JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Over 480 billion plastic bottles are used worldwide annually. About 20,000 bottles
are bought every second and approximately 1500 plastic bottles are thrown away
every second of every day. This number will grow by 25% by 2025. Even though
plastic bottles are recyclable, 91% of them are not recycled. Understanding the
dynamics of plastic bottles in IO is crucial to assessing and mitigating the
environmental impact on marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem
health. The IO is interconnected with other oceans, and insights gained from this
study can contribute to a broader understanding of global plastic pollution patterns
and their interconnectedness. In other words, the study aims to inform conservation
efforts, influence policies, raise public awareness, and contribute to global initiatives
aimed at addressing the environmental challenges posed by plastic bottle pollution.

Mombasa is among the cities that straddle the IO where plastic ocean pollution is
an epidemic.
 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Plastic debris is currently the most abundant type of litter in the oceans. The focus of
this project is to be able to minimize the tonnes of plastic bottles and have a model
for their management in IO.

ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

To enhance the credibility and interpretation of the model results, we will assume
that:
 There is a relatively uniform distribution of plastic bottles across the IO unless
specific data suggests otherwise.
 We have consistent ocean currents and drift patterns over the study period for
modeling purposes.
 Stable environmental conditions, like the temperature and salinity.
 The data sources for input parameters are accurate.