MUST SEE: Flooding sends 'tons' of plastic litter into the Indian Ocean

Footage shows significant amount of plastic litter being swept across the Durban coastline after days of flooding in parts of South Africa

Marine plastic has become a significant global problem and footage that surfaced online from South Africa Thursday, Dec. 12 shows just how much litter is showing up in our lakes, rivers and oceans.

The dramatic video was filmed and shared on social media by a member of The Litterboom Project -- a South African conservation initiative. The clip shows piles of plastic bottles and other debris being washed along Durban's coastline.

Parts of South Africa have been hit with heavy rain and floods in recent days, which has highlighted the seriousness of the country's plastic pollution by sending "tons" of debris into the Indian Ocean because of locally-swollen rivers.

SEE ALSO: Marine plastic pollution costs up to $2.5 trillion per year

According to The Litterboom Project, the plastic litter is a growing problem because of informal settlements being erected along rivers, in addition to poor service delivery from Durban's municipality.

Thumbnail courtesy of CBC News.

Sources: TimesLIVE | Reuters

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