Marine waste

Marine waste refers to any persistent solid material, manufactured or processed, that has been abandoned, discarded, lost, or is at high risk of reaching the sea, and is found in marine, coastal, or nearby environments connected to marine pollution pathways.

It includes both marine litter, meaning waste that has been abandoned, discarded or lost in the sea or along coastlines, and coastal waste (also called “ocean-bound waste”), meaning waste generated on land that is likely to enter the marine environment due to proximity to waterways, tides, wind, flooding, or inadequate waste management systems.