Strategies to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution from Land-based Sources in Low and Middle-Income Countries

This policy document examines the escalating problem of marine plastic pollution stemming from land-based sources, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on literature and action research from India and Indonesia, it underscores the urgent need to embed plastic waste management within national and municipal waste strategies. Key challenges identified include weak infrastructure, insufficient regulation, and low public engagement. The report outlines an integrated set of strategies across the plastic value chain, structured under five categories of policy intervention: regulatory, economic, technological, data/information, and voluntary measures. These strategies are mapped out across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons, offering a phased approach to reform. Emphasis is placed on improving governance, supporting informal waste sectors, and encouraging sustainable production and consumption patterns. The document concludes with a call for context-specific roadmaps that support circular economy transitions, reduce plastic leakage, and promote resilient, inclusive systems for managing plastic waste sustainably at scale.