End Plastic Pollution
Waterkeeper Alliance and Waterkeeper groups across the globe are taking on plastic at every stage of its lifecycle, from fossil fuel extraction to the pollution choking our waterways. Scroll down to learn more and how to get involved!
Plastic pollution is a growing emergency that devastates waterways, critical ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities.
Plastic pollution is more than a bottle on the side of a creek or a plastic bag floating in the ocean. It is present at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, from fossil fuel extraction that drives climate change to microplastics found in wildlife and human bodies, each leaving a lasting mark on our planet and our health.
Plastics are dangerous throughout their life cycle: they litter our environment, choke marine life, poison communities living near petrochemical facilities, and contribute to climate change. For years, experts have warned that only concrete, coordinated action from the international community can reduce plastic pollution from production to disposal.
This campaign is focused on one clear goal: stopping plastic production at its source while reducing its harm to people, waterways, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Waterkeeper Alliance is confronting the crisis on multiple fronts, coordinating global efforts like the International Plastic Pellet Count to expose hidden microplastic pollution, advocating at the Global Plastics Treaty to push for strong international action, and working with governments to advance meaningful protections for clean water.
Protecting our future means moving beyond plastic toward a just, green economy that safeguards human rights, protects workers, and prioritizes the health of Indigenous peoples and frontline communities most impacted by this crisis.
International Plastic Pellet Count
How To Participate
Learn everything you need to participate in the International Plastic Pellet Count. You’ll discover what plastic pellets (nurdles) are, how to conduct a simple 10-minute survey, where to record your data, and how your findings help inform efforts to improve how plastic pellets are handled. It only takes a few minutes to get started, but your impact can last far longer!
Plastic Pellet Count Reports
Each year, pellet count findings are tallied, analyzed, and reported, revealing the scale and persistence of plastic pellet pollution across global waterways and underscoring the need for stronger regulation, improved spill prevention, and reduced plastic production.
