• Marine debris is any man made or manufactured item discarded, disposed of or abandoned that enters the coastal or marine environment
• One of the most pervasive pollution problems affecting our oceans and waterways
• It can be found littering our beaches, rivers, lakes, and waterways - above and below the water

What is Marine Debris?

1. Land-based

Debris enters the water from various sources: illegal dumping, littering & recreational beach activities; land-based solid waste disposal and processing facilities and material manufacturers. Studies show that an estimated 60-80% come from land-based sources and up to 80% of this debris is plastic.

Two main sources of marine debris

2. Ocean-based

Municipal and commercial fishing vessels, recreational boats and cruise ships, merchant and military vessels and offshore platforms and their supply vessels are the primary water-based debris.

Sources and Composition of Land-based Solid Waste

• Municipal Solid Waste (MWS) comes from residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sources. Residential waste constitutes the bulk (56.7%).

• Half of the MSW are composed of Biodegradable wastes (52.31%) while Recyclable wastes account for almost a third (27.78%). Plastic packaging materials comprise around 38% of the recyclable waste fraction.

As the country’s population continues to grow, the quantity of waste generated have increased tremendously in the last decade. This is mainly due to the improvement of living standards, rapid economic growth, and industrialization in urban areas. The amount of projected waste generated in the Philippines from 2020-2025 in terms of tonnage can be seen below:

Per capita waste generation:

0.40 kg./person/day

Total Population in 2023:

117,337,368

Waste Generation in 2023:

60,639 metric tons/day

Manila PIO

Sources: NSWMC, EMB & PSA

1. Affects human health and safety, loss of water quality and impairment of sea vessels

​

Discarded medical and personal wastes like syringes, face masks, gloves, condoms & sanitary napkins can be a sign of more serious water quality concerns that affect human health and safety. Specific items such as, discarded rope & lines can entangle divers and disable boat propellers. Plastic wastes are degraded into small pieces or collect toxic compounds that then get into the bodies of small organisms in the sea. These micro-plastics may travel throughout the food web.

What are the impacts of marine debris?

2. Aesthetic and economic impacts

​

Shorelines covered with litter, are unattractive and often hazardous, keeping tourists and recreational users away, thus impacting local economies. Trash caught in propellers and motors can lead to expensive repairs. Common debris items may even stay more than hundred of years in the marine environment.

Ochheuteal Beach “Serendipity Beach”, Cambodia (Source: TripAdvisor)

(Source: www.ecowarriorprincess.net)

What are the impacts of marine debris?

3. Habitat destruction

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Debris can affect the water quality of aquatic habitats and also cause physical damage. Submerged debris can cover coral reefs and smother sea grasses and other bottom-dwelling species.

4. Wildlife entanglement and ingestion

​

Trash in the water sickens, injures, and kills birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Ocean life may eat things they should not. For example, sea turtles may confuse floating plastic bags with jellyfish, one of their favorite foods.

Plastics

Global cumulative production of plastics since 1950 is forecast to grow from 9.2 billion tons in 2017 to 34 billion tons by 2050 (Geyer 2020).

https://www.grida.no/resources/15041

By 2050, we'll have produced 26 billion tons of plastic waste

Historical data and projections to 2050 of plastic waste production and disposal. "Primary waste" is plastic becoming waste for the first time and doesn't include waste from plastic that has been recycled.

CREDITS: (GRAPHIC) G. GRULLÓN/SCIENCE; (DATA) GEYER ET AL., SCIENCE ADVANCES

https://www.science.org/content/article/next-30-years-we-ll-make-four-times-more-plastic-waste-we-ever-have

NGM Staff. Source: Roland Geyer, University Of California, Santa Barbara

Input Sources and Pathway of Marine Plastic Debris

​

Micro-Plastics

What are Micro-plastics?

Microplastics are small plastics less that 5mm. They are created from the environmental breakdown of larger pieces of plastic.

Some are classified as plastic resin pellets used in the plastic manufacturing process or purposefully fabricated as micro-beads for cosmetic industry.

Breakdown of Plastics

When exposed to environmental factors, such as, ultraviolet sunlight, oxidation by the air, hydrolysis by seawater, and physical abrasion, plastic polymers become brittle and break into increasingly smaller pieces. These smaller pieces are still plastic and will not break down further on a human time-scale in the natural environment.

CO₂ ⁺ Water + Ammonia + Methane

The rate at which plastic breaks down into smaller pieces in seawater depends also on:

• density of the plastic
• the temperature of the water
• chemical structure

Breakdown of Plastics

• Plastic fragments arising from the structural deterioration and disintegration of larger pieces do not biodegrade in the ocean. Instead they break down into smaller and smaller pieces called micro debris or “plastic soup” and degrade in other ways while releasing chemicals into the water.

• Microplastic debris enters the lower food chain in the ocean through tiny animals called “planktons”

• Other marine animals directly ingest these micro-plastics as food and unfortunately, might end up to our plates

Food Chain for Micro-Plastic

Indian Ocean

Source: Bill Francis at Algalita Marine Research Foundation (www.algalita.org)

Atlantic Ocean

Microplastic debris are currently everywhere from Coast to Arctic

https://www.health.belgium.be/en/waste-how-long-decompose-sea

What Can you Do to Protect

the Marine Environment?

• Learn about the marine environment

• Participate in any environmental events and activities (See next slide for the Calendar of Events)
• Volunteer with an organization that works to protect the ocean

• Be mindful of your own environment. Litter and pollutants can end up in the ocean and harm marine wildlife

• Practice what you have learned and share them to others

11. Philippine Eagle Week (June 4-10)
12. World Day to Combat Desertification (Jun 17)
13. National Arbor Day (Jun 25)
14. International Coastal Cleanup (3rd Saturday of September/ or any day from September up to October)
15. International Ozone Day (Sep 16)
16. National Tamaraw Month (Whole Month of October)
17. International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (Oct 20-26)
18. National Clean Air Month / National Environmental Awareness Month (Whole Month of November)
19. National Climate Change Consciousness Week (Nov 19-25)

1. World Wetlands Day (Feb 2)
2. World Wildlife Day (Mar 3)
3. International Day of Forests (March 21)
4. World Water Day (March 22)
5. Philippine Water Week (4th Week of March)
6. Earth Hour (4th or Last Saturday of March)
7. Philippine Earth Month (Whole Month of April)
8. International Earth Day (Apr 22)
9. National Ocean Month (Whole Month of May)
10. International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22)

Calendar of Environmental Events

What can you do to reduce trash?

Reduce

Change buying habits. Buy items available in big containers. Bring your eco-bag & refuse plastic bag. Bring your own water bottle, coffee mug & food containers.

Reuse

Choose goods and products that can be used again

Recycle

Segregate your old newspaper, food & beverage cartons, empty plastic & glass bottles, steel & aluminum cans, & other recyclables & bring to the recycling center

Respond

Practice what you have learned. Share your knowledge to others

End of Presentation