Plastic pollution on the Colombian central Caribbean beaches

Highlights: • Plastic was found along 24 beaches of the central Caribbean of Colombia with an average abundance of 4.54 items/m². • 43 different plastic categories • 8 plastic typologies are responsible for 82% of all plastic collected. • The study area can be categorized as an "Extremely Dirty" coastal strip with a "Very High Abundance" of plastics. • Plastic composition suggests a combination of sources that mainly include dumping and direct activities on the beach. Along 24 beaches of the Central Caribbean Coast of Colombia, plastic items were collected and grouped into 43 different typologies. The average plastic abundance was 4.54 items/m² being eight typologies responsible for 82% of all plastic collected. The application of the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and the Plastic Abundance Index (PAI) allows categorization of the study area as "Extremely Dirty" coastal strip with a "Very High Abundance" of plastics. Beaches were statistically grouped into three specific types: moderate, bad and extremely bad environmental conditions. The typology and magnitudes of plastics found in the study area suggest a combination of sources that primarily include dumping and direct activities on the beach. Plastic medical and sanitary waste, ocean/waterway items, and plastic items related to smoking-related activities also were observed.