According to a recent study published in Science, plastic debris in the marine environment are widely documented, but the quantity of plastic entering the ocean from waste generated on land is unknown. By linking worldwide data on solid waste, population density, and economic status, the authors of the study calculated that 275 million metric tons (MT) of plastic waste were generated in 192 coastal countries in 2010, with 4.8 to 12.7 million MT entering the ocean. Other researchers estimate that approximately 8.8 million MT of plastic find their way into the world's oceans every year. While the amount of plastic in waterways can only be speculated, the island of Manhattan, a part of New York City, is already surrounded by its own mini version of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Most of the plastic particles are Styrofoam-based, according to the New York Times; other categories include fishing line, clothing fiber, pellets, and film.
