Litter
Various initiatives are taking place across U.S. Federal Departments and Agencies to address marine litter,
including but are not limited to, the following:
NOAA's Marine Debris Program has provided over $24 million in funding to local partners for
prevention, removal, and research initiatives to address marine debris.Thus far, the program has
resulted in the removal of over 22,000 metric tons of marine debris from U.S. waters, engaged with
more than 65,000 students on marine debris prevention activities, developed 12 marine debris
response guides and 11 regional action plans.
Since its inception in 2013, Trash Free Waters Program of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) works with local stakeholders to assist U.S. communities with addressing land-based sources
of marine litter. In 2020, EPA awarded over $7.8 million to 17 recipients within the Gulf States for
innovative projects focused on reducing the amount of litter in our waterways through waste
prevention and/or removal. EPA will award an additional $2.1 million through the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative Trash Free Waters Grant Program established under President Trump to
address marine litter within the Great Lakes watershed.
EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program is a systemic approach to using materials
more productively over their entire lifecycles. EPA uses several voluntary programs to achieve
environmental, economic, and social results, including America Recycles, the Sustainable Materials
Management Electronics Challenge, WasteVVise, and the Wrap Recycling Action Program.
0 America Recycles -The EPA-led America Recycles effort grows and strengthens the U.S.
recycling system through multi-stakeholder collaboration. EPA convenes stakeholders from
across the recycling system in working groups and at an annual America Recycles Summit.
At the inaugural Summit in 2018, EPA and 44 stakeholders pledged to work together to
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
11
devise solutions to improve the U.S. recycling system.Today, the America Recycles Pledge
has 250 signatories. In November 2019, after a year of collaboration with stakeholders from
across the recycling system, EPA released the National Framework for Advancing the U.S.
Recycling System. In October 2020 EPA released a draft National Recycling Strategy and in
November 2020, EPA will announce national recycling goals.
0 Sustainable Materials Management Electronics Challenge - EPA encourages electronics
manufacturers, brand owners, and retailers to strive to send 100 percent of the used
electronics they collect - from the public, from other businesses, and within their own
organizations - to third-party certified refurbishers and recyclers of electronics. Participants
in the challenge kept nearly 194,500 tons of used electronics from landfills in 2018.
0 WasteWise - EPA works with businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations to
promote the use and reuse of materials more productively over their entire life cycles.
Partners demonstrate how they reduce waste, practice environmental stewardship, and
incorporate sustainable materials management into their business model, including their
waste-handling processes. Participants in WasteWise have prevented more than 247 million
tons of waste from going to the landfill since 1994.
0 Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP)- In 2016, EPA signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Flexible Film Recycling Group of the American Chemistry
Council (ACC) and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition on ACC's WRAP. WRAP aims to create
opportunities for consumers to recycle polyethylene film packaging, to educate consumers
about these opportunities, and to build demand for recycled film and for products that
contain recycled film.
EPA's National Coastal Condition Assessment is a statistical survey that assesses the condition of
the coastal waters of the U.S., including the Great Lakes, to provide the public and decision-makers
with nationally consistent and representative information on the condition of the Nation's waters.
EPA uses the survey's findings to identify and mitigate challenges where they exist, and to protect
areas that are still in good condition.
•	The Commission for Environmental Cooperation's Stormwater Runoff and Marine Litter
Prevention Program has implemented four projects to reduce marine litter in North America.
The first projectby the Governments of the US (EPA), Mexico and Canada involved transboundary
watersheds and focused on reducing litter in storm drains by installing litter capture devices in
Vancouver, British Columbia, and Bellingham, Washington.The second project raised awareness on
the Tijuana watershed at the U.S.- Mexico border through environmental-education campaigns in
schools, community organizations, and businesses.The third project is ongoing and will provide
key decision-makers in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. with a guide to engaging stakeholders in
North America successfully.The last project is aimed at inland North American communities that
struggle to understand their impact on marine litter.These educational materials are designed to
be ready-to-use and adaptable. They will offer municipalities, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), and educational institutions the ability to deliver highly effective, professional programs
to raise awareness of litter-prevention that are relevant to their communities and require minimal
investment.
