Plastic Waste Release Caused by COVID-19 Ocean Impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to the global plastic waste problem, generating an estimated 8.4 million tons of plastic waste, according to an MITgcm ocean plastic model.

This research reveals that around 1.5% of this pandemic-related waste has ended up in the global ocean, and the spatial distribution of the discharge is expected to change rapidly within three years.

Most of the debris will eventually land on the beach and seabed, and the Arctic may see a circumpolar plastic accumulation zone.

Hospital waste accounts for 73% of the discharge, with Asia contributing 72%, highlighting the urgent need for better medical waste management, particularly in developing countries.