Table 1.
Top 10 marine debris items collected, international coastal cleanup
| Rank | Debris item | Number of debris items | Percentage of total debris items |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cigarettes/cigarette filters | 2,117,931 | 19 % |
| 2 | Food wrappers/containers | 1,140,222 | 10 % |
| 3 | Beverage bottles (plastic) | 1,065,171 | 10 % |
| 4 | Bags (plastic) | 1,019,902 | 9 % |
| 5 | Caps, lids | 958,893 | 9 % |
| 6 | Cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons | 692,767 | 6 % |
| 7 | Straws, stirrers | 611,048 | 6 % |
| 8 | Beverage bottles (glass) | 521,730 | 5 % |
| 9 | Beverage cans | 339,875 | 3 % |
| 10 | Bags (paper) | 298,332 | 3 % |
| Top 10 total debris items collected | 8,765,871 | 80 % | |
| Total debris items collected worldwide | 10,957,338 | 100 % |
Source: Ocean Conservancy, 2012: http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/international-coastal-cleanup/top-10-items-found-1.html.