The problem isn't plastic, the problem is everyone throwing it onto the oceans. And blaming the "third world" isn't gonna help
e: since you basically asked
Waste management is also a joke within the rich countries: landfills still exists and those recycling program seems nice on a consumer (=voter) side: you have a colored special bin, state flyers tells you how recycling (is supposed to) work and buy sometimes a (partially) recycled bootle or pullover. In practice 5% of stuff put in the bin is recycled, the rest goes to landfill or incinerators.
They don't contribute to the waste in oceans that this sub-thread seemed to be about.
- fly away with the wind
- are carried down the groundwater by rain. This is called leachate Modern landfills are protected by liners but those have a lifespan and eventually any of them could leak.