Footage showing waves of plastic refuse off the coast of the Dominican Republic has been released by a team of conservationists known as Parley.

The plastic waste, including bottles and foam takeaway boxes mixed into seaweed, is seen rolling along the top of the waves off Montesinos Beach in the capital city of Santo Domingo.

The activist group has been working alongside collaborators such as the local navy, military and the city council to clear up the plastic waste.

More than 500 public workers have been recruited for the operation, according to Parley.

Thirty tonnes of plastic have been collected after only three days of work, the group said, though the conservationists believe there is still a large amount of work to be done to clear all the waste.