Global Pollution

[waltky]

Toxic waste pollution a major problem in the developing world...

Toxic Waste Exposure Widespread in Developing World
May 14, 2013 - Millions of people in developing countries living near toxic waste dumps are facing potentially severe mental and physical health dangers, according to a new study. The report finds the hazards posed by exposure to these chemical waste sites are comparable to those from malaria and air pollution.

The study by a New York-based environmental organization analyzed water and soil samples at 373 waste sites in three countries - India, Indonesia and Pakistan - with a combined population of more than 1.5 billion people, roughly a fifth of the global population. The researchers found that the more than 8.6 million people living near the sites in 2010 were being exposed to a veritable soup of toxic chemicals. “Lead, chromium, phosphates, different kinds of organic chemicals, pesticides and the like. They’re all over the world, unfortunately," said Richard Fuller. Co-author Richard Fuller is head of the Blacksmith Institute, which funded the study and works to solve pollution problems in low- and moderate-income countries.

Fuller and colleagues calculated the affected population lost more than 828-thousand years of healthy life due to toxic waste exposure, as a result of illness, disability and early death. In comparison, researchers say malaria in the same countries caused less illness and early death, and air pollution slightly more. The three-nation survey found pollution levels were highest for lead, a toxic metal which, if absorbed into the bloodstream, can impair the neurological development of unborn babies and lower children’s IQ, a measure of their cognitive skills. Two-thirds of those exposed to lead near waste dumps in Pakistan, India and Indonesia were children and women of child-bearing age, according to researchers.

An apartment is engulfed by toxic smoke from burning trash at Dandora waste site, one of Africa's biggest garbage dumps, in Nairobi, Kenya

But lead author Kevin Chatham-Stephens, a pediatric environmental health expert at the Mount Sinai school of medicine in New York, says those living near toxic waste sites can take simple steps to reduce their risk. “Even though it may not sound like a lot, washing your hands is one of the most effective ways that we can decrease our exposure to chemical pollutants - just because we know that oftentimes chemicals such as lead can end up in the dust and if we have that dust on our hands, and then we eat our foods and we wipe our mouths or something like that, then that chemical can enter into our body," said Chatham-Stephens.

The Blacksmith Institute is evaluating toxic waste sites in 70 other developing countries, hoping to help organize clean-up efforts. Fuller says it’s a slow process to remediate the chemical dumps, but the countries he’s working with have been eager to cooperate. “Everyone here has the right heart and [is] keen to do the best that they can. So, we think it’s possible. It’s just going to take a lot of work," he said. The study on the burden of disease from toxic waste dumps in India, Pakistan and Indonesia is published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Source

See also:

UN: Billions Still Will Lack Sanitation by 2015
May 13, 2013 — By 2015, almost one-third of the global population will remain without access to improved sanitation - which is U.N.-speak for hygienic toilet facilities. That would fall well short of a key global Millennium Development Goal [MDG], which is detailed in a new report published jointly by the World Health Organization and the U.N. Children’s Fund.

Bruce Gordon, the acting coordinator for water, sanitation and health at the World Health Organization, said Monday’s report was published as a wake-up call. “Now, with the period of the MDGs coming to a close - I think it is in about 1,000 days or so - we are seeing very clearly that unless we do something very differently, the sanitation goal is going to be missed.” The U.N.'s MDG, number 7, aims to reduce by half by 2015 the number of people without access to clean, reliable toilet facilities - compared to numbers reported in 1990. According to the report, if the current trend persists, 2.4 billion people will still be living without improved sanitation. They say the MDG target will be missed by 8 percent.

Gordon said a major drive needs to be made to get the numbers on track. One of the key efforts, he said, needs to be made in rural areas. Gordon noted that a lot of money is spent on complex urban sanitation systems in cities, at the expense of those in rural areas who have nothing. “There is a big problem in rural areas with sanitation, especially with open defecation. [We need to] ensure that some of the scarce resources are directed toward those areas where we have a big problem, and that just means very basic sanitation,” said Gordon.

According to UN data, one billion people around the world in 2011 still were defecating in the open, and 90 percent of open defecation takes place in rural areas. Bruce Gordon said the impact of poor sanitation has major impacts on global health, education, and economies. The World Bank estimates global economic losses due to poor sanitation at $260 billion a year.

