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Marine litter, particularly plastic waste, is generated by human activities, including those on land, and is mainly discharged through rivers into the ocean. Understanding the full extent of plastic waste requires research and surveys of oceans, rivers, and coasts, as well as land-based living areas such as cities. The earth and planetary science community is vigorously engaged in in situ ocean and coastal observations and remote sensing surveys using drones and other instruments to elucidate the actual abundance of plastic waste. However, even if reliable information can be obtained, research from institutional and policy perspectives involving other countries is required to establish a framework for recovering plastic and reducing the future release of plastic waste into the environment. In this session, researchers responsible for measuring the current state of plastic pollution and those familiar with national and international plastic pollution issues and policies will present advanced research and the latest developments in their fields. Discussions will then take place on how to handle and solve plastic pollution problems from an interdisciplinary perspective and how to disseminate such results to society. This session was a joint proposal between the JpGU and the Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies (SEEPS).