Strengthening regional cooperation for marine litter management in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam

Marine litter, also known as marine debris, is defined as “any persistent, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.”1 An estimated 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, which account for 80% of all marine litter.2 Over the last decade, marine litter, particularly marine plastic pollution, has become a pressing global concern. It negatively impacts marine ecosystems, tourism, human health, and the economy. Status of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution In 2015, two seminal studies identified countries in Southeast Asia as a major source of marine plastic pollution.3 Increasing reliance on plastic and other nonbiodegradable materials, lack of waste management infrastructure, lack of operational budget for maintenance of waste management infrastructure, low compliance to waste management laws, growing populations, and poor waste management practices have led to a marine litter crisis in the region. Since then, several studies have been conducted to understand the sources of waste and the amount of leakage into the natural environment.

source :

https://www.adb.org/publications/regional-cooperation-marine-litter-management