Trash Free Waters

  • EPA Releases National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution!

    On November 21, 2024, EPA published the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," which focuses on actions to eliminate the release of plastic pollution into the environment. 

  • Escaped Trash Risk Map

    The EPA's Trash Free Waters program has mapped estimated escaped trash density on land and at risk of getting into waterways in its newly released  Escaped Trash Risk Map. Trash Free Waters is also planning on establishing an Escaped Trash Monitoring Network to gather data to update the map for 2025 and beyond. Please sign up here if you are interested in potentially participating in this monitoring network.  

  • Trash Free Waters Webinar Series

    Attend EPA's Trash Free Waters Program Webinar Series to hear leading researchers, policymakers and representatives from across the field present on pressing topics in aquatic trash and microplastics. Join the Trash Free Waters mailing list to receive the latest webinar registration link.

  • Report to Congress on Microfiber Pollution Published!

    Pursuant to a requirement of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (P.L. 116-224), NOAA's Marine Debris Program and the Trash Free Waters Program co-led the development of a Report to Congress on behalf of the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee titled Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee Report on Microfiber Pollution. Please read this important report!

Most of the trash that pollutes our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans comes from sources on land. Plastic trash, in particular, threatens human health, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy. EPA’s Trash Free Waters program is reducing the volume of trash entering our waters by working with partners to implement collaborative solutions that target land-based sources. View the EPA Trash Free Waters Brochure (pdf) (3.03 MB) or Trash Free Waters Program Factsheet (pdf) (6.8 MB, May 2022, EPA-842-F-22-001) to learn more.

2023 is the tenth anniversary of EPA's Trash Free Waters program (pdf) (444.46 KB, October 2023)

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Last updated on May 29, 2025