Plastic reaches the ocean through systems—not one giant funnel.
Follow sources, streets, storm drains, rivers, coasts, fragmentation, ecosystems, prevention, and the limits of cleanup.
Upstream choices become downstream debris
Products, packaging, waste systems, litter, fishing activity, stormwater, wind, and rivers create many pathways. Plastic can sink, float, beach, fragment, or move through food webs.
Small pieces are harder to recover
Microplastics include manufactured small particles and fragments of larger material. Size, shape, polymer, additives, and location affect exposure and research conclusions.
Prevention usually acts earlier than cleanup
Reuse, product redesign, effective collection, lost-gear prevention, stormwater capture, and producer policy can reduce inputs. Cleanup still matters locally but cannot retrieve every dispersed fragment.
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