Plastic debris accumulation and fragmentation have become a global environmental issue. Since the 1950s, plastic production has increased dramatically, leading to the accumulation of plastic waste in terrestrial environments, the open ocean, and the deep sea. Annual clean-up operations, costing millions, are now conducted worldwide. Plastics constitute about 10% of discarded waste but make up a much larger proportion of debris on shorelines. Mega- and macro-plastics are most densely accumulated in the Northern Hemisphere near urban areas, while remote island shores and the deep sea have lower densities. Plastic debris poses significant threats by choking wildlife, transporting harmful organisms, and absorbing toxic chemicals. The average size of plastic particles is decreasing, and microplastics are becoming more abundant. However, the environmental impacts of microplastics are still poorly understood. Plastics are produced in large quantities globally, with about 225 million metric tons produced annually. Waste composition varies by country and is influenced by recycling, disposal, and human behavior. In the USA, plastics make up about 11.8% of municipal solid waste as-generated and 16.3% as-discarded. In Europe, plastics constitute about 7% of waste mass. Despite these variations, plastics are estimated to make up about 10% of municipal waste mass globally. However, plastics constitute up to 80% of waste stranded on beaches, floating on the ocean surface, and on the seabed. Temporal and spatial trends in plastic accumulation show that the rate of plastic stranding has increased over the past few decades. However, recent data suggest that accumulation patterns may be stabilizing, with some areas showing no clear trend. Plastic debris is found in various sizes, with microplastics being the most abundant. Microplastics are difficult to remove from the environment and can be ingested by a wide range of organisms. They have a high surface area to volume ratio, making them a potential route for the transfer of harmful chemicals. Plastics can also absorb and concentrate toxic chemicals, which can be released if ingested. The environmental consequences of plastic debris are still poorly understood, and more research is needed to assess the long-term impacts of plastic pollution.Plastic debris accumulation and fragmentation have become a global environmental issue. Since the 1950s, plastic production has increased dramatically, leading to the accumulation of plastic waste in terrestrial environments, the open ocean, and the deep sea. Annual clean-up operations, costing millions, are now conducted worldwide. Plastics constitute about 10% of discarded waste but make up a much larger proportion of debris on shorelines. Mega- and macro-plastics are most densely accumulated in the Northern Hemisphere near urban areas, while remote island shores and the deep sea have lower densities. Plastic debris poses significant threats by choking wildlife, transporting harmful organisms, and absorbing toxic chemicals. The average size of plastic particles is decreasing, and microplastics are becoming more abundant. However, the environmental impacts of microplastics are still poorly understood. Plastics are produced in large quantities globally, with about 225 million metric tons produced annually. Waste composition varies by country and is influenced by recycling, disposal, and human behavior. In the USA, plastics make up about 11.8% of municipal solid waste as-generated and 16.3% as-discarded. In Europe, plastics constitute about 7% of waste mass. Despite these variations, plastics are estimated to make up about 10% of municipal waste mass globally. However, plastics constitute up to 80% of waste stranded on beaches, floating on the ocean surface, and on the seabed. Temporal and spatial trends in plastic accumulation show that the rate of plastic stranding has increased over the past few decades. However, recent data suggest that accumulation patterns may be stabilizing, with some areas showing no clear trend. Plastic debris is found in various sizes, with microplastics being the most abundant. Microplastics are difficult to remove from the environment and can be ingested by a wide range of organisms. They have a high surface area to volume ratio, making them a potential route for the transfer of harmful chemicals. Plastics can also absorb and concentrate toxic chemicals, which can be released if ingested. The environmental consequences of plastic debris are still poorly understood, and more research is needed to assess the long-term impacts of plastic pollution.