The state of plastic pollution in Eastern Canada : From the Great Lakes to Newfoundland

In 2024, Blue Organization (BO) released its first report on plastic pollution in Eastern Canada, aiming to raise awareness and foster collaboration against plastic waste. This five-year research, partially funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), involved 131 clean-ups across the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, estuary, and Gulf, collecting and analyzing 24 tons of waste. With the support of over 100 partners and 3,000 volunteers, BO also examined factors like consumer habits and waste management, providing insights into Eastern Canada’s plastic pollution.

In spring 2024, BO launched a Portal on plastic pollution in Eastern Canada’s coastal zones. The Portal includes an interactive map, a detailed five-year report, and datasets hosted by the St. Lawrence Global Observatory and the Integrated Ocean Observing System. BO's work has revealed the pressing need to address macroplastic pollution on Canada’s shorelines, countering beliefs that plastic pollution is primarily an international issue. The impacts extend beyond ecosystems and human health to economic and social costs, even affecting remote, protected, and UNESCO-designated areas.

After presenting findings at the Plastic Pollution Summit (INC-4) in Ottawa, BO began training over fifty regional organizations to apply its characterization protocol, encouraging collaborative data sharing. Partners include Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, regional ZIP committees, First Nations groups, and municipalities. BO’s work highlights the need for a coordinated national effort to address plastic waste, helping stakeholders identify pollution sources and implement effective reduction strategies.