Wednesday, February 10, 2010
California Stemming the Tide of Plastics to our Oceans
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ABC News recently did a special report following Algalita Marine Research Foundation's work on plastics in our ocean and in our fish and marine life. While the report mentions that coastal communities are addressing the problem by trying to prevent plastics and litter from entering our oceans, waves and beaches, it does not mention the statewide efforts that are underway in Hawaii, Oregon, DC, Florida and elsewhere. Here in California, the following bills have been proposed:
- SB 4 Cigarette Butt Ban on our Beaches and Parks
- AB 925 Leash your Lid to prevent bottle caps from entering waterways
- Stemming the Tide of Plastic Bags (through a fee or ban)
- Polystyrene Ban for take out ware
- Extended Producer Responsibility ("EPR")
Surfrider Foundation is working directly to support these initiatives and with the help of other organizations in the Clean Seas Coalition to make our voices heard in the State Capitol and to our local representatives.
Labels: cigarette butt, EPR, marine debris, plastic bags, RAP
Friday, December 11, 2009
Trash TMDLs with TEETH
Yesterday marked a great victory for keeping trash out of our ocean due to the action of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The LA Water Board voted to incorporate the Zero Trash TMDL (total maximum daily load) into the Municipal Stormwater Permit (or MS4 permits). The vote was recommended by staff and recieved a unanimous 5-0 vote from the Board. The action will help stem the trash that flows into the Los Angeles River and, of course, flows downstream to Long Beach (LB City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal was present to testify on what it does to the shoreline).
The Regional Board's action is a big step forward in reducing trash in the LA River and reducing the amount of Marine Debris in our ocean. This will complement Surfrider's hard work on our Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Gardens and Ballona Creek clean up and restoration effots. For more info, check out this LA Times article.
The Regional Board's action is a big step forward in reducing trash in the LA River and reducing the amount of Marine Debris in our ocean