ENVIRONMENT

Just 10 rivers may be responsible for dumping almost four million tonnes of plastic into the ocean every year. (Cosmos)

Use our activity to help students trace the sources and impacts of marine debris.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including today’s great MapMaker Interactive map.

Discussion Ideas

The new study analyzes the sources of “MMPW” in the world’s rivers that end up in the ocean. What is MMPW? MMPW is mismanaged plastic waste. MMPW includes “material that is either littered or inadequately disposed. Inadequately disposed waste is not formally managed and includes disposal in dumps or open, uncontrolled landfills, where it is not fully contained. Mismanaged waste could eventually enter the ocean via inland waterways, wastewater outflows, and transport by wind or tides.” MMPW includes both microplastics and macroplastics. Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters (.19 inches) in diameter, while macroplastics are larger.



Some alarming headlines about this study claim that “95% of plastic polluting the world’s oceans comes from just ten rivers.” Is this what the research actually says? No. Research indicates that ten rivers contribute between 88% and 95% of plastic pollution from rivers. Most plastic pollution comes from coastal cities and towns.



TEACHERS TOOLKIT

Cosmos: Just 10 rivers may be to blame for millions of tonnes of ocean plastic

Daily Mail: Shocking report reveals that 95% of plastic polluting the world’s oceans comes from just TEN rivers including the Ganges and Niger

Nat Geo: Rivers contributing the most plastic pollution to the ocean

Nat Geo: Marine Debris: A Legacy of Litter

Nat Geo: What is marine debris?

(extra credit!) Nature Communications: River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans

(extra credit!) Science: Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean