Marine Litter Vital Graphics

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49 Marine Litter Vital Graphics
Generally, however, the value of marine plastic for
recycling is less than that of the plastic before it
became contaminated or partly degraded in the marine
environment. This is because plastic that has spent time in
the oceans may absorb chemical or biological materials,
or may partially degrade to the point that it can no longer
be used in standard recycling processes since it would
reduce the quality of the recycled material.
Dealing with marine litter can benefit communities through
awareness raising, education and paid employment in
projects such as litter picking or upcycling, which can
also help to develop marketable skills. It can also support
long-term livelihoods in fisheries or tourism and promote
well-being linked to recreation. Social cohesion can be
fostered through revenue-raising for litter projects, or
through a wider sense of ownership of, and responsibility
for, a clean environment. Efforts in these domains need
to be gender-sensitive, recognizing that men and women
participate in fishing and tourism livelihoods differently,
and recognizing that women and men often participate
differently in community improvement activities.
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