A study utilizing the Deep-Sea Debris Database revealed that plastic is the most prevalent form of debris found in the ocean. Plastic bags, in particular, constitute a significant portion of this pollution. Shockingly, a staggering 89 percent of the plastic discovered in the Mariana Trench was of the single-use variety—a clear indication of the pervasive impact of disposable plastic on our environment.
The Mariana Trench’s remote location and distance from human habitation may seem to absolve humanity of responsibility for the plastic pollution found there. However, this assumption could not be further from the truth. The origins of the plastic found at the trench’s depths point to humanity’s far-reaching environmental impact.
One of the main sources of oceanic plastic pollution is direct dumping from transport vessels, contributing to 20 percent of the problem. The remaining 80 percent originates from land-based sources. A significant portion of the plastic in the ocean flows from ten rivers that pass through densely populated regions, carrying with them discarded plastic waste from human activities.2