Marine Litter Vital Graphics
Waste Management and Pollution Control
Available Online
Marine litter (or debris)* is waste created by humans that has been discharged into the coastal or marine environment. It is defined as any anthropogenic, manufactured, or processed solid material (regardless of size) discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the environment, including all materials discarded into the sea, on the shore, or brought indirectly to the sea by rivers, sewage, storm water, waves, or winds (UNEP and NOAA, 2012).