Turning the tide on oceanic plastic waste

From the Pacific to the Mediterranean, every ocean on Earth is polluted with plastic rubbish. Even the most remote waters now contain fragments of bottles, packaging, fishing line, and microplastics invisible to the eye. Every year, around 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans, the equivalent of a rubbish truck dumped into the sea every minute. The problem spans every region of the globe.

The North Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and California, is home to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast accumulation of floating debris estimated to be twice the size of Texas. It is a stark reminder of how ocean currents gather waste from every continent into massive gyres that circulate for decades.

In South and Southeast Asia, dense populations, rapid industrial growth, and limited recycling infrastructure have led to widespread pollution. Rivers such as the Ganges in India, the Yangtze in China, the Citarum in Indonesia, and the Pasig in the Philippines carry enormous volumes of plastic to the sea every day.

Decades of imported waste from wealthier countries have left coastlines across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines buried under discarded packaging. Much of this waste was shipped overseas under the label of “recycling,” but in reality, limited infrastructure meant it was often dumped, burned, or swept into rivers and the sea.

In many areas, beaches and riverbanks are so covered in rubbish that locals must clear paths through it to reach the water, a confronting reminder of how global consumption and local capacity have fallen dangerously out of balance.

Beyond Asia, the Indian Ocean and the North Atlantic are also heavily polluted, due to urban runoff and busy shipping routes. In the Mediterranean, 95 percent of marine rubbish is plastic, trapped within its enclosed waters and circulated endlessly by tides.

Even the most remote parts of the planet are no longer untouched, with microplastics recorded in Arctic sea ice, Antarctic snow, and found in the Southern Ocean, once considered among the cleanest waters on Earth.

What is discarded on one shore can travel thousands of kilometres on ocean currents and eventually wash up on another, even on the beaches of New Zealand.

Clean, green New Zealand

Around 252,000 tonnes of plastic waste are disposed of each year, and a lot of it still ends up in waterways. Lightweight plastics easily travel from streets and storm drains to the ocean, and microplastics have already been found in aquatic life and coastal sediment around the country.

However, compared to many parts of the world, our oceans and beaches remain relatively clean, meaning we still have the chance to protect what others have lost. Strong community awareness, national clean-up efforts, and bans on single-use plastics are helping to slow the tide.

The Tides Are Turning

Efforts like banning single-use plastic bags and encouraging recycling have helped, yet a large proportion of what should be recycled is being exported or landfilled. Without better systems for collection, sorting, and reducing packaging at the source, we are only slowing the problem, not solving it.

The encouraging news is that New Zealand has both the technology and the motivation to lead by example. With stronger recycling infrastructure, business accountability, and smarter systems, we can prevent the pollution seen in other parts of the world from reaching our shores.

Make a difference

If everyone tried to reduce plastic consumption and recycle more, the reduction of landfill waste would be significant. Choosing products with less packaging, using refillable containers, or switching to reusable alternatives all help cut the amount of plastic entering the environment.

Businesses can make an even greater impact by improving how waste is collected and separated, ensuring recyclables are properly processed instead of sent offshore or to landfill.

Smarter systems, like those offered by Easi Recycling, make it easier to manage waste responsibly and keep valuable materials in circulation.

The problem of plastic pollution may be global, but the solution starts locally. By rethinking how we use and dispose of plastic, New Zealand can lead the way in turning the tide on ocean waste.

Data-driven sustainability

While the challenge of ocean plastic waste can feel overwhelming, meaningful progress is being made through smarter waste management and design. Easi Recycling’s Longopac system is one example of how innovation can significantly reduce environmental impact.

In their recently published 2024 Environmental Report, Paxxo, the developer of the Longopac system, confirms that replacing traditional waste bags with the Longopac continuous bag cassette system has achieved a 70% reduction in plastic use and an 80% decrease in CO₂ emissions. This innovation has saved 5,000 tonnes of plastic and 35,000 tonnes of CO₂ worldwide.

To put those numbers into perspective, that is equivalent to:

• 3,800 petrol cars driving around the Earth

• 38,000 transatlantic flights between Madrid and New York

• Heating for 9,600 homes for an entire year

• The CO₂ absorption of 580,000 fully grown trees over ten years

These results underscore the impact that well-designed systems and responsible business practices can have. By reducing plastic at the source and supporting efficient recycling solutions, we can all help protect our oceans and move toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.