Remote Island in the Pacific is the Most Polluted Place in the World in Terms of Plastic Waste

A group of researchers who traveled to a small uninhabited island in the Pacific for scientific research found approximately 38 million pieces of waste on the shores of this island. According to the Associated Press, all the waste found on Henderson Island is plastic, ranging from toys and toothbrushes to various types of safety helmets in different colors and sizes. Despite being one of the most remote islands in the Pacific, scientists say the volume of waste accumulated on this island is greater than any other location recorded in the world. This island is located roughly between New Zealand and Chile and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jennifer Leivers, a researcher from the University of Tasmania in Australia responsible for the scientific report published on Tuesday, states that this island is situated at the edge of one of the Pacific Ocean gyres, which is why floating debris in the ocean accumulates on its shores. In an interview with the Associated Press, she said, 'The volume of plastic that has accumulated there is truly concerning. It is both beautiful and terrifying.' She added that sometimes the various colors of plastic waste fascinated her, but the reality is that the accumulation of such a large volume of waste indicates a major environmental disaster. Jennifer Leivers and six other researchers were stationed on the island for three and a half months in 2015 for their research. They estimate that the weight of this waste is about 17.6 tons, with more than two-thirds buried in the shallow sands of the island's shores. According to her, a variety of plastic items can be found among the waste, from dolls and children's toys to toothbrushes and combs. However, more than anything else, disposable lighters were present. After cleaning part of the beach and observing the influx of waste, researchers estimate that ocean waves bring about 13,000 pieces of waste to the shores of this island every day. The island is approximately 10 kilometers long and about five kilometers wide. Jennifer Leivers says that after seeing this volume of plastic waste on Henderson Island, she decided to stop using plastic items as much as possible. For example, her toothbrush and mobile phone case are made of bamboo. She states, 'We need to seriously reconsider our relationship with plastic. Plastic is a material that remains intact forever, but it is used to make items that have a very short lifespan and are quickly discarded.'