Waste that consists entirely or mainly of plastic products such as packaging, bottles, or films.
example
Der Plastikmüll in den Weltmeeren stellt eine große Gefahr für die Tierwelt dar.
Plastic waste in the world's oceans poses a major threat to wildlife.
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is composed of 'das Plastik' (plastic) and 'der Müll' (waste/trash). The meaning is therefore literal: waste that consists of plastic.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen unseren Verbrauch von Plastikverpackungen reduzieren, um Plastikmüll zu vermeiden.
We need to reduce our use of plastic packaging in order to avoid plastic waste.
Typical verbs
In connection with environmental protection, 'Plastikmüll' (plastic waste) is often used with verbs such as 'vermeiden' (to avoid), 'reduzieren' (to reduce), 'sammeln' (to collect), or 'recyceln' (to recycle).
EXAMPLE
Viele Initiativen versuchen, die Strände von Plastikmüll zu säubern.
Many initiatives try to clean plastic waste from the beaches.
Use in the singular
'Plastikmüll' (plastic waste) is an uncountable noun (mass noun). It is almost always used in the singular, even when talking about a large amount.