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Plastic waste pollutes the marine ecosystem because it does not naturally decompose; instead, it fragments into increasingly smaller pieces, accumulating in the environment and becoming difficult to detect and remove. This research represents the first recorded study of plastics at Bique Beach, Arraiján District, with the objective of classifying plastic debris by size and composition. Through surveys conducted across four beach zones and quadrant sampling, plastics were quantified into three categories: macro, meso, and microplastics. Macroplastics were classified based on their chemical composition, while meso- and microplastics were differentiated by their physical characteristics (rigid fragments, films, rods, fibers, and pellets). The most common items found were macroplastics made of polyester (24 items), mesoplastics in the form of rigid fragments (15 items), and microplastics also as rigid fragments in the sand (18 items). Macroplastics were mainly concentrated in the urbanized and coastal zones, while meso- and microplastics increased toward the intertidal and mangrove areas, respectively. The presence of different types of plastic in various zones indicates an active fragmentation process, creating a transition scenario between size categories. The study concludes that continued monitoring of the presence and transformation of these residues on the country's beaches is necessary to assess their impact on ecosystems and environmental health.
