Plastics are one of the most visible forms of pollution in our environment. From bottles and bags to fishing gear and single-use packaging, discarded plastics accumulate in rivers, lakes, and oceans, where they disrupt ecosystems, threaten wildlife, and affect human well-being. Macroplastic litter is more than just waste — it is a visible signal of unsustainable production and consumption, as well as gaps in waste management.
Understanding where plastics come from, how they move, and where they end up is essential for addressing this challenge. Monitoring plays a central role, helping identify pollution hotspots, track progress over time, and inform action to reduce plastics at the source.
Citizen science has emerged as a powerful approach in this effort. Equipped with internationally developed guidelines, communities can collect reliable and comparable data on plastic litter. By turning local observations into global knowledge, citizen science not only raises awareness but also ensures that people on the ground are active participants in shaping solutions.
The data generated supports evidence-based policies, guides ecosystem protection strategies, and contributes to global initiatives aimed at reducing plastic leakage into the environment. By connecting science, society, and policy, macroplastic monitoring is helping to safeguard freshwater and marine ecosystems, while driving the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable practices.
Plastics are a global challenge — but through innovation, participation, and collaboration, they are also an opportunity to create meaningful change.
Highlights
Monitoring Plastics in Rivers and Lakes: Guidelines for the Harmonization of Methodologies
Barriers to plastic monitoring in freshwaters in the Global South
Workstream publications
2021
Monitoring plastics in rivers and lakes - Guidelines for the Harmonization of Methodologies Technical Manual
2021.
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