Where Does All the Debris Go?
Understanding the journey of plastic waste
By Elias Kotsis
After a fulfilling day of volunteering at a beach cleanup, you may wonder, where does all the debris go? As Ocean Blue Project has recovered over one million pounds of ocean debris and plastic pollution since 2012, this is an excellent question. And it’s one we hear often. Let’s dive into the bigger picture.
Sorting Out Collected Waste
Collecting debris from coastlines is just the first stage of cleanup. After, all that debris must be categorized into different groups that determine what happens next for that waste. Some volunteers find some pretty strange items on our shores and coastlines!
What Can (and Can’t) be Recycled
Waste falls into two main categories: what is and what isn’t recyclable. Non-recyclable items, like standard household trash, are brought to a municipal waste facility. Aluminum and other recyclable metals go in one group; cardboard and other paper goods go in another. While some plastics are separated out for recycling, it’s important to remember that not all plastic waste is recyclable.
Wish-Cycling, and What Happens to Complex Plastics
Understandably, many people don’t know the differences between plastics that can and cannot be recycled. This leads to an issue called wish-cycling, where people place waste they wish were recyclable into those bins. In reality, many of these plastic items cannot be recycled. Placing these complex plastics in the wrong bins contaminates batches of recyclables at facilities (up to one-fifth, according to some studies). Ocean Blue Project does not want to add to this problem, so we sort out those nonrecyclables. So, what happens to them next?
Plastic Recycling and Its Challenges
Many people see recycling as the ultimate solution to plastic pollution, but it’s more complicated than it seems. Not only can many plastics not be recycled because of contamination or their chemical makeup, but the landscape of plastic recycling has changed drastically in recent years, making it harder to find sustainable methods.
The Reality of Handling Marine Debris
The plastic recycling market is global, with recyclables shipped across oceans for processing abroad. For a time, Ocean Blue Project worked with PG&E to make Head & Shoulders shampoo bottles through Terracycle. We soon learned that these materials were being shipped overseas for recycling. We ended our partnership to avoid a spill, which would put us right back where we started before collecting debris from beaches and rivers.
Changes in Recycling Policy
In January 2018, China, the world’s biggest importer of recyclables at the time, stopped accepting almost all recyclables. In June 2025, Malaysia announced it would stop importing recyclable materials from the U.S. and a handful of other nations. Southeast Asia was once the destination for America’s recyclables, but as international markets have dwindled, Americans must now look inward to decide what to do next with their recyclables.
Local, Innovative Solutions for Recycling
If recent global policy shifts, the realities of shipping recyclables, and the industry’s complications have taught us anything, it’s that the best way to manage complex recyclables is locally!
One Person’s Trash
Organizations across the country are exploring innovative ways of keeping plastic recycling hyperlocal. For example, NexTrex is the recycling initiative arm of Trex, a company known for its eco-friendly outdoor products. NexTrex runs a recycling program where schools and communities that collect a certain weight of recyclable plastic and plastic film can earn a bench made from their collected waste.
OBP’s Blue Schools program
Ocean Blue Project’s Blue Schools program is a K-12 curriculum that teaches students how to be stewards of the water around them, from streams to oceans. For participating schools, we package nonrecyclable plastics collected during our cleanups —such as rigid plastics, ropes, nets, and foam —and send them as Ocean Debris Kits. These collections raise awareness of how everyday household items and fishing gear end up as waste, aiming to inspire the next generation to buy less and protect more.
What Can You Do?
The question of what to do about recycling can feel daunting. But there are so many ways you can get involved in your community to make a difference. Together, Ocean Blue Project volunteers are making a positive impact on this global issue.
Use Fewer Plastics
The best thing you can start doing today is buying and using fewer plastics, especially single-use plastics. Replacing plastic water bottles with reusable water bottles, ordering less takeout food, buying refillable packaging, the list of how you can take plastics out of the waste and recycling stream is endless. For more inspiration, check out our comprehensive guide on avoiding single-use plastic.
Volunteer and Donate!
Why not meet like-minded people while stewarding the waters around you? Volunteering is a fun and easy way to get involved, meet people, and make a difference. You can volunteer with Ocean Blue Project. If we don’t have events near you, you can start a cleanup! If you can’t join in person, your donation helps us continue to fulfill our mission. You can donate here.
While the challenges are vast, together, we can work to keep debris out of our ocean and protect our world’s most precious shared resource.
Author Bio: Elias Kotsis is a book editor and writer based in New York City. He is currently obtaining his Master Composter certificate and writes about birding at ebirdz.substack.com.