Tackling the problem would have major benefits, said Gordon. “A big, huge benefit for us is health. We have 1.5 million people dying every year because of inadequate sanitation or lack of access to safe water or proper hygiene,” he said. Gordon cited the most problematic regions by far as being Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. According to a recent report by the charity WaterAid, 600 million people in Africa do not have a safe, hygienic toilet; that is 70 percent of the continent's population. WaterAid says the numbers are up since 1990, largely due to population growth and surging urban slums.

UN: Billions Still Will Lack Sanitation by 2015

 

[waltky]

China puttin' the choke on heavy-polluting industries...

China orders firms to curb pollution
15 June 2013 > The Chinese government has ordered firms in heavy-polluting industries to cut emissions by 30% by 2017.

Under the new rules companies will be legally obliged to improve their pollution control equipment and will be penalised for excess emissions. Analysts said enforcement of the targets was likely to fall to local governments. The announcement did not specify which industries would be affected by the new emissions rules. However, earlier this year ministers hinted that industries such as iron, steel, petrochemicals and cement would face new targets. China has seen scores of environmental protests.

The announcement did not specify which industries would be affected by the new rules

Protests

The State Council announced the emissions targets as part of a document that approved 10 measures for tackling environmental problems, including:

* Curbing the growth of energy-consuming industries like steel, cement, aluminium, and glass
* Refusing permission for new industrial projects if they failed to meet required standards
* Strengthening enforcement of the current penalties regime

Some of the biggest and most successful recent protests in China have been triggered by environmental concerns. In 2007, residents of Xiamen staged a series of protests against the construction of a chemical factory in the area and forced the local government to back down. And anger over air pollution in Beijing, expressed mainly in online forums, led the local government to change the way in which it monitored pollution levels.

BBC News - China orders firms to curb pollution

 

[ScienceRocks]

Looks like they need to enact some environmental laws like we did in the 1950s-1960's. FAST!!!

Maybe we could sell them some wind turbines too

 

[westwall]

The third world is being invaded by first world companies AVOIDING those environmental laws Matthew. Environmental laws need to be codified and made binding ACROSS the globe. Then you would see those highly toxic ""green" energy systems like solar and wind .....disappear....

 

[Old Rocks]

The third world is being invaded by first world companies AVOIDING those environmental laws Matthew. Environmental laws need to be codified and made binding ACROSS the globe. Then you would see those highly toxic ""green" energy systems like solar and wind .....disappear....

And you are so full of shit. In the wealthy nations, the 'green' energy systems are the ones that are growing leaps and bounds. And they are far less toxic than the old fossil fuel systems.

U.S. Solar Market Grew 76% in 2012 - Forbes

Imagine 16 million solar panels blanketing large pieces of land and covering roofs of homes and businesses. That was the number installed in the United States in 2012, when 3.3 gigawatts of the solar equipment materialized to representing a 76% annual growth.

Cumulatively, the country had about 7.2 gigawatts of solar generation capacity from solar panels by the end of 2012, according to a report by GTM Research the Solar Energy Industries Association. That capacity doesn’t mean consumers could tap that much power from solar power projects. The amount of production depends on whether the sun is up and unobstructed by clouds.

The size of the U.S. market grew 34% to $11.5 billion in 2012 from $8.6 billion in 2011. Major solar panel makers include First Solar, Suntech Power, Trina Solar, Sharp and SunPower.

Industry Statistics

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw 8,385 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed, bringing total 2012 installations to 13,131 MW. The U.S. wind industry now totals 60,007 MW of cumulative wind capacity (and more than 45,100 turbines) through the end of December 2012. During 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generating capacity for the first time, providing some 42% of all new generating capacity.

Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 550 manufacturing facilities across 44 states make components for wind turbines.

 

[Old Rocks]

Pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of air pollution may be more likely to give birth to children with autism, according to a new study.

The researchers found that the pregnant women in the study who lived in the most-polluted areas were up to two times more likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), compared with those who lived in the least-polluted areas.

The air pollutants linked to autism included diesel fuel, lead, manganese and mercury. For most pollutants that the researchers studied, associations with autism were stronger in boys than in girls.

The results add to evidence found in previous studies suggesting that air pollution might be a risk factor for autism.


