Number waste items found in oceans worldwide 2022, by type

Cigarette butts were the most common waste item found during the 2022 International Coastal Cleanup, with nearly 1.9 million collected globally. Plastic beverage bottles were the second most collected waste item, followed by food wrappers. In total, more than 15 million waste items were collected from beaches and the ocean.

What is the International Coastal Cleanup?

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the world dedicated to the health of oceans. Every September, people around the world volunteer to collect waste from waterways, beaches, rivers, and even underwater sites. In the 2022 edition, more than 469,000 people volunteered for the ICC and collected 3.7 million kilograms of waste along 15,508 miles of coast.

Effects of plastic ocean waste

Plastic waste has become a major problem worldwide. Every year, a huge quantity of mismanaged plastic waste makes its way into oceans and waterways, harming marine life and ecosystems. Animals, including endangered species, often get entangled in plastics, while others have been found to have ingested garbage due to the debris being mistaken for nutrition.