The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program has been the United States government's lead on the subject since 2006. It funds removal and research, and it publishes the material a teacher, a chapter volunteer or a restaurant running a staff briefing can use without worrying about whether the source has an angle.
Fact sheets
A set of short fact sheets, last updated in March 2024, covering what marine debris is, where it comes from, what it does to wildlife and habitats, and what can be done. They are written for a general reader and, as US government works, are in the public domain.
Lesson plans
The curricula page, updated in August 2024, lists more than twenty-five standards-aligned lesson plans for schools. One, "Taking a Bite Out of Lunchroom Waste", has pupils audit their own school's lunch packaging, which is the same exercise a restaurant goes through when it audits its takeout.
A note on currency and logos
The programme's most recent material dates from 2024 and 2025. The NOAA emblem is a registered mark that may not be used without permission, which is why this page carries none.