•	The Department of Energy (DOE) Plastic Innovation Challenge is a comprehensive program to
accelerate innovations that will dramatically reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills and will
position the U.S. as a global leader in advanced plastics collection and recycling technologies
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
12
and in the manufacture of new plastics that are recyclable by design. Building from a foundation
of prior investment and capabilities, DOE expanded their efforts in degradation, recycling and
upcycling of plastics including:
0 Launched two Energy Frontier Research Centers - the Center for Plastics Innovation ($11.65
million) and the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics ($12.8 million).
0 Issued a $25 million funding opportunity announcement titled: Bio-Optimized Technologies
to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) funding opportunity
announcement.
0 DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) piloted a $4 million exploratory
program for plastics conversion to fuels through the REcycle Underutilized Solids to Energy
(REUSE) program.
0 Reducing EMbodied-energy And Decreasing Emissions (REMADE), a Manufacturing USA
Institute funded by DOE, issued a $35 million call for proposals that included plastic
recycling as a key topic area.
0 Supported efforts that directly address ocean plastic waste, including the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) program providing $1 million to fund five Phase I projects to
develop Novel Utilization Strategies for Ocean Plastic Waste.
Additional Ongoing International Efforts to Address Marine Litter
EPA's Trash Free Waters International, modeled after the Trash Free Waters domestic initiative,
works with key stakeholders to assist international communities with addressing land-based
sources of marine litter. Started in 2016, Jamaica, Panama and Peru have benefitted from
this assistance through the increased awareness, collection, and segregation of waste in five
communities.
•	International Technical Exchanges are an important mechanism for sharing information on
approaches to address marine litter through proper management of solid waste, including
preventing and reducing marine litter in waterways and, the use of innovative technologies, and
the use of related tools and resources. A recent example includes the EPA-led government-to-
government webinar with Brazil to share U.S. approaches, initiatives, and tools and resources to
address land-based sources of marine litter. Another technical exchange is planned with the United
Kingdom to share approaches on successful international cooperation to reduce marine litter-
Municipal Waste Recycling Program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development's
(USAID) reduces land-based sources of marine plastic pollution by providing grants and technical
assistance worth $14 million to local organizations to improve efforts in recycling and the
management of solid waste. To date, through recycling and improved practices in the management
of solid waste, the program has diverted over 3,100 metric tons of plastic waste from the natural
environment.The program has awarded 30 locally led grant projects that have benefited 3.3 million
people in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
•	Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO) is USAID's $48 million flagship, five-year, global program that
works in rapidly urbanizing countries across Asia and Latin America to target marine plastics
directly at their source. CCBO works to improve systems that manage solid waste, build capacity
and commitment to the"3Rs"(reduce, reuse, recycle) and promote sustainable social and behavior
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
13
change. CCBO initial focus countries include the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Maldives, the
Dominican Republic and Peru.
USAID's partnership with Circulate Capital incentivizes private investment in the recycling value
chain in South and Southeast Asia. USAID provided a $35 million through the U.S. international
Development Finance Corporation, which Circulate Capita! used to leverage more than $100
million in private-sector capital from multinational companies, including PepsiCo, Proctor &
Gamble, Dow, Danone, Unilever and Coca-Cola.
USAID is working with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an international organization that
brings together more than 50 companies from across the plastics value chain that have committed
collectively to investing $1.5 billion in solutions to end plastic waste. USAID and the Alliance will
deploy innovative, locally appropriate technologies, infrastructure, and business models to improve
waste management and recycling in high-source cities.
