Plastic Litter
Plastic is one of the most common sources of littering. When plastic ends up in nature it can cause big problems for animals, people and the environment.
Littering takes place on land and at sea and is a sustainability problem in several different ways. Animals and people are at risk of being harmed by the litter and the municipalities have large costs for cleaning urban environments and beaches. Littered environments are often also perceived as unsafe and can lead to further littering and vandalism.
Litter is a source of microplastics
Littering and the amount of plastic litter is constantly increasing. Microplastics are everywhere, but it is unsure how they affect humans and the environment.
One of the biggest threats to biodiversity
The majority of litter in our marine environments comes from land and is carried into stormwater and streams and into lakes and seas. Plastic litter is one of the largest threats to marine biodiversity. More than one million birds and one hundred thousand mammals die every year all over the world after getting stuck in or eaten plastic found in our oceans. Plastic in the marine environment can also transport non-native species into new locations which can be a threat to sensitive environments. Debris also damages fishing gear and vessels.
Two thirds of all litter originate from plastic
During 2023 The Swedish Environmental protection agency carried out a national litter survey. The results show that nine out of ten junk items are various disposable products. Cigarette buts accounted for as much as 48% when counted in number, i.e. almost half of all litter.
The survey also showed that two thirds of all litter on our streets and squares and in our parks contains plastic. The most common category within plastics, cigarette buts aside, are flexible wrappers such as packaging for sweets, ice creams and snacks but also plastic-coated paper such as wrapping for hamburgers.
Cigarette buts and snuff most common forms of litter
- Cigarette buts 48%
- Portioned snuff, 17%
- Disposable plastic (excluding cigarette buts) 15%.
(measured in numbers, a percentage of total amount litter)
Most common material for litter
- Plastic 66%
- Other materials, such as portioned snuff, fabric, wood, bamboo, organic 21%
- Paper/cardboard 7%
- Metal 4%
- Glass 2%
(measured in numbers, a percentage of total amount litter)
A previous littering survey commissioned by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency that was carried out by the organization Håll Sverige Rent (Keep Sweden Tidy) in June 2020 reveals that over 35 million items of litter was thrown on sidewalks, pedestrian streets and pedestrian and cycle paths during the measurement week. The total weight of the debris was about 60 tonnes.
Recycling of fishing gear
The “fishing trip” is a good example of an initiative that aims to reduce plastic littering in our oceans and on beaches. It is a collecting service that offers to receive end-of-life fishing gear that can no longer be used. Behind the initiative are Bårskroten, Sotenäs Municipality, Keep Sweden Tidy and the Nordic Fishermen’s Association, with support from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.