Ocean Pollution Volumes
An estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic waste entered oceans from 192 coastal countries. This is Approximately 1.75% to 4.62% of the total amount of plastic waste that these countries generate.
How much ocean pollution is there?
Unfortunately there is not have a definitive answer for this. One of the best ways to estimate the amount of trash and garbage in the ocean is to use input analysis. This is done by taking the amount of plastics going into the oceans each year, and then multiply this number by the average life of different pollutants. Sadly however this is estimated, the news is not good.
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Another study’s methodology is based on measuring the use of plastic and estimating the probability that it will end up in the ocean. The study considers factors like waste management infrastructure, population density and its proximity to the ocean and rivers, level of economic development, etc. While this methodology could be extended to other pollutants, no such comprehensive figures were uncovered in the research, but it is sure to be a shocking large amount.
The top five ocean polluting countries are China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. These five countries make up for nearly 60% of the plastic pollution that is in our oceans today. According to the Jambeck study, a study conducted by Jenna Jambeck from the University of Georgia focusing on plastic pollution in our oceans from coastal countries, by 2025 an estimated 17.5 million metric tons of plastic will enter our oceans each year (the rate right now is only 8 million metric tons per year). If this prediction is true, then the cumulative input of plastics into the ocean from 2010 to 2025 will add up to a whopping 155 million metric tons.
