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Dec 5, 2009
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Health and Science > Environment and Nature > Environment

Top Ten Types of Debris Littering the Oceans

The 2006 International Coastal Cleanup enlisted half a million people in 70 countries in an effort that removed 7 million pounds of garbage from our oceans.

Rank Debris items Total
number		 Percent
1. Cigarettes/cigarette filters 1,922,830 29.5%
2. Food wrappers/containers 632,161 9.7
3. Caps/lids 539,832 8.3
4. Beverage bottles (plastic),
 2 liters or less		 438,763 6.7
5. Bags 354,294 5.4
6. Beverage bottles (glass) 328,239 5.0
7. Cups/plates/forks/
 knives/spoons		 317,447 4.9%
8. Beverage cans 314,738 4.8
9. Straws/stirrers 273,105 4.2
10. Tobacco packaging/wrappers 132,402 2.0
  Totals 5,253,811 80.5
Source: The Ocean Conservancy. Web: www.oceanconservancy.org .

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