Plastic Waste Forms “Trash Reef” in Greece’s Aegean Sea

Recent reports indicate that tens of thousands of tons of plastic waste have accumulated in waters near Andros Island, Greece, forming a “garbage reef” resembling coral formations. The debris consists primarily of colorful plastic bags entangled among the coral formations. Its origins trace back to 2011, when torrential rains caused a local informal waste disposal site to collapse, sending vast quantities of garbage into the sea. Experts warn that this plastic waste will degrade into microplastics, which absorb toxic substances from the water and enter fish populations, ultimately posing risks to human health.