Updated February 12, 2020 |
Infoplease Staff
Table of contents
The 2012 International Coastal Cleanup involved 561,633 volunteers in a worldwide effort that removed 10.15 million pounds of garbage from our oceans.
| Rank | Debris items | Total number |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cigarettes/cigarette filters | 2,117,931 |
| 2. | Food wrappers/containers | 1,140,222 |
| 3. | Beverage bottles (plastic) | 1,065,171 |
| 4. | Plastic bags | 1,019,902 |
| 5. | Caps, lids | 958,893 |
| 6. | Cups/plates/forks/ knives/spoons | 692,767 |
| 7. | Straws/stirrers | 611,048 |
| 8. | Beverage bottles (glass) | 521,730 |
| 9. | Beverage cans | 339,875 |
| 10. | Paper bags | 298,332 |
Source: The Ocean Conservancy. Web: www.oceanconservancy.org .
| Water Supply of the World | Environment | America's Ten Most Endangered Rivers, 2006 |
