1. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Marine Litter
State of Play
European Commission
DG Environment
Marine and Water Industry Unit
Status: January 2013

2. State of Play with regard to Marine Litter (1)
Oct 2012: Commission Staff Working Document published
Dec 2012: Commission proposes in 7th EAP to develop an EU wide target on marine litter
Jan 2013: Three pilot projects finished on sources of and measures against marine litter
Jan 2013: review of waste legislation incl packaging Directive started
Feb 2013: Pilot project on litter recovery started
Mar 2013: Green paper on plastic in the environment to be published
Apr 2013: International conference on marine litter in Berlin

3. State of Play with regard to Marine Litter (2)
Autumn: Assessment (art 12) report of MSFD
2013: Regional Action plans per regional Seas developed
Nov 2013: HELCOM Ministerial meeting
2014: Year of Waste; Review of legislation
July 2014: Monitoring programmes MSFD
July 2015: Programme of measures MSFD

4. Some results from pilot studies
DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Some results from pilot studies
3 reports of around 100 pages with many annexes (47 Mb)
One common chapter summarizing the results
Long list with more than 200 measures
Short list with detailed feasibility analysis
Strategies proposed for 4 regional seas
Strategies to address packaging waste (being the largest contributor to litter)

5. Key findings Plastic is dominant fraction
Packaging waste mainly from land based sources
Bottles, bags, cigarette buds, cotton (ear) buds are largest fraction
Individual behaviour and people’s attitudes/perceptions is major influential factor (purchase, consumption, disposal)
Other important factors: context (e.g. cleanliness of the area), available waste infrastructure (e.g. sewerage systems) and facilities (e.g. port reception facilities, suitable receptacles).

6. Important actors Consumers Role of retailers, close to consumers
Actors in waste management
Producers extended responsibility
Sectors (recreation,
Different levels of action: local, national, regional, EU
See website:

7. International Marine litter Conference
Co-organized by UBA Germany and EC
200 participants from MS, local authorities, stakeholders
Representation of 4 regional sea conventions
Main items: Target setting; measures; best practices; new initiatives; regional action plans, declaration

8. DG Environment, Unit D.2 Marine Environment and Water Industry
Thank you for your attention!