Abstract

Litter from anthropogenic sources is commonly observed on beaches in the SE Pacific. The composition of litter found on the shore suggests that most of it has passed relatively little time at sea, and has mostly local sources. In southern Chile, stray items from aquaculture installations comprise most of the garbage, whereas in central and northern Chile and in Peru, general household litter is most common. Abundances are highest in areas with intense human activities, i.e. harbors, cities, and aquaculture centers. Impacts on the marine life are commonly observed, but have not been systematically studied in the SE Pacific. Estimated costs of litter on local beaches are high, as underlined by the high costs of beach cleaning, especially during the annual tourist season. Current data suggest that beaches without regular cleaning activities accumulate large amounts of litter. Regulations are in place to avoid littering at sea and on beaches, but law enforcement is limited mainly because the governmental bodies in charge are understaffed. Therefore, the most viable option to reduce the amount of litter is to reduce its production in the first place, improve reuse and recycling, and enhance environmental awareness. Several governmental and non-governmental organisations develop education programs that incorporate environmental aspects. The geographic coverage of these programs should be expanded. Furthermore, there is a need for long-term programs that inform the public about the need to reduce the amounts of waste and increase reuse and recycling in all sectors of society.