Tracking a Plastic Pollution Solution

UGA’s Jenna Jambeck determines where plastic pollution comes from and how to keep it out of the water.

Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineering professor in UGA’s College of Engineering, has received a lot of attention recently. In 2022, she was named a MacArthur Fellow, and last year she was named a USA Today Woman of the Year honoree.

Jambeck’s attention is focused on solving the plastic pollution crisis.

It’s estimated that over 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean every year. Preventing that from happening takes understanding where the plastic waste comes from and how it gets into the water. To help with that mission, Jambeck and her fellow UGA engineering professor, Kyle Johnsen, created a free app called Debris Tracker.

Used by both professionals and citizen scientists, the open-data app allows users to track plastic and other pollution using a smartphone. To date, Debris Tracker users have logged more than 5 million items around the world.

Jenna Jambeck Portrait of Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering Jenna Jambeck with trash and debris behind her on site at the Athens Clarke County Landfill. Date of Photo: 3/4/2015 Credit: Andrew Davis Tucker, University of Georgia Photographic Services File: 32520-039 The University of Georgia owns the rights to this image or has permission to redistribute this image. Permission to use this image is granted for internal UGA publications and promotions and for a one-time use for news purposes. Separate permission and payment of a fee is required to use any image for any other purpose, including but not limited to, commercial, advertising or illustrative purposes. Unauthorized use of any of these copyrighted photographs is unlawful and may subject the user to civil and criminal penalties. Possession of this image signifies agreement to all the terms described above.

The Circularity Assessment Protocol, or CAP, is used by Jambeck and her students to further conduct community-level analysis of the origins and fate of plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics like bottles or food packaging.

“The data we gather using the Debris Tracker app helps us understand what type of litter ends up in the environment and how it got there,” said Taylor Maddalene, a doctoral student in UGA’s College of Engineering.

“When we analyze litter alongside other elements of the CAP, we’re able to provide science-backed data that can ultimately inform decision making at the city level to improve water quality and reduce pollution.”

The Circularity Assessment Protocol, or CAP, is used by Jambeck and her students to further conduct community-level analysis of the origins and fate of plastic waste, particularly single-use plastics like bottles or food packaging.

“While it’s important that we accurately record plastic and other litter that we see on the ground or in the water, the CAP involves several other key components,” said Dr. Jambeck.

“For example, we go to local stores to see what kinds of products are most frequently sold and how they are packaged, we examine waste management practices, and we work closely with members of the community to better understand local attitudes about conservation and pollution. The entire process is in collaboration with local partners and the city or community to highlight strengths and recommend actions to increase circularity and keep plastics out of the environment.”

While the task may seem daunting, as it’s estimated that every minute more than a dump truck of plastics enters the ocean, the UGA team is up to the challenge. After all, there’s a lot at stake.

According to Dr. Jambeck, “By changing the way we think about waste, valuing the management of it, collecting, capturing and containing it, we can improve the living conditions and health for millions of people around the world and protect our oceans.”