Waste survey exposes extent of plastic pollution in Manila Bay

To most of us Manila Bay, famous for its beautiful sunset.
 
  Once upon a time, it was the site upon which the historical Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 and the siege of Corregidor Island by invading Japanese forces took place.
 
  This bay was once considered one of the most beautiful in the world, but if you'd look at it now, the sludge, human sewage, industrial waste and, especially, plain garbage that drifts on its foul waters would give you a clear picture that it is one of the most polluted.Much of the garbage is plastic from 'single use' sources - that is plastic bags, beverage bottles, cups and other items intended to be used once and thrown away. Most of these plastics come from land-based sources and are carried along deltas of rivers and estuaries, smothering mangrove trees and other marine life.
 

© Greenpeace / Gavin Newman

Upon the arrival of the Esperanza's in Manila to highlight the wonders and the environmental threats to the world's oceans, the ship's crew and volunteers from Greenpeace and the Eco-Waste Coalition this morning collected approximately four cubic meters of plastic trash from Manila Bay onboard inflatable boats, as part of a waste survey and documentation to monitor the extent of plastic pollution in Manila's famous coastline. Manila Bay is considered one of the most polluted bays in Asia, and plastics comprise most of the floating litter on its surface.

Click here to know more about the waste survey.