Member João Mazio on the top of hill, Vidigal Community, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

From land to sea: a comprehensive look at plastic pollution

Written by

Andres Sierra

on

7 minutes to read

Member João Mazio on the top of hill, Vidigal Community, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Member of Plastic Bank on the top of hill Brasil.

Seeing the alarming levels of plastic pollution that our planet is grappling with today is genuinely disheartening1. This issue is not limited to any particular region; it affects every corner of our planet, from bustling cities to the open sea. It reflects our consumerist tendencies and how we use and dispose of plastic daily.  In this article, we’ll explore the journey of plastic from production to accumulation in the lands and seas and how it impacts the delicate balance of ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Our goal is to uncover the realities of plastic pollution in those ecosystems, understand its origins, and explore sustainable solutions to combat this global crisis.

The birthplace of plastic pollution

The birthplace of plastic waste is mainly in urban areas, where the demand for single-use plastic, such as packaging and disposable items, coupled with inadequate waste management systems, leads to significant environmental plastic pollution. This cycle begins with the widespread use of plastic for their convenience but quickly turns problematic as these materials litter streets and natural landscapes due to poor recycling and disposal practices, setting the stage for their journey of degradation toward water bodies.

Urban contributions and consumption patterns that lead to plastic pollution

Plastic begins its life cycle as a versatile material heralded for its durability and convenience. However, the high demand for single-use plastic items in urban areas—ranging from packaging and disposable cutlery to shopping bags—sows the seeds of pollution. Rapid consumption and inadequate waste management systems lead to significant amounts of plastic waste being improperly disposed of, marking the start of its journey toward environmental degradation. Examples of urban contributions to plastic pollution and consumption patterns include:

  • Fast food packaging: Urban areas, with their plethora of fast-food outlets, contribute significantly to plastic pollution through single-use plastic containers, cups, and cutlery. 
  • Plastic shopping bags: Supermarkets and city retail stores commonly offer plastic bags for customer purchases.
  • Packaged beverages: The convenience of bottled water and soft drinks in plastic bottles makes them a popular choice in urban settings. These bottles are a significant source of single-use plastic waste.
  • Disposable coffee cups: Many urban dwellers rely on their daily coffee purchased from cafes, often in plastic-lined disposable cups with plastic lids.
  • Plastic wrapping and packaging: Products purchased in cities, from groceries to electronics, often come wrapped or packaged in plastic, adding to the waste stream when these materials are disposed of improperly.
  • Microplastics from personal care products: Urban consumption patterns include using personal care products like exfoliating scrubs and toothpaste that contain microplastics, which enter the water system and contribute to pollution.
  • E-commerce packaging waste: The growth of online shopping in urban areas has increased the use of plastic packaging materials like bubble wrap, air pillows, and plastic mailing envelopes to protect goods during shipping.

Inadequate waste management systems

Many regions struggle with effective waste management strategies, and recycling and proper disposal practices are not adequately implemented. As a result, plastic is often left to litter streets, waterways, and natural landscapes, becoming a visible emblem of pollution on land before it even reaches aquatic environments.

A dynamic scene inside a recycling facility with three individuals actively engaged in sorting plastic waste. The foreground shows a person in a grey cap throwing a clear plastic bottle into a white bag. A woman smiling as she works, and another person to the right is also sorting through the plastic.
Separating plastic at the collection branch to manage plastic pollution.

The pathway to the waters

Rivers serve as direct channels for transporting plastic waste from urban and rural locales into larger bodies of water, a process that intensifies with heavy rainfall and flooding. This connection between land-based waste management challenges and marine pollution highlights the intertwined nature of these environmental issues. Additionally, wind disperses plastic pollution, carrying lightweight and buoyant items from landfills and urban areas into natural and coastal environments, further exacerbating the marine debris crisis.

Waterways as conduits

Rivers, streams, and drainage systems not only serve their natural purposes but also, unfortunately, function as efficient conduits for transporting plastic waste from our cities, towns, and countryside into the oceans. This transportation process is significantly exacerbated during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding. Such events wash away accumulated plastics from streets, landfills, and other accumulation points directly into these waterways. The surge in water flow carries this plastic waste into larger rivers and eventually into seas and oceans, magnifying the problem of marine pollution.

This direct link between land-based waste management—or the lack thereof—and the health of marine ecosystems underscores the need for comprehensive waste management strategies encompassing urban planning and environmental conservation. It reveals the critical importance of improving waste collection, recycling, and disposal practices inland to prevent the outflow of plastics into waterways. Moreover, it highlights the necessity for public awareness and behaviour change regarding plastic use and disposal, emphasizing that actions taken on land have direct and significant consequences for our water bodies.

"An impactful image depicting a single-use plastic bag floating in the blue hues of the ocean, illuminating the problem of pollution in our waters. A statement below reads '80% of ocean litter, from surface to deep-sea, is plastic.' This sobering statistic, sourced from IUCN, emphasizes the vastness of plastic contamination in marine environments. In the bottom right corner, the Plastic Bank® logo signifies the organization's commitment to tackling this issue."
80% of all litter in our oceans is plastic. 

Wind-borne plastic

Not all plastic journeys to the sea are waterborne. Lightweight and buoyant plastic items often get out of urban confines and landfills, lifted by the wind. These items can travel vast distances across various terrains, from city parks to remote wilderness areas, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of plastic pollution.For example, plastic bags, often used for minutes, can become airborne and entangled in trees or other vegetation, becoming a common sight in urban and rural landscapes. Straws are light enough to be carried by a gentle breeze and can accumulate in unexpected places far from their original point of use. Foam containers, broken into smaller pieces, are especially prone to wind transportation due to their low density, and they can litter natural landscapes, eventually making their way to the shores where they join the accumulating marine debris and create plastic pollution.

Steering towards solutions

To effectively combat plastic pollution, an integrated approach to waste management is essential, focusing on reducing single-use plastic and improving recycling systems. Equally important is raising public awareness to foster environmental stewardship and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices2. Global cooperation is crucial, as plastic pollution crosses borders, requiring international efforts to reduce plastic use, enhance waste management, and protect our environment and ocean. Together, these strategies represent a comprehensive path toward significantly reducing plastic pollution from land to sea.

Integrated waste management

Addressing plastic pollution requires robust waste management systems prioritizing reduction, reuse, and recycling. Implementing policies that reduce single-use plastic, alongside enhancing recycling infrastructure, can significantly cut the flow of plastics from land to sea.

Public awareness and participation

Cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship among communities through education and engagement is crucial. Awareness campaigns highlighting the journey of plastic pollution and its impacts can motivate individuals and organizations to adopt more sustainable practices.

Global cooperation for a cleaner future

The transboundary nature of plastic pollution necessitates global collaboration. International agreements and cooperative efforts aimed at reducing plastic production, sharing best practices for waste management, and protecting marine environments are essential steps toward mitigating this issue.

There are four individuals standing proudly on a sandy beach, each holding large, transparent bags emblazoned with the Plastic Bank® logo, which signifies their mission to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans.
A group of members stands on Balangan Beach after collecting plastic waste.

How does plastic pollution relate to poverty?

When low-income communities worldwide make purchases, they often opt for affordable items that are frequently packaged in single-use plastic, such as water bottles and sachets. This results in the excessive use of inexpensive disposable products, contributing to the global plastic pollution that affects everyone. Developing nations frequently lack plastic recycling programs, infrastructure, and effective waste management systems, leading to a substantial amount of single-use plastic being left in the environment and eventually making its way into our ocean. The key to breaking this detrimental cycle is to grant low-income communities access to waste management infrastructure and education to make more informed choices about plastic consumption. Simultaneously, empowering them with additional income and social benefits is crucial in paving a path out of poverty.

Conclusion

The journey of plastic pollution from land to sea is a testament to the urgent need for comprehensive and collective action against this growing environmental crisis. By understanding the pathways through which plastic travels and its impacts along the way, we can better strategize and implement effective solutions. We can only hope to stem the tide of plastic pollution through concerted efforts—spanning individuals, communities, industries, and governments—to protect our planet for future generations.

If you are aspiring to make a scalable impact, check out how Plastic Bank can help your business create a world without plastic pollution and poverty. We encourage you to visit Plastic Bank’s official website to delve deeper into the company’s mission, vision, and values. There, you can find comprehensive information about their commitment to reducing plastic pollution, partners, and core beliefs, which will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of its work.

  1.  Keiron Roberts, Fay Couceiro, Muhammad Ali, “Biodegradable plastic in clothing doesn’t break down nearly as quickly as hoped – new research,” The Conversation, May 24, 2023, https://theconversation.com/biodegradable-plastic-in-clothing-doesnt-break-down-nearly-as-quickly-as-hoped-new-research-206033 
  2. “The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive,” TDi Sustainability, July 12, 2023, https://www.tdi-sustainability.com/the-eu-packaging-and-packaging-waste-directive/

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A focused individual is crouched on a littered beach, collecting trash into a white bag with the Plastic Bank Indonesia logo, indicating an effort to remove ocean-bound plastics. The beach has dark sand and is scattered with natural debris and man-made waste, with the ocean in the background under a cloudy sky, adding a somber tone to the environmental cleanup scene.
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