A satellite imagery tool that is able to spot plastic pollution building up on beaches 600km below could be used to help tackle the world’s ocean waste problem.

According to US environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy, 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans every year. This is in addition to the estimated 200 million metric tons that are already there.

Satellite technology is already used to track the massive amounts of plastic floating around our oceans – from relatively small drifts containing thousands of plastic bottles, bags and fishing nets to gigantic floating trash islands like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is three times the size of France.

Now researchers from Australia’s RMIT University have used satellite imagery to pick up on differences in how sand, water and plastic reflect light, allowing plastic to be spotted on shorelines from more than 600km above. By spotting plastic on remote beaches, the technology could be used to help direct clean-up operations...