Read more: Autism linked with air-pollution exposure during pregnancy | Fox News



Children with autism are two to three times more likely than other children to have been exposed to car exhaust, smog, and other air pollutants during their earliest days, according to a new study.

That new research adds to a mounting body of evidence that shows a link between early-life exposure to pollution and autism spectrum disorders.


For the new study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers in California analyzed some 500 children living in that state: roughly half had autism and half did not. The kids’ mothers gave an address for each and every home in which they had lived during pregnancy and the child’s first year of life. Researchers took that information — along with data on traffic volume, vehicle emissions, wind patterns, and regional estimates of pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and ozone — to estimate each child’s likely pollution exposure. According to the study, children in the top 25% of pollution exposure (using one of two different pollution scales) were far more likely to be diagnosed with autism than kids in the bottom 25% of the pollution scale.



Read more: Autism and Air Pollution: The Link Grows Stronger | TIME.com

 

[westwall]

The third world is being invaded by first world companies AVOIDING those environmental laws Matthew. Environmental laws need to be codified and made binding ACROSS the globe. Then you would see those highly toxic ""green" energy systems like solar and wind .....disappear....

And you are so full of shit. In the wealthy nations, the 'green' energy systems are the ones that are growing leaps and bounds. And they are far less toxic than the old fossil fuel systems.

U.S. Solar Market Grew 76% in 2012 - Forbes

Imagine 16 million solar panels blanketing large pieces of land and covering roofs of homes and businesses. That was the number installed in the United States in 2012, when 3.3 gigawatts of the solar equipment materialized to representing a 76% annual growth.

Cumulatively, the country had about 7.2 gigawatts of solar generation capacity from solar panels by the end of 2012, according to a report by GTM Research the Solar Energy Industries Association. That capacity doesn’t mean consumers could tap that much power from solar power projects. The amount of production depends on whether the sun is up and unobstructed by clouds.

The size of the U.S. market grew 34% to $11.5 billion in 2012 from $8.6 billion in 2011. Major solar panel makers include First Solar, Suntech Power, Trina Solar, Sharp and SunPower.

Industry Statistics

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw 8,385 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed, bringing total 2012 installations to 13,131 MW. The U.S. wind industry now totals 60,007 MW of cumulative wind capacity (and more than 45,100 turbines) through the end of December 2012. During 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generating capacity for the first time, providing some 42% of all new generating capacity.

Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 550 manufacturing facilities across 44 states make components for wind turbines.

And they are being manufactured in the third world you stupid ass. Pull your head out sometime and learn something, your collossal ignorance is exceeded only by your blind fanaticism.

 

[SSDD]

And they are being manufactured in the third world you stupid ass. Pull your head out sometime and learn something, your collossal ignorance is exceeded only by your blind fanaticism.

No one will ever accuse him of letting common sense get in the way of what he wants to say.

 

[Old Rocks]

The third world is being invaded by first world companies AVOIDING those environmental laws Matthew. Environmental laws need to be codified and made binding ACROSS the globe. Then you would see those highly toxic ""green" energy systems like solar and wind .....disappear....

And you are so full of shit. In the wealthy nations, the 'green' energy systems are the ones that are growing leaps and bounds. And they are far less toxic than the old fossil fuel systems.

U.S. Solar Market Grew 76% in 2012 - Forbes

Imagine 16 million solar panels blanketing large pieces of land and covering roofs of homes and businesses. That was the number installed in the United States in 2012, when 3.3 gigawatts of the solar equipment materialized to representing a 76% annual growth.

Cumulatively, the country had about 7.2 gigawatts of solar generation capacity from solar panels by the end of 2012, according to a report by GTM Research the Solar Energy Industries Association. That capacity doesn’t mean consumers could tap that much power from solar power projects. The amount of production depends on whether the sun is up and unobstructed by clouds.

The size of the U.S. market grew 34% to $11.5 billion in 2012 from $8.6 billion in 2011. Major solar panel makers include First Solar, Suntech Power, Trina Solar, Sharp and SunPower.

Industry Statistics

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw 8,385 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed, bringing total 2012 installations to 13,131 MW. The U.S. wind industry now totals 60,007 MW of cumulative wind capacity (and more than 45,100 turbines) through the end of December 2012. During 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generating capacity for the first time, providing some 42% of all new generating capacity.

Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 550 manufacturing facilities across 44 states make components for wind turbines.

And they are being manufactured in the third world you stupid ass. Pull your head out sometime and learn something, your collossal ignorance is exceeded only by your blind fanaticism.

You are still the same lying bastard as ever, Walleyes.

First Solar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Solar, Inc. is an American manufacturer of thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules, or solar panels, and a provider of PV power plants and supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling. First Solar uses cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a semiconductor to produce panels that are less expensive than those manufactured from crystalline silicon.[2] In 2009, First Solar became the first solar panel manufacturing company to lower its manufacturing cost to $1 per watt[3] (since reduced to 68 cents per watt).[1][4]

The company was founded in 1990 by inventor Harold McMaster as Solar Cells, Inc. In 1999 it was purchased by True North Partners, LLC, who rebranded it as First Solar, Inc. The company went public in 2006, trading on the NASDAQ. Its current chief executive is James Hughes, who succeeded interim CEO Mike Ahearn on May 3, 2012.[5] First Solar is based in Tempe, Arizona. As of 2010, First Solar was considered the second-largest maker of PV modules worldwide[6] and ranked sixth in Fast Company’s list of the world's 50 most innovative companies.[7] In 2011, it ranked first on Forbes’s list of America’s 25 fastest-growing technology companies.[8]

First Solar has plants in the US as well as several other nations. Suntech is Chinese, as is Trina Solar. Sharp has plants in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. Sunpower has a plant in Silicon Valley, in Malaysia, and is building one in Mexico. Like everything else, building the panels close to where they will be used is a cost advantage.

Over 500 manufacturing facilities in 44 states are making windmill parts in the US. Looks to me like a lot of someones are getting a good deal of business here in the US in the wind turbines. We are part of that, some of the steel we roll is used in the towers.

 

[flacaltenn]

Looks like they need to enact some environmental laws like we did in the 1950s-1960's. FAST!!!

Maybe we could sell them some wind turbines too

We might want to start with some farm equipment first.. So those kids don't have to go dig thru the dump for lunch..
If you raise standard of living and education --- everything else good follows.

I yearn for the good ole days when we FOCUSED on REAL pollutants and the environment.

Thanks Waltky for finally posting an
ENVIRONMENT thread.. Good Thinking Bro...

 

[westwall]

And you are so full of shit. In the wealthy nations, the 'green' energy systems are the ones that are growing leaps and bounds. And they are far less toxic than the old fossil fuel systems.

U.S. Solar Market Grew 76% in 2012 - Forbes

Imagine 16 million solar panels blanketing large pieces of land and covering roofs of homes and businesses. That was the number installed in the United States in 2012, when 3.3 gigawatts of the solar equipment materialized to representing a 76% annual growth.

Cumulatively, the country had about 7.2 gigawatts of solar generation capacity from solar panels by the end of 2012, according to a report by GTM Research the Solar Energy Industries Association. That capacity doesn’t mean consumers could tap that much power from solar power projects. The amount of production depends on whether the sun is up and unobstructed by clouds.

The size of the U.S. market grew 34% to $11.5 billion in 2012 from $8.6 billion in 2011. Major solar panel makers include First Solar, Suntech Power, Trina Solar, Sharp and SunPower.

Industry Statistics

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw 8,385 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed, bringing total 2012 installations to 13,131 MW. The U.S. wind industry now totals 60,007 MW of cumulative wind capacity (and more than 45,100 turbines) through the end of December 2012. During 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generating capacity for the first time, providing some 42% of all new generating capacity.

Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 550 manufacturing facilities across 44 states make components for wind turbines.

And they are being manufactured in the third world you stupid ass. Pull your head out sometime and learn something, your collossal ignorance is exceeded only by your blind fanaticism.

You are still the same lying bastard as ever, Walleyes.

