Global shoreline waste collected by packaging type 2018

* Organizations and volunteers were recruited to lead local cleanups and were trained to define their cleanup area; collect all waste found in that area; and count and record the brand, parent manufacturer, product type (food, personal care, or household product), and packaging type (HDPE, PET, PVC, PP, PS, multi-layer plastics, single-layer plastics, and other) of each piece of waste collected.

Packaging types
PS: polystyrene
PET: Polyethylene terephthalate
SL: single-layer plastic film
ML: multilayer plastic bonded materials
HDPE: High-density polyethylene
PVC: polyvinyl chloride

** "Other" mostly includes materials that are not at all recyclable: cigarette butts, textiles, diapers, sanitary napkins, and other items.