Empowering Local Practitioners to Collect and Report on Anthropogenic Riverine and Marine Debris Using Inexpensive Methods in India

Katharine A. Owens, Jaya Divakaran Sarasamma, Katie Conlon, Solomon Kiruba, Alwyn Biju, Niyathi Vijay, Manikandan Subramanian, Smitha Asok Vijayamma, Ayona Jayadev, Vineeta Hoon, Rebekah Padgett, Pranoti Joshi Khanolkar, Dilip K. Kakavipure, P. M. Mohan, Sourav Chattopadhyay and Chinmay Khanolkar
Additional contact information
Katharine A. Owens: Department of Politics, Economics, and International Studies, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT 06112, USA
Jaya Divakaran Sarasamma: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India
Katie Conlon: Toulan School of Urban Studies, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
Solomon Kiruba: Department of Zoology, Madras Christian College, Chennai 600059, Tamil Nadu, India
Alwyn Biju: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India
Niyathi Vijay: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India
Manikandan Subramanian: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, Kerala, India
Smitha Asok Vijayamma: Department of Environmental Sciences, All Saints’ College, Thiruvananthapuram 695007, Kerala, India
Ayona Jayadev: Department of Environmental Sciences, All Saints’ College, Thiruvananthapuram 695007, Kerala, India
Vineeta Hoon: Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society (CARESS), Chennai 600094, Tamil Nadu, India
Rebekah Padgett: Centre for Action Research on Environment Science and Society (CARESS), Chennai 600094, Tamil Nadu, India
Pranoti Joshi Khanolkar: Department of Science and Humanities, K. J. Somaiaya College of Engineering, Mumbai 400077, Maharashtra, India
Dilip K. Kakavipure: Department of Zoology, B.N.N. College, Bhiwandi 421302, Maharashtra, India
P. M. Mohan: Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University Off Campus, Brookshabad, Port Blair 605014, Andamans, India
Sourav Chattopadhyay: Center of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai 608502, Tamil Nadu, India
Chinmay Khanolkar: K. J. Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai 400077, Maharashtra, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: This article includes a review of the literature on marine debris in an Indian context and introduces a replicable, scientific, and inexpensive collection method to build capacity and inform policymakers. We share baseline data resulting from ten cleanups using these methods in India. This method was introduced in a 2019 workshop to train Indian researchers, leading to local-led collections in three states and two Union Territories (8 beaches, 2 riversides) yielding 33,474 individual pieces of debris weighing a total of 599.15 kg. Plastic was the most frequently found material at all ten collection sites, comprising from 45% to 89% of all items found. The research establishes a baseline data collection at ten locations, with debris density at sites ranging from 0.38–3.86 items/m 2 . Application of the Clean Coast Index yields resulting rankings of moderate (1 site), dirty (2 sites), and extremely dirty (7 sites). Researchers also identified 2461 brands in analysis at six sites, 76% of which were Indian in origin. Replication of the methods in other Indian regions among the community of thirty-three practitioners was below target for collection (41%) and brand audit (8.3%) with 25% of teams sharing data with the community of practitioners and 12.5% sharing results with local policymakers. The analysis indicates debris is overwhelmingly composed of plastic from residential activities. The methods empower practitioners to collect and report on debris, ground-truthing global debris estimates, and illuminating the missing plastic problem.

Keywords: plastic; freshwater; marine; citizen science; India; policy; litter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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