The negative impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems and species is a global challenge. Although the causes vary from region to region, most scientists agree that poor solid waste management is an important factor. This is especially true in developing countries, where infrastructure has not kept pace with economic growth. In recent years, a number of public and private sector partners in Peru have worked to improve solid waste management – for the well-being of people and to reduce threats to marine ecosystems. Their work provides insight into effective strategies while highlighting gaps in key data on the impact of plastic pollution on marine biodiversity. This case study provides an overview of the challenges facing Peru, the strategies adopted so far, and the types of additional data and interventions needed to address this global problem at the local and national levels. With the help of Earth5R, I want to raise awareness about plastic waste not only in my city but also across borders and take the necessary steps to control the crisis and gradually solve the problems of plastic waste that negatively impacts marine wildlife, including entanglement, ingestion, transport of invasive species and toxic pollutants (Thevenon, Carroll and Sousa, 2014). Microplastics have been reported in various marine taxa, including amphipods, which live in six of the world`s deepest marine ecosystems (Thiel et al., 2018; Jamieson, et al. 2019), which point to the ubiquitous distribution of these particles. However, a differentiated understanding of the effects of plastic on the biology of certain marine species is still poorly understood. The risk of exposure to plastics and microplastics depends on the distribution and abundance of plastics and the biology of the species (Thiel et al. 2018).

In many developing countries, the consumption of disposable goods has grown faster than the development of appropriate waste management practices and infrastructure (Jambeck et al. 2015). The development of sustainable waste management systems requires several key strategies, including capacity building of public waste management authorities; addressing the infrastructure gap; partnerships with the private sector and civil society organizations and capacity-building; and the implementation of appropriate laws, regulations and standards (The Cadmus Group 2018). Countries, including Peru, are increasingly taking bold steps to combat plastic pollution. With more than 3,000 km of coastline and home to some of the most polluted beaches in Latin America, Peru offers a model to better understand the relationship between marine plastic litter and solid waste management, as well as the types of interventions that have a positive impact. Most plastic waste remains close to coastal areas for years, damaging ecosystems vital to economic and human health. Over time, debris can be degraded and transported by ocean currents into open waters and eddies, where particles accumulate and create «waste spots» (Lebreton, Egger and Slat 2019; Thiel, et al. 2018). Plastics in the Subtropical South Pacific Vortex (SPSG) come largely from debris in the coastal waters of the Humboldt Current, which extends off the coasts of Chile and Peru (Thiel, et al.

2018). Marine protected areas near the five ocean eddies and waste accumulation points are at risk of keeping large amounts of plastic waste in the ocean, undermining efforts to protect local wildlife (Luna-Jorquera et al., 2019). According to forecasts, the amount of plastic waste in the environment will only continue to increase if strict measures are not taken against it. Types of solid waste found in India (Source: RSC Publishing – The Royal Society of Chemistry) Arya Mitra, an Earth5R volunteer from Dehradun, has taken the lead in tackling the global plastic waste crisis in her hometown. He conducted a sequence of 10 cleaning sessions, analyzed the collected waste and provided the equipment. His perspective on why he wanted to join the project was: «I wanted to join the `Know Your Plastics` project because I wanted to understand the types of waste and how I could help achieve a long-term goal, not only by absorbing waste now, but also by encouraging the society around me to help achieve the goal of sustainable development. With the help of Earth5R, I want to raise awareness about plastic waste not only in my city, but also outside the borders, and also take the necessary measures that must be implemented to control the crisis and resolve it gradually. Due to the lack of management in the city, all waste is scattered on the streets and very dangerous for the environment. Due to the lack of separation and recycling, plastic is left in the ground to decompose or be incinerated, which has harmful effects on the environment. The lack of proper waste management leads to the discovery of waste in places that are harmful to the environment.

Arya also explained: «According to my findings, most of the waste was found near school boundaries and comparatively less in residential areas. I also wanted to mention that most plastic waste consisted of things that are generally taboo in society, for example: pregnancy test kits, other contraceptives and tobacco packets. Maybe people don`t feel comfortable getting rid of them at home, and so unfortunately they litter the streets outside! The negative impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems and species is a global challenge.