Marine Debris as a Global Environmental Problem: Introducing a solutions based framework focused on plastic

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Release Date: November 2011

The focus of this document is on land-based sources and types of plastic debris which represent the major debris components in many regions of the world. At present, the causes of marine debris are addressed primarily through implementation of waste management practices, such that end-of-pipe solutions are central to action. However this document explores the underlying cause of land-based plastic debris entering the marine environment, specifically production and consumption patterns of our economies.