This resource provides an interactive map and open GIS dataset estimating floating macroplastic emissions from 31,819 river outfalls worldwide. It is based on the global river plastic transport model published by Meijer et al. (2021) in Science Advances, which found that more than 1,000 rivers account for approximately 80% of global riverine plastic emissions to the ocean. The dataset is developed and hosted by The Ocean Cleanup.

River plastic transport modeling is a critical tool for prioritizing cleanup interventions and informing policy decisions. By quantifying which rivers contribute most to ocean plastic inputs — using mismanaged plastic waste generation as the primary driver — the dataset enables researchers, NGOs, and policymakers to identify high-leverage intervention points at the source rather than addressing pollution after it reaches the ocean.

Key dataset details:

• Covers 31,819 river outfalls emitting floating macroplastic globally
• Distributed as a GIS shapefile compatible with standard geospatial software
• Based on mismanaged plastic waste generation data combined with hydrological modeling
• Static snapshot dataset (not a live feed); published as supplementary data via Figshare
• Open access; freely downloadable without registration

The full dataset is available at Figshare. The interactive map is hosted at The Ocean Cleanup’s Sources portal. For related fate-and-transport modeling resources, see OEOO Microplastic Pollution Map.