An estimated 9.8 million metric tons of macroplastics were leaked to oceans in 2016. Approximately 61 percent of this total came from uncollected waste, mainly through direct discards to water. Meanwhile mismanaged waste contributed 39 percent to total leakage, with 1.2 million metric tons leaked from dumpsites.
An estimated 91 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste is generated annually worldwide. If there are no changes to plastic-related waste treatment in the future, such as through policies, materials, or consumer behavior, annual mismanaged plastic waste generation could almost triple by 2040.
Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route
(in million metric tons)
Characteristic
Terrestrial leakage to ocean
Direct discard to water (uncollected)
Direct discard to water (post collection)
Leakage from dumpsites
Total leakage (macroplastic only)
Uncollected
2
4
-
-
-
Post-collection mismanaged
-
-
2.6
1.2
-
Total leakage
-
-
-
-
9.8
02.557.51012.5
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The source adds the following information: "This graphic reflects our estimate of how much macroplastic enters the ocean through different routes (and excludes microplastics). These numbers have high
uncertainty and are highly sensitive to model inputs."
Macroplastics are pieces of plastic larger than five millimeters in size.
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Pew Charitable Trusts. (October 23, 2020). Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2020. Statista. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. (2020). Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Estimated Quantity of Macroplastic Leakage to The Ocean in 2016, by Route (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Oct 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts, Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/ (last visited April 28, 2025)
Estimated quantity of macroplastic leakage to the ocean in 2016, by route (in million metric tons) [Graph], Pew Charitable Trusts, October 23, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270723/mscroplastic-ocean-pollution-sources-worldwide/
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