Buenos Aires Atlantic Coast to host 9th Coastal Waste Census

The 9th edition of the Coastal Waste Census of the Buenos Aires Atlantic Coast is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026. Organized by the Red Costera Bonaerense (RECOBO), the initiative involves 50 local institutions and civil society organizations across approximately 22 tourist locations and towns in the province.

The census aims to record the quantity and typology of waste found on beaches to provide a database for local, provincial, and national policy design. Previous data highlights a significant plastic crisis; in the 2025 survey, which covered over 172,000 square meters, plastics—including fragments, wrappers, and bags—accounted for 78.36% of the 39,826 items recorded. Cigarette butts were identified as the second most common type of waste.

Environmental groups, including Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina, emphasize that this monitoring is essential to understanding the environmental, sanitary, economic, and social impacts of marine debris. The accumulation is attributed to various sources, such as urban drainage systems, river discharges, wind, and direct disposal.