First Solar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Solar, Inc. is an American manufacturer of thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules, or solar panels, and a provider of PV power plants and supporting services that include finance, construction, maintenance and end-of-life panel recycling. First Solar uses cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a semiconductor to produce panels that are less expensive than those manufactured from crystalline silicon.[2] In 2009, First Solar became the first solar panel manufacturing company to lower its manufacturing cost to $1 per watt[3] (since reduced to 68 cents per watt).[1][4]

The company was founded in 1990 by inventor Harold McMaster as Solar Cells, Inc. In 1999 it was purchased by True North Partners, LLC, who rebranded it as First Solar, Inc. The company went public in 2006, trading on the NASDAQ. Its current chief executive is James Hughes, who succeeded interim CEO Mike Ahearn on May 3, 2012.[5] First Solar is based in Tempe, Arizona. As of 2010, First Solar was considered the second-largest maker of PV modules worldwide[6] and ranked sixth in Fast Company’s list of the world's 50 most innovative companies.[7] In 2011, it ranked first on Forbes’s list of America’s 25 fastest-growing technology companies.[8]

First Solar has plants in the US as well as several other nations. Suntech is Chinese, as is Trina Solar. Sharp has plants in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. Sunpower has a plant in Silicon Valley, in Malaysia, and is building one in Mexico. Like everything else, building the panels close to where they will be used is a cost advantage.

Over 500 manufacturing facilities in 44 states are making windmill parts in the US. Looks to me like a lot of someones are getting a good deal of business here in the US in the wind turbines. We are part of that, some of the steel we roll is used in the towers.

No, I'm not silly person......



Evergreen Solar is a big company in the solar industry. It is the 3rd largest solar panel producer in the United States at the moment, and it evolves and grows all the time. However, due to high production costs in USA, the company is moving it’s production to China. This comes as a surprise, particularly due to the fact that the company rose to the top so quickly after being funded by the Massachusetts’ government.

The part of Evergreen Solar that is moving to China is their main production facility located in Devons, Massachusetts. They are planning to lay off nearly 1000 workers, and move the whole production to China. Evergreen Solar representatives said that they are enjoying a huge support from the Chinese government and are very glad to move.


Now, you can go fuck yourself.....idiot...



Evergreen Solar Moves to China

 

[Old Rocks]

And Evergreen was not mentioned in the article.

And of course they are moving to China. Being the good Republicans they are, they don't give a shit about US workers. Very simply, we should have a tariff system based on environmental and labor conditions in the nations that are selling us goods. Those with equal laws, free trade. Those, like Mexico and China, with vitrually no laws, high tariffs.

We need to strongly support alternative energy here, as they do in China. China sees the future, and is determined to be the leader in the alternative energy sector.

 

[westwall]

And Evergreen was not mentioned in the article.

And of course they are moving to China. Being the good Republicans they are, they don't give a shit about US workers. Very simply, we should have a tariff system based on environmental and labor conditions in the nations that are selling us goods. Those with equal laws, free trade. Those, like Mexico and China, with vitrually no laws, high tariffs.

We need to strongly support alternative energy here, as they do in China. China sees the future, and is determined to be the leader in the alternative energy sector.

Please provide a list of all the solar manufacturers who manufacture their panels SOLELY in the US.

 

[Franticfrank]

You really can't put a price on good air quality...it really does wonders for the soul. Look at statistics on countries with the highest air quality, surprising to see both Bangladesh and India on that list. Perhaps the inhabitants never had a chance to experience truly clean air.

 

[westwall]

You really can't put a price on good air quality...it really does wonders for the soul. Look at statistics on countries with the highest air quality, surprising to see both Bangladesh and India on that list. Perhaps the inhabitants never had a chance to experience truly clean air.

That list is pretty amazing when one considers just how bad the air IS in India. Bangladesh I've not been to but India I have on several occasions. Clean air is not a descriptor I would EVER use with that country.

 

[Abishai100]

Response Kits

While environmentalism-consciousness Hollywood (USA) movies such as "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992) and "Bio-Dome" (1996) serve as signs of civilization interest in eco-activism, how much is such art reaching the global community (Third World, etc.)?

Modern consumerism is mercantilism-based, and mercantilism is connected to globalization (i.e., eTrade). In such an arena, art and politics start to wed. Indeed, many eco-activists reference the relevant American comic book art avatar Poison Ivy (DC Comics), a radical female scientist-turned-ecoterrorist.

However, if global economics and environmentalism are not sufficiently connected, terrorism could spread to environmentalism realms, and that is certainly something the world can not afford right now.

America is still scrambling from 9/11 and the NSA (National Security Agency) is still investing in Homeland Security initiatives, so any threat from eco-terrorism would hugely magnify problems given that environmentalism dialogue is usually vague and incomplete.

