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Aquatic Litter and Debris—Types
Every year, volunteers across the world participate in the International Coastal Cleanup, picking up aquatic debris and collecting data about the quantity and types of litter they find. The "top ten" list from these cleanups gives us a tremendous amount of information about the behaviors and activities that contribute most to the aquatic debris problem. The Top Ten items vary little year-to-year.Top 10 Debris Items Worldwide (2007 International Coastal Cleanup)
Number Percent 1. Cigarettes/cigarette filters
1,971,551
27.2 %
2. Food wrappers and containers
693,612
3. Caps/lids
656,088
4. Bags
587,827
5. Beverage bottles (plastic)
494,647
6. Cups/plates/forks/knives/spoons
376,294
7. Beverage bottles (glass)
349,143
8 Cigar tips
325,893
9. Straws/stirrers
324,680
10. Beverage cans
308,292
Total Top 10 Debris Items Worldwide
6,088,027
Total Debris Worldwide
7,238,201
Classifying Litter
Any trash that is improperly disposed of can potentially enter a waterway and have negative impacts on aquatic animals, plants, and humans. Aquatic debris can be categorized in several ways:
• By material (plastic, metal, glass, cloth, paper)
• By source or by the activity which leads the trash to be in the water. Some activities include fast-food consumption, smoking, fishing, illegal dumping, sports/games, balloons used in advertising, etc.
• By impact the items have on the environment (for example, some debris items can be deadly to animals, while others are not)
• By biodegradable / nondegradable (Much of our solid waste contains synthetic materials that do not degrade quickly, if at all.)
• By recyclable / non-recyclable
About Litter and Debris:
Litter and Debris in our Waterways - Impacts, Sources and Solutions Page What Volunteers Found in Virginia's Waterways--Data from past International Coastal Cleanups Litter Prevention Page How Data from the ICC are used Impacts of aquatic debris The International Coastal Cleanup in Virginia Article about Aquatic Litter and Debris (written by CVW for school teachers and others) Solutions Cigarette Butt Litter—A Special Problem Balloons as litter—A Special Problem Return to Clean Virginia Waterways Home
Compiled by Clean Virginia Waterways, Longwood University, Farmville, VA 23909
434-395-2602 Fax: 434-395-2825 Email: cleanva@longwood.edu