•	The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider
Caribbean Area and its Land-Based Sources Protocol are agreements that obligates Contracting
Parties to address pollution from marine litter, nutrients and wastewater. EPA serves as the chair for
the Open-Ended Working Group that advises the Secretariat for the Convention on efforts aimed at
protecting the wider Caribbean region's waters, including pollution from marine litter.
•	Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum Engagement in the Oceans and Fisheries
Working group which has taken the lead for the APEC in tackling marine litter. Department of
State (DOS) works closely with stakeholders to focus attention on combating marine litter using
environmentally sound waste management best practices, innovation, and outreach. DOS secured
the development of a marine litter management and innovation APEC-managed sub-fund and
provided initial support of $800,000.
•	The Global Ghost Gear Initiative is the preeminent global organization of national governments,
NGOs, and industry with the objective of combating abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded
fishing gear.
Marine Debris Grants funded by the Department of State (DOS) has administered over $5
million dollars in, Waste Management Grants, and CAFTA-DR small grants that help address
marine debris from both land-based and sea-based sources.These grants support our partners in
addressing all aspects of marine litter, from improving environmentally sound waste management
capacity to raising public awareness about how marine litter negatively impacts local lives.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
14
Stakeholder Feedback on Ongoing U.S. Initiatives
WHATTHEYARE SAYING:
"There is no silver bullet to solving ocean plastic and scaling global
recycling — investing in public education without infrastructure won't
achieve results, and vice versa. It is a systems challenge that requires
systems solutions."
-	Rob Kaplan
Founder and CEO, Circulate Capital
"The work we will undertake with USAID advances the Alliance's
commitment to work through partnerships to develop, incubate and
deploy projects in local cities and communities that support the goal
to end plastic waste in the environment. Partnerships, such as this
one, allow us to prove and accelerate solutions that will unlock capital
investments, which are necessary to tackle the plastic waste challenge."
-	Jacob Duer, President and CEO
Alliance to End Plastic Waste
"To support prevention internationally, we [US Congress] can continue
to provide funding through USAID and other bilateral initiatives, which
I have seen give NGOs the opportunity to catalyze action, improve
infrastructure and the economy, in countries like Vietnam, Philippines
and Indonesia. [The US should continue to] show support for global
initiatives to assist with the reduction of plastic entering the ocean and
improvement of waste management infrastructure development around
the world, along with technology and knowledge transfer to other
countries on solid waste management through, for example, the U.S.
State Department, US EPA and NOAA."
-	Dr. Jenna Jambeck, PhD, leading global expert on marine plastic waste
College of Engineering, University of Georgia"''

0
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
U.S. Strategy for Success: Implementing the Four-Pillars
The U.S. strategy has proven a successful approach for addressing marine litter and can be replicated or
adapted throughout the world to address both land and sea-based sources of marine litter. Below are
numerous strategies to successfully implement the four pillars of success:
Utilizing the Four Pillars in Addressing Land-Based Sources
1. Building capacity through locally led development to provide skill development, training, and
providing critical resources for success, including:
Strengthening infrastructure of port reception facilities to effectively manage waste from ships.
Developing infrastructure for environmentally-sound management of solid waste that enhances
the value of recyclable materials;
Identifying and supporting projects that will establish, improve, or scale up waste management
capacity in local systems;
Connecting partner countries with sources of financial assistance for waste infrastructure projects;
Engaging the informal waste sector;
Supporting the development and enforcement of robust laws, regulations, and policies, including
relevant trade policies;
Conducting educational outreach on the impacts, prevention, and management with industry
sectors that contribute to waste entering the ocean
Equipping local stakeholders with the information and tools to mobilize financial resources; and
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
16
Enhancing the participation of citizens and
encouraging behavior change through education to
reduce waste, littering, and illegal dumping.
2.	incentivizing the global recycling market in
partnership with the private sector, including through
the following:
Endorsing market-based incentives to encourage
waste minimization and strengthen application of
proper waste storage at sea, and disposal/recycling at
port reception facilities.
Advocating for efforts that recycle retired and/or
retrieved fishing gear into new products.
