TrashBlitz Data Reveals Single-Use Food & Beverage-Related Plastics Are the Most Common Items Found Across Various Sites
Miami Beach, FL – Clean Miami Beach and The 5 Gyres Institute share findings from a seven-month waste audit in South Florida, which analyzed more than 20,000 items and highlights the alarming prevalence of single-use plastic waste across shorelines, urban neighborhoods, and wilderness spaces. More than 770 volunteers collected trash from 17 sites around South Florida, inputting the data into the TrashBlitz app, which tallies the number of items, materials, and brands found.
Food and beverage products, smoking products, and bags comprised the top three categories, with 83% of all items collected composed of plastic. Single-use plastics, including bottles, bottle caps, cigarette butts, straws, and food wrappers, were among the most common items. Nearly half of all items collected were food and beverage-related, while smoking materials were disproportionately concentrated on Miami Beach’s shorelines. Anheuser-Busch InBev was the top brand identified, followed by Apollo Global Management (Eco-Products), PepsiCo Inc., Altria Group (Phillip Morris USA), and The Coca-Cola Company.
“Plastic makes up the vast majority of waste pollution in South Florida, and our beaches, waterways, and ecosystems bear the burden of single-use plastic. The data collected through TrashBlitz is a powerful tool for change; now it’s up to policymakers, businesses, and communities to take action, reduce plastic reliance, and champion a cleaner, healthier environment for all,” said Sophie Ringel, Founder & Executive Director of Clean Miami Beach.
The data collected from South Florida underscores an urgent need for policy change that addresses single-use plastic and enables a shift toward a culture of reuse. The TrashBlitz report highlights data-driven recommendations for lawmakers, local businesses, and visitors to address plastic pollution in South Florida. Lawmakers can strengthen cigarette litter policies, implement a statewide deposit return system for beverage bottles, and extend bans on intentionally littered items, like confetti, which would address several of the top items identified. Hotels and restaurants can play a role in reducing single-use foodware by implementing reusable options for on-site dining and encouraging reusables in takeout through education and incentives. Visitors and the general public are urged to follow the “pack in, pack out” principles and choose reusables to minimize waste and protect South Florida’s natural beauty.
“This report underscores the urgent need for systemic change to combat plastic pollution in South Florida. The overwhelming presence of single-use plastics in our waste stream is a direct result of inadequate policies and corporate responsibility. To protect our coastal ecosystems and public health, we must advance strong legislation, expand reuse systems, and rethink our approach to packaging and waste,” said Alison Waliszewski, Director of Regional Policy & Program Development at The 5 Gyres Institute.
The South Florida TrashBlitz Report can be found HERE!
About Clean Miami Beach
Clean Miami Beach, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization leading the charge in protecting Miami Beach and its surrounding marine ecosystems. Since its founding by Miami Beach resident Sophie Ringel, the organization has expanded from grassroots beach cleanups to implementing a wide range of programs that champion environmental sustainability. Clean Miami Beach engages a diverse network of volunteers, including residents, students, corporate partners, diplomats, and city officials, to address the critical issue of waste pollution and habitat preservation. By combining advocacy, mentorship, and hands-on community engagement, the organization empowers individuals to take action and cultivates a local culture of sustainability. Clean Miami Beach is committed to creating impactful, data-driven solutions to safeguard South Florida’s natural beauty for future generations.
About The 5 Gyres Institute
The 5 Gyres Institute (5 Gyres) is a leader in the global movement against plastic pollution with 15 years of expertise in scientific research, engagement, and education. With the original goal of answering a few key scientific questions about ocean plastics, co-founders Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins led 19 research expeditions in all five subtropical gyres, as well as many of the world’s lakes and rivers. 5 Gyres continues to lead with scientific research to drive upstream solutions through education, advocacy, and community building. Learn more at 5gyres.org and @5gyres.
About TrashBlitz
TrashBlitz is a data collection platform and community-focused research project created by the 5 Gyres Institute. The community-based project is designed to engage local stakeholders in measuring plastic pollution and other trash across various cities – from shorelines to riverbeds to urban neighborhoods – and utilizing data to generate relevant action plans. TrashBlitz provides robust research protocols, an app that identifies problem products and brands, and a platform to bring diverse stakeholders together to co-create solutions to stop plastic pollution at the source.