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Types of Marine Debris

What are the most common types of marine debris?

PLASTIC

• 63 pounds of plastic packaging goes into landfills in the US per person, per year.
• Only 3.5% of plastics are recycled in any way.
• Almost 90% of floating marine debris is plastic.
• Plastics are particularly problematic because they are NOT biodegradable. A plastic bag may break down into microscopic pieces, but it will remain in the environment forever.

PAPER

• Paper products such as napkins, writing paper, newspaper, magazines, or paper to-go cups are common forms of marine debris.

METAL

• Nearly 75% of all metal is used just once, and not recycled.
• Nails are often left on the beach after people burn wood pallets in beach bonfires. This poses a danger to people walking barefoot on the beach.

GLASS

• Shards of glass are also particularly hazardous to people walking on the beach, and can often be mistaken as food by marine wildlife.

POLYSTYRENE FOAM

• Styrofoam to-go containers or coolers often break down into tiny pieces that fish consume, mistaking it for food.
• Click here for more info on the County of Santa Cruz ban on Polystyrene. (pdf)

In an effort to reduce the amount of waste and un-recyclable materials being consumed, the City of Capitola, City of Santa Cruz & County of Santa Cruz recently put a ban on styrofoam take-out containers at restaurants.

OTHER

Other common forms of marine debris include cigarette butts, rubber products, diapers and other sanitary items, shoes, clothing or towels, and any other form of litter.