Third World environmentalism grievance is exactly the type of thing that eco-terrorists may find useful in capitalizing on especially in our society of security paranoia (i.e., Taliban, etc.).

We need more statistics on the direct relationship between consumerism globalization and energy management.

Algeria, a member of OPEC, has invested handsomely in wind energy research and is arguably ahead of the USA in wind farm development. We could try to turn this competition around to create a field of collective East-West bargaining regarding renewables research. BP (British Petroleum) has been steadily and quietly investing in eco-friendly biomass fuels research. We could look into what sorts of business contracts BP can now make with developing nations.






BP - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

 

[Crick]

Interesting thoughts. Have you been accused of being a communist/socialist/intent on destroying the free world's economy yet?

 

[flacaltenn]

Response Kits

While environmentalism-consciousness Hollywood (USA) movies such as "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992) and "Bio-Dome" (1996) serve as signs of civilization interest in eco-activism, how much is such art reaching the global community (Third World, etc.)?

Modern consumerism is mercantilism-based, and mercantilism is connected to globalization (i.e., eTrade). In such an arena, art and politics start to wed. Indeed, many eco-activists reference the relevant American comic book art avatar Poison Ivy (DC Comics), a radical female scientist-turned-ecoterrorist.

However, if global economics and environmentalism are not sufficiently connected, terrorism could spread to environmentalism realms, and that is certainly something the world can not afford right now.

America is still scrambling from 9/11 and the NSA (National Security Agency) is still investing in Homeland Security initiatives, so any threat from eco-terrorism would hugely magnify problems given that environmentalism dialogue is usually vague and incomplete.

Third World environmentalism grievance is exactly the type of thing that eco-terrorists may find useful in capitalizing on especially in our society of security paranoia (i.e., Taliban, etc.).

We need more statistics on the direct relationship between consumerism globalization and energy management.

Algeria, a member of OPEC, has invested handsomely in wind energy research and is arguably ahead of the USA in wind farm development. We could try to turn this competition around to create a field of collective East-West bargaining regarding renewables research. BP (British Petroleum) has been steadily and quietly investing in eco-friendly biomass fuels research. We could look into what sorts of business contracts BP can now make with developing nations.






BP - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

View attachment 32023

Another idiot that doesn't know that BP petrol was the LARGEST systems integrator of solar panels not that long ago..

The ignorance of the eco-left is massive. They don't understand that their green toys don't grow on trees..

 

[Crick]

Poster Abishai100 was praising BP.

"BP (British Petroleum) has been steadily and quietly investing in eco-friendly biomass fuels research."

I think you owe him or her an apology.

 

[waltky]

Three-quarters of the trash found off Australian beaches is plastic, study says...

Australia Studies Ocean Trash
September 17, 2014 — The world's largest survey of coastal trash has found that illegal dumping is a main source of rubbish on beaches in Australia.

Researchers combed the vast Australian coastline at intervals of about 100 kilometers, and have compiled the world's largest collection of data on marine trash. The survey was orchestrated by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and involved conservation groups and petroleum giant Shell. Students, teachers, scientists and employees of Shell were enlisted to comb beaches around the country as part of the three-year project. Their work rejects the notion that debris washed up on the Australian coast is the result of ocean currents bringing trash from other countries.

The report states that littering and illegal dumping causes the majority of coastal debris in Australia, and co-author Dr. Chris Wilcox said the problem is worse nearer metropolitan areas. “As you get closer to a city along the coastline you see more and more stuff. It is not necessarily just people living it on the beach; it is also getting transported out through storm water drains and into creeks, and down the creeks into rivers and into the bays. So, you can see the plume of debris along the coastline and offshore as you approach Sydney. If you spend any time on ships and you want to guess whether you are close to a city or not, you just look over the side and start counting stuff,” Wilcox stated.
The report said this marine debris posed not only a navigation hazard to shipping but could damage coral reefs and tourism, while killing and injuring wildlife. The survey found that about 75 percent of the trash along the Australian coast is plastic. Researchers say the waste is having a devastating effect on seabirds. Smaller turtles also ingested the debris, possibly because soft, clear plastic resembled its natural prey, jellyfish. Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent and has around 50,000 kilometers of coastline.

Australia Studies Ocean Trash