Our seas and oceans are increasingly becoming the waste dump of the planet. Plastics, mostly packaging waste, are the key component of marine litter. It floats in huge quantities on the sea surface before it sinks to the seabed or degrades into micro plastics. Manufactured or processed solid materials such as glass and metals are transported into the marine environment from land – by rivers, draining or sewage systems or winds. Man-made litter contaminates marine habitats worldwide and fills coastlines with waste and debris, posing environmental, economic, and health problems.
In most sea regions approximately 80% of the marine litter originates from land, making it part of a broader waste management problem. Thus, a stern EU legislation covering the issue globally is absolutely crucial. Improving its implementation will help to reduce marine litter and its devastating impact on our seas and oceans.
Although the problem is known for several years now, we noticed that the situation has not improved - on the contrary. Therefore, Euroshore urges all parties involved to act now. We need a stronger and more efficiently coordinated approach: legislations such as Packaging Waste Directive, Landfill Directive, Urban Waste Directive and the Port Reception Facilities Directive (EC/2000/59) are to target and enforce concrete and time-defined results.
"As port facilities we will actively contribute to a better and sustainable marine environment from which all stakeholders will benefit."
- Darren Lagea, Chairman Euroshore