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Plastic Waste in Waterways: Assessing Pollution Levels and Community Awareness
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This study assessed plastic waste pollution levels and community awareness along two rivers in Davao, Philippines, using the Clean Coast Index. The Talomo-Bangkal River was classified as 'Dirty' (CCI: 7.4) while the Davao River was 'Moderate' (CCI: 2.6), with household waste and food packaging dominating, and surveys revealing significant gaps in public knowledge about plastic pollution impacts.
Plastic pollution in waterways poses critical ecological and health threats, particularly in urbanized coastal regions where waste management practices often fail to contain the volume of plastic waste generated. Thisstudy assessed plastic waste pollution levels and community awareness utilizing the Clean Coast Index (CCI) as a quantitative measure of plastic litter density. Through environmental sampling and community surveys, data were collected from two rivers, Davao and Talomo-Bangkal, to categorize plastic waste types and evaluate pollution severity. Results indicated that household waste and food packaging constitute the largest portion of collected plastic, with pollution levels classified as "Moderate" in the Davao River (CCI:2.6) and "Dirty" in Talomo-Bangkal (CCI: 7.4). Community interviews revealed varied levels of awareness regarding plastic pollution's impact on environmental and public health, high lighting gaps in knowledge and the need for targeted educational campaigns. These findings underscore the importance of localized policy interventions, community engagement, and strengthened waste management infrastructures to mitigate plastic pollution in urban waterways.
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Researchers examined awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of marine macro- and microplastic pollution among 70 coastal community residents in Iligan City, Philippines, finding that despite general awareness, plastic handling practices remained inconsistent with pollution reduction goals.
Assessment of Beach Plastic Waste Pollution Using the Clean Coast Index: Evidence from Thanh Hoa Province, Viet Nam
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Researchers surveyed beaches in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, counting litter along 22 sites during two monsoon seasons. Plastic made up the largest share of debris found, and a pollution score called the Clean Coast Index rated the beaches as extremely dirty, with differences seen between locations and seasons.
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A survey of communities along the Pulot River in the Philippines found that residents were aware of plastic pollution and reported pro-environmental behaviors, yet still expected riverine plastic litter to increase significantly over the next decade. The disconnect between self-reported behaviors and anticipated worsening trends highlights critical gaps in community-level plastic waste management that must be addressed to reduce land-based plastic inputs to marine environments.
Abundance, Characterization, and Distribution of Marine Litter in Samar, Philippines: A Comparison Between Mainland and Island Beaches
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A systematic beach litter survey in Samar, Philippines found plastic comprising 86% of mainland beach litter and 60% on island beaches, with shoreline recreational activities as the dominant source, revealing significant differences in contamination between coastal typologies. This study is directly relevant to microplastic research as high plastic litter density on Philippine beaches represents a major source of secondary microplastic generation through UV-driven fragmentation and mechanical weathering in the marine environment.
Assessment and Characterization of Plastic Pollution in Two Coastal Sites in Lagos Nigeria: Implications for Environmental Management and Public Awareness.
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This study investigated plastic pollution in two coastal communities in Lagos, Nigeria—Makoko and Ilaje—finding that Makoko was dominated by polyamide (nylon, 48%) and Ilaje primarily by PET (62%), with over half of Makoko residents admitting to improper plastic disposal. The research highlights the need for improved waste management infrastructure, public education, and implementation of the Polluter Pays Principle to address coastal plastic pollution in rapidly urbanizing African cities.
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