Ocean Pollution: Landfills' Impact And The Solution

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues, with oceans being the endpoint for much of the pollution we produce on land. Marine debris, including microplastics, derelict fishing gear, and abandoned vessels, harms marine life and ecosystems. While rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, landfills also contribute. When plastic waste is not recycled, incinerated, or properly landfilled, it becomes an environmental pollutant, with an estimated one to two million tons of plastic entering oceans annually. This plastic waste comes from disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, bags, bottles, and straws, which are not properly disposed of, ultimately ending up in waterways and oceans.

Rivers and runoff

Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution. When plastic waste is not properly disposed of, it can end up in rivers, which then carry it into the ocean. This plastic waste can come from a variety of sources, including littering, poor waste management practices, stormwater discharge, and natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes.

In addition to plastic waste, rivers also carry other forms of pollution into the ocean, such as chemicals, waste, and other pollutants. Human activities such as agriculture and sewage treatment contribute to this pollution, as the chemicals and waste used in these processes are carried off into rivers as runoff. This toxic chemical runoff has resulted in the widespread phenomenon of "dead zones" in the Earth's oceans. These dead zones are areas where dissolved oxygen levels drop so low that most higher forms of aquatic life cannot survive.

Runoff pollution is not limited to rivers but also affects other bodies of water such as creeks and streams. As rainwater and snowmelt run off streets, parking lots, lawns, and other hard surfaces, they pick up contaminants such as pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, oil, and other pollutants. If the water does not evaporate or soak into the ground, it carries these contaminants into nearby waterways, adversely affecting water quality and aquatic life.

To reduce the impact of runoff pollution, individuals and communities can take several actions. These include reducing the use of fertilizers, implementing regenerative agriculture practices, creating and restoring wetlands, and advocating for more efficient flood control practices. By addressing runoff pollution, we can help protect the health of our oceans and freshwater bodies and mitigate the negative effects on both wildlife and human residents in the watershed region.

Mismanaged waste

In 2019, countries in the Asian Pacific Region, such as the Philippines and India, produced a significant amount of mismanaged waste, which eventually made its way into the ocean. This waste often travels along rivers and water pathways, leading to the ocean. The fishing industry also contributes to plastic pollution, with derelict fishing gear making up a large percentage of marine debris in gulfs near the APR.

The impact of mismanaged waste on ocean pollution is influenced by factors such as population density, GDP per capita, terrain, river systems, and proximity to coastlines. For instance, middle-income countries, particularly in Asia, are major contributors to ocean plastic pollution due to their high plastic consumption and inadequate waste management systems.

To address the issue of mismanaged waste, individual action and corporate involvement are crucial. Companies must redesign their processes to reduce waste production and implement zero-waste business practices. Additionally, domestic policies and foreign investments in waste management infrastructure are essential to improving waste management practices in low-to-middle-income countries, where waste management systems are often lacking.

While landfills are meant to contain waste, coastal landfills are particularly vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and rising sea levels, which can release solid waste materials and contaminants into the marine environment. This further exacerbates ocean pollution and poses risks to marine life and human recreational activities. Proper waste collection, sorting, and regulation of solid wastes from coastal landfills are necessary to mitigate these issues.

Landfills and littering

The ocean is one of the world's most valuable natural resources, governing the weather, cleaning the air, helping feed the world, and providing a living for millions. However, human activities have been degrading ocean health at an alarming rate. One of the major contributors to ocean pollution is plastic waste, with an estimated one to two million tons of plastic entering our oceans yearly. This plastic waste comes from a variety of sources, including rivers, landfills, and littering.

Landfills play a significant role in ocean pollution, particularly when plastic waste is not properly managed. When plastic waste is not recycled, incinerated, or sealed in landfills, it becomes vulnerable to leaking into the environment and making its way into the ocean. This is a significant issue in low-to-middle-income countries, where waste management infrastructure may be lacking. As a result, these countries contribute the majority of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean.

Littering is another major source of ocean pollution. Disposable plastic items such as food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles are often not disposed of properly, ending up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. This is exacerbated by poor waste management practices, which can increase the amount of litter that reaches the ocean. Additionally, extreme natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes can contribute to the spread of litter and debris into the ocean.

The impact of ocean pollution from landfills and littering is far-reaching. Plastic pollution can entangle marine life, be ingested by animals, and damage sensitive habitats. It can also interfere with navigation safety and pose a threat to human health. Additionally, microplastics, which can come from the degradation of larger plastic items, are much more difficult to clean up and can impact a larger number of species due to their small size.

To address the issue of ocean pollution from landfills and littering, it is crucial to improve waste management practices and reduce plastic consumption. By properly disposing of plastic items and investing in waste management infrastructure, particularly in low-to-middle-income countries, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean. Additionally, reducing plastic production and promoting reusable alternatives can help decrease the overall amount of plastic waste generated.

Fishing gear

Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a significant contributor to ocean pollution, with far-reaching social, economic, and environmental consequences. It is estimated that nearly 2% of all fishing gear ends up in the ocean each year, including thousands of kilometres of nets, lines, pots, traps, and ropes. This "ghost gear" can entangle marine animals, such as turtles, seabirds, whales, and small fish, causing injury or death.

International organisations such as the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Maritime Organization, and the UN Environment Programme have implemented measures to address the issue of ALDFG. These include supporting gear marking and tracking, regulating destructive fishing practices, and improving port reception facilities for end-of-life gear. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive data on the amount of fishing gear lost at sea, which hinders the development of effective management and policy interventions.

To reduce the impact of fishing gear on ocean pollution, it is crucial to implement sustainable fishing practices, improve gear management and disposal systems, and address the issue of plastic pollution in rivers, which remains the largest source of plastic entering the oceans. Additionally, education and raising awareness about the impact of ocean plastic pollution, especially within the fishing industry, are vital steps towards driving change and protecting marine life.

Oil spills

The sources of oil spills vary. A large percentage of oil spills in the ocean come from oily stormwater drainage from farms, industrial facilities, cities, and unregulated boating activities. Approximately 2.6 billion litres of waste oil enter the ocean annually, with over 50% coming from waste disposal and land drainage, including the improper disposal of motor oil. Offshore oil production operations, including drilling, leaks, and spills from tankers and ships, contribute to approximately 8% of the total amount of oil waste in the ocean. Accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs, and storage facilities are the most common cause of large oil spills.

The impact of oil spills can be devastating. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, for example, had far-reaching consequences. It affected recreational activities, disrupted commercial fishing, and caused mental health issues in coastal residents. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, is another example of a significant oil spill that harmed natural and cultural resources. It took a long time for subsistence fishing and harvesting to recover in the affected area.

To address oil spills, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established that those responsible for oil spills can be held accountable for cleanup and restoration costs. This process, known as Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), involves federal, state, and tribal agencies working together with the responsible party to select restoration projects. Over the years, this collaboration has helped recover billions of dollars to restore the ocean and Great Lakes.

While large oil spills make headlines, it is important to recognize that small spills also contribute significantly to ocean pollution. These include daily spills from shipping vessels, such as bilge dumping, and leaks from fuel tanks. As shipping has expanded globally, the legislation has not kept pace, and there are few regulations for the shipping of dangerous chemicals. This gap in regulation poses a significant risk to marine ecosystems.

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