16Jan2026

COVID-19 Big Hearts Policy Update ●
Calling All Climate Champions To Apply

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What is marine debris?

Marine debris, often referred to as marine litter or ocean trash, is a global environmental issue that poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human societies. Marine debris is a term encompassing a wide array of discarded materials that find their way into oceans, seas, and other water bodies. These materials can vary from plastics and fishing gear to glass, rubber, and metal.
50
,240,000,000,000

pieces of plastic in the ocean

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Our over-reliance on single-use plastics has created an environmental crisis. Plastics are produced using fossil fuels, releasing CO2 and contributing to climate change. The solution isn’t just cleaning up—it’s stopping plastic pollution at its source. If your bathtub was overflowing, you wouldn’t mop the floor without turning off the tap. The same goes for plastic—we must turn off the tap on production to make a real difference.

How bad is it?

Our planet is drowning in plastic. For every person on Earth, there are 21,000 pieces of trash. Every minute, two truckloads of plastic waste enter the ocean—there’s now more plastic in our oceans than stars in the galaxy.

Florida beach cleanups reveal the culprits: most debris is single-use plastic from food and drink items, like bottle caps, straws, and containers. Even cigarette butts, once the most commonly littered item, are made of plastic and pollute streets, beaches, and waterways.
Plastic was invented during WWII and became widespread in the 1970s. It doesn’t break down for centuries, meaning most plastic ever created still exists on our planet today. As it degrades, it forms tiny particles called microplastics, which are now everywhere—our water, food, and even the air we breathe.
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350

Years of
Foundation

600
+

monthly
donors

10
,5k

incredible
volunteers

7850

successful
campaigns

Land-Based Sources

Where does it come from?

An estimated 80% on marine debris originates from human activity on land. Poor waste management, inadequate recycling systems, and improper disposal of waste play a pivotal role in introducing debris into marine environments. Urban areas near coastlines often generate vast amounts of plastic waste due to consumer culture and unsustainable packaging practices. These plastics, often lightweight and durable, can be easily transported by wind and through stormwater systems into rivers and eventually flow into the oceans.
Another significant land-based source is litter from recreational activities such as beachgoers leaving behind trash, picnicking, or camping near water bodies. Inadequate infrastructure, such as lack of trash bins and public awareness campaigns, contributes to marine debris. Additionally, industrial activities close to coastlines, if not regulated properly, can discharge pollutants like heavy metals, chemicals, and plastics directly into the ocean.

Ocean-Based Sources

While land-based sources contribute significantly to marine debris, an estimated 20% of marine debris comes from ocean-based sources. Fishing activities, both commercial and recreational, are a substantial source of marine debris. Lost or abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, lines, and traps, termed “ghost gear,” continue to trap and kill marine life long after they are discarded. These items can drift across vast distances, ensnaring marine animals and damaging sensitive habitats like coral reefs.
Shipping and maritime transportation also contribute to ocean-based marine debris. Containers lost at sea, as well as accidental spills of cargo like plastics pellets (nurdles) during transport, can directly introduce debris into marine ecosystems. Even though regulations and monitoring have improved, accidents still occur, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and improved waste management practices within the shipping industry.
A Global Issue
Marine debris is not confined to specific regions or countries. It travels across vast ocean currents, connecting distant coasts and ecosystems. Debris originating in one part of the world can eventually wash up on shores thousands of miles away. This interconnectedness underscores the necessity for a collaborative global approach to address the issue.

Why does it matter?

52% of sea turtles are eating plastic, specifically plastic bags because they look like jellyfish when they are floating in the ocean. When balloons are released, they pop in the atmosphere and land in the ocean, resembling jellyfish as well. They are typically in the ocean more than on land because 71% of our planet is covered in water! In addition, 100% of seabirds are eating plastic. 
If animals are eating this plastic and we eat food from the ocean, we are eating it too! Plastic chemicals are known endocrine disruptors (they mess with your hormones) which leads to various effects. These are especially dangerous and impactful for youth in their development.
Other animals like sea lions and dolphins get entangled in fishing nets and lines. Most of the great Pacific Gyre trash is nets and lines from fishing industry.
Marine debris also threatens tourism and real estate economies (the biggest economies in South Florida)! Biscayne Bay brings in an annual revenue of $64 billion.
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What can we do about it?

The plastic pollution crisis is a stark reminder of the environmental consequences of unsustainable human activities. To mitigate and ultimately prevent marine debris, concerted efforts are required at individual, community, industry, and governmental levels. Through collaborative action, awareness-raising, and innovative solutions, we can strive to safeguard our oceans and preserve their invaluable ecosystems for generations to come.
Never Litter
  • Always dispose of waste properly, no matter where you are, because trash on the street goes into storm drains, canals, rivers, and ultimately out to the ocean.
  • Educate smokers: cigarette butts are the number 1 most littered item in the world. Filters are made of cellulose plastic and are not biodegradable.
Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Repair, then Recycle
If you don’t create the waste in the first place, you don’t have to worry where it goes.
  • Reduce the amount of waste you produce with reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, & shopping bags instead of disposable ones.
  • Skip the Straw by politely saying “No Straw Please, I’m protecting the Turtles” at restaurants and bars.
  • Reuse single-use plastics at least twice and then recycle or dispose of properly.
  • Seek out alternative items that aren’t plastic.
Clean it Up
  • Join a local neighborhood, shoreline, or waterway cleanup. Find one on our website here.
  • Host your own cleanup! Post it to our website to recruit volunteers. Organize a group of friends or co-workers and spend a rewarding day. If you need help, contact us and we will guide you.
  • Commit to pick up 1 piece of litter a day.
  • Even if you don’t live near the ocean, picking up street trash prevents ocean trash. All storm drains lead to waterways.
Be an Advocate
  • Ask local restaurants to switch to environmentally friendly to-go packaging.
  • Educate elected officials, city staff, & local businesses by inviting them to your cleanups so they see the problem first hand.
  • Speak at your commission hearings and show pictures of the problem. Or share a more impactful message by bringing in the bags of trash you collected.
  • Ask questions of your local City or County staff: What is the schedule for cleaning the streets? Are we cleaning all the streets equally, or are we prioritizing the wealthy and tourist areas? How frequently are we cleaning the storm drain systems (the answer should be at least once a year before the rainy season)? Do we have a waterway cleanup contractor?