Improving the financial sustainability of services to
manage solid waste;
Pursuing policies that incentivize innovative eco-
friendly product design, manufacturing, and packaging
of products; and
Supporting and promoting the role of the private
sector.
3.	Promoting research, development and application of innovative approaches and technology,
including through the following:
Supporting the development and promote the use of innovations in fishing gear design and
application to reduce gear loss, such as through NOAA's Fishing for Energy program.
Supporting the role of the academia, NGOs, and the private sector;
Connecting impact investors in environmentally sound technology operations and infrastructure
partner countries to help boost or develop waste-reducing technology; and
Promoting international monitoring efforts to compile assessments that identify existing assets
and deficiencies regarding waste management through a multi-stakeholder-based approach that
prioritizes implementation needs.
4.	Promoting marine litter removal, including through litter capture systems in rivers and inland
waterways, including:
Supporting removal efforts for abandoned, lost, or derelict fishing gear, including local-level
cleanup initiatives;
Supporting removal efforts in coastal conservation areas such as Federal, state, and local parks and
protected habitats
Developing local watershed management, litter capture, and river cleanup programs.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Utilizing the Four Pillars in Addressing Sea Based Sources
1.	Building capacity for waste management and litter management systems, including:
Developing and helping to facilitate the implementation of industry Best Management Practices
designed to minimize the abandonment of vessels and the accidental loss of cargo, solid waste and
gear at sea;
Building capacity to implement, monitor, and enforce compliance with national and local
legislation and relevant international instruments and agreements addressing sea-based sources of
marine litter
2.	Incentivizing the global recycling market in partnership with the private sector, including:
Advocating for efforts that recycle retired and/or retrieved gear into new products.
3.	Promoting research, development and application of innovative approaches and technology,
including through the following:
Supporting the development and promoting the use of innovations in the design and application
of gear to reduce gear loss at sea, such as through NOAA's Fishing for Energy program.
Expanding the application of advanced technologies to marine debris prevention and removal.
4.	Promoting removal of sea-based sources of litter, including:
Developing resources and guidance to assist in the assessment, removal, and disposal of
abandoned and derelict vessels.
Developing and promoting the use of fishing gear modifications or alternative technologies.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Moving Forward
The U.S. is committed to continuing our leadership role to prevent and reduce marine litter globally by
sharing scientific and technical expertise with public and private partners, while looking for innovative
ways to strengthen existing partnerships. A key focus of the U.S. international collaboration will be to
pursue new partnerships with key major source countries -- for example, Indonesia,Thailand, Vietnam,
the Philippines, and Sri Lanka — and important partners in the region such as Japan.
Future U.S. International Efforts to
Address Land-based Sources
Continuing to identify, incubate and scale
successful and replicable approaches to
improving the management of solid waste
and recycling in high-source countries as
under USAID's Municipal Waste Recycling
Program and Clean Cities, Blue Ocean.
Expanding EPA'sTrash Free Waters
International program to additional
countries to support in-country projects
in key countries in Asia, Latin America, and
the Caribbean that address marine litter
and waste management issues and sharing
tools such as the Trash Free Waters Guide.
Over
80
PERCENT
of ocean plastic
comes from
land-based sources
Only 20 PERCENT originates from ocean-based
sources like fisheries and vessels
PERCENT
y Ocean Conservancy
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
19
Sharing waste management approaches, including recycling, and expertise for use by key countries
to support their ongoing marine iitter and solid waste management initiatives, in part by sharing
tools such as the Solid Waste Management Guide for Developing Countries.
Working in coordination with APEC, focusing on APEC economies, many of which are large
contributors to help build capacity to prevent and reduce marine litter through improved waste
management and recycling infrastructure, especially collection and separation.
Working with major source countries in Asia and Latin America through MOUs to build institutional
capacity at the national and local level to attract financial investment for improvements to the
infrastructure for recycling and the management of solid waste and recycling infrastructure
improvements.
