Two-Thirds Of River Trash Is Plastic (Research) - CleanTechnica

A recent study from the University of California–Santa Barbara highlights the alarming extent of plastic pollution in rivers worldwide, estimating that 1.95 million metric tons of plastic—equivalent to the weight of 5.3 Empire State Buildings—flow through rivers annually. This plastic originates primarily from mismanaged waste, including littering, illegal dumping, and leakage from inadequately controlled landfills. Much of this waste is mobilized by rain and wind, traveling from distant locations through urban drainage systems into rivers. The research emphasizes that nearly all everyday plastics are derived from fossil fuels, and only about 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally, underscoring significant gaps in waste management infrastructure. The study also discusses the environmental and human health impacts of riverine plastic pollution. Plastic debris harms river ecosystems by entangling and poisoning wildlife, smothering habitats, and transporting invasive species and pathogens. It also poses risks to human communities by contaminating food sources with microplastics, blocking drainage systems which