New findings report strategies to clean rivers and reduce pollution and plastic waste disposal.
Plastic pollution is a growing problem in Japan, driving cleanup efforts to recover waterway waste. However, research on recovery rates in different river basins is still limited. A recent study in Japan analyzed nationwide plastic waste recovery in over 100 basins, shedding light on the impact of climate change, population density, and natural disasters. These findings will help shape future cleanup strategies and improve plastic management.
The reliance on plastics for packaging and supplies has increased the accumulation of plastic waste in oceans, posing a significant environmental challenge. This waste breaks down into microplastics, affecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. While the negative effects of microplastics on health are still being studied, many nations have stepped up efforts to curb plastic use and prevent pollution.
Due to its location in the North Pacific, Japan is one of the major contributors to ocean plastic waste and needs proactive cleanup campaigns by the government and local communities. Few studies have addressed the rate of plastic waste disposal from Japanese river basins, crucial to understanding the dynamics of plastic transport and improving control measures.
A research team, led by Assistant Professor Mamoru Tanaka from the Tokyo University of Science (TUS), conducted the first nationwide analysis of waste disposal of plastics from rivers in Japan. Published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin on November 1, 2024, the study quantified the annual recovery of plastics from riverbanks and water surfaces, using data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
The data included the amount of plastic recovered from 109 river basins between 2016 and 2020. The analysis also considered factors such as basin population, extent of urban areas, and topographic characteristics. Total plastic recovery ranged from 763 to 1,177 tons annually, with an average of 938 tons per year. “Taking into account estimates from previous studies, annual plastic emissions in Japan are approximately 10,000 to 20,000 tons. The recovery of about 1,000 tons per year represents a significant contribution to emission reduction,” Tanaka highlights.
The main river systems by volume of recovered plastic waste were the Yodo River (91.6 tons/year), the Yoshino River (85.8 tons/year), the Tone River (78.8 tons/year), the Tama River (72.0 tons/year), the Oto River (69.2 tons/year), and the Abukuma River (53.9 tons/year), representing approximately 50% of the total plastic collection volume in Japan.
The researchers observed that natural disasters and extreme weather events were closely related to peaks in plastic waste collection and disposal. “The Ota and Kiso river systems experienced significant increases in 2018 due to heavy rains in western Japan. Similarly, the Abukuma River system saw an increase in 2019 following the impact of Typhoon No. 19,” Tanaka points out. These results highlight the links between climate change and plastic pollution.
Furthermore, they found that the Yodo and Tone river systems, with some of the highest recovery rates, also serve over 10 million people, increasing waste generation and participation in cleanup activities. There is a positive correlation between basin population, plastic waste recovery, and the number of individuals involved in cleanups.
These results will be useful for authorities and organizations to plan future cleanup activities. “Currently, the Ministry of Environment scientifically estimates plastic waste levels in Japan. Our estimates provide key data to support these assessments,” Tanaka points out. This study will pave the way for better plastic management measures, reducing the impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife and public health.
Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin
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