Rivers are a major source of plastic waste in the oceans. We estimate that 1000 rivers, represented by the red dots, are accountable for nearly 80% of global annual riverine plastic emissions, which range between 0.8 – 2.7 million metric tons per year, with small urban rivers amongst the most polluting. The remaining 20% of plastic emissions are distributed over 30,000 rivers, represented by smaller blue dots.

Our findings displayed in this map have been published in the journal Science Advances. The point file that contains the locations of the rivers and their modeled plastic emissions can be downloaded from figshare. The results can assist others in prioritizing, developing, and implementing mitigation measures and strategies…
How 1% of the World’s Rivers Emit 80% of the Pollution to Our Oceans
Quelle: The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean CleanUp
- The Ocean Cleanup and City of Santa Marta sign Memorandum of Understanding to tackle plastic pollution
- Beyond Plastic: Intercepting Biological Waste in Rivers
- The Ocean Cleanup, Dominican Republic Government announce replacement of Ozama river barrier
- How we are creating the largest-ever database on floating ocean plastic using smart cameras
- How we are creating the largest-ever database on floating ocean plastic using smart cameras
- Integrating New Technologies to Tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- On World Ocean Day, ocean protection is entering its implementation era
- DENR, The Ocean Cleanup forge strategic alliance to purge plastic waste from Pasig River
- The Ocean Cleanup expands LA project: New agreements aim to stop hundreds of tons of plastic from Pacific
- What is our strategy to tackle ghost gear?
