Microplastic pollution in Sydney’s rivers and coastal areas has skyrocketed, tripling since 2022 and turning the city into a global hotspot for marine contamination, according to a recently released report. 🌍🔬
The Australian Microplastic Assessment Project found an average of 1,004 microplastic pieces per square meter in Sydney samples from 2022–2025—a shocking jump from 306 pieces during 2018–2021. Researchers blame everyday items like synthetic clothing, packaging, and construction waste for the crisis, with stormwater and rivers carrying these tiny pollutants into ecosystems.
💡 Did you know? Polystyrene foam and hard plastics make up 50–90% of debris, often leaking from poorly managed waste sites. Even your laundry could be part of the problem: washing machines without microfibre filters release plastic particles into waterways!
New South Wales is fighting back with its Plastics Plan 2.0, phasing out bread tags and fruit stickers while pushing for mandatory washing machine filters by 2028. But activists argue faster action is needed to protect marine life. 🐠🚮