Sharing the U.S. Environmental SolutionsToolkit, which will include recycling and solid waste
management technologies, with governments and the private sector in major source countries.
Future U.S. International Efforts to Address Sea-based Sources
Conducting ocean-user education and outreach on impacts, prevention, and management of
marine litter in major source countries.
Developing incentives and markets to minimize waste and strengthen proper storage of waste at
sea, and its recycling and disposal at port reception facilities.
Developing and strengthening implementation of industry best management practices designed
to minimize the abandonment of vessels and the accidental loss of cargo, solid waste, and gear at
sea.
Developing and promoting the use of modifications to fishing gear or alternative technologies.
Implementing the U.S. Fishing for Energy program, which provides fishermen with no-cost
opportunities to dispose of their old and unused fishing gear, which is converted into electricity.
Promoting the Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear, which promotes fishing
methods that pose fewer environmental risks.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Conclusion
The flow of mismanaged waste into our waters is threatening critical natural resources, economies, and
industries around the world. The Trump Administration is committed to continue leading global efforts
to prevent and reduce marine iitter.
The U.S. Proven Strategies for Success Framework provides a holistic approach to preventing and
reducing marine litter. Moreover, it can serve as a model for governments and the private sector to
identify strategic methods for building capacity in systems to manage and recycle waste and litter. Some
of these may include improving infrastructure, collection systems, government coordination, and public
education and engagement, incentivizing the global recycling market in partnership with the private
sector; advancing research into, and the development of innovative solutions and technology; and
promoting the removal of marine litter.

USAID
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
Appendix
i	Borrelle et al., "Predicted Growth In Plastic Waste Exceeds Efforts to Mitigate Plastic Pollution" in Science, 369, (2020):
1515-1518
ii	Ocean Conservancy, Stemming the Tide: Land-based Strategies for a Plastics Free Ocean Report (2015): 44 (note: this
data point was calculated by Our World in Data (OWID), based on per capita plastic waste generation data published
by Jambeck (2015) and total population data published by in the World Bank, World Development Indicators).
iii	J. R. Jambeck, R. Geyer, C. Wilcox,T. R. Siegler, M. Perryman, A. Andrady, R. Narayan, and K. L. Law,"Plastic Waste Inputs
from Land into the Ocean" in Science, 347, no. 622 (2015): 769- based on 2010 data
iv	C. Schmidt,T. Krauth, S.Wagner, "Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea"in Environ. Sci.Technol., 51, no. 21,
12246-12253 (2017):12250-12252
v	N Beaumont, M Aanesen, M. Austen,T. Borger, J. Clark, M. Cole,T. Hooper, P. Lindeque, C. Pascoe, K. Wyles,"Global
Ecological, Social and Economic Impacts of Marine Plastic" in Marine Pollution Bulletin, 142 (2019):189-195.
vi	U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Effects of Marine Debris on Beach Recreation and
Regional Economies in Four Coastal Communities: A Regional Pilot Study Final Report (2019): vii
vii	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, The Cost to West Coast Communities of Dealing with Trash, Reducing
Marine Debris (2012): 1
viii	Ocean Conservancy, Stemming the Tide: Land-based Strategies for a Plastics Free Ocean Report (2015): 7
ix	World Bank,"WhataWaste2.0"(2018)
x	Marine Debris: Impacts on Ecosystems and Species." Statement of Stephen Guertin, Deputy Director of U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
House Committee on Appropriations on Marine Debris. September 19,2019. https://www.doi.gov/ocl/marine-
debris-impacts
xi	UNEP GESAMP (2019), Guidelines for the Monitoring and Assessment of Plastic Litter in theOcean
xii	J.R. Jambeck, PhD, testimony before U.S. House Of Representatives Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
Committee on Natural Resources Hearing on Plastic's Impact on Oceans (2017)
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER

-------
EPA Publication Number: 160K20001

-------

-------