Date: September 2009
Location: Worldwide
Findings: Beverage containers and lids comprise 26% of marine debris
The Ocean Conservancy sponsors the International Coastal Cleanup, in which volunteers all over the world clean up and count litter on beaches and waterways. In addition to cleaning up land-accessible locations, cleanup crews also head out in boats or in scuba gear to collect litter.
In 2009, the Cleanup took place at 6,430 sites in 108 countries and 45 US states, plus the District of Columbia. Beverage packaging made up a significant portion of the total collected litter.
Cleanup efforts resulted in the collection of 10,239,538 total items in 2009. Beverage bottles, cans, and caps were all found on the list of top ten marine debris items. There were 1,800,099 bottles and cans found, plus additional 912,246 caps and lids, making packaged beverages responsible for 26% of total coastal debris.
|
rank |
debris item |
number of |
percentage of |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
cigarettes/cigarette filters |
2,189,252 |
21% |
|
2 |
bags (plastic) |
1,126,774 |
11% |
|
3 |
food wrappers/containers |
943,233 |
9% |
|
4 |
caps, lids |
912,246 |
9% |
|
5 |
beverage bottles (plastic) |
883,737 |
9% |
|
6 |
cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons |
512,517 |
5% |
|
7 |
beverage bottles (glass) |
459,531 |
4% |
|
8 |
beverage cans |
457,631 |
4% |
|
9 |
straws, stirrers |
412,940 |
4% |
|
10 |
bags (paper) |
331,476 |
3% |
|
top ten total debris items |
8,229,337 |
80% |
|
|
total debris items worldwide |
10,239,538 |
100% |
|
Trash Travels: From Our Hands to the Sea, Around the Globe, and Through Time
International Coastal Cleanup 2009 report [pdf, 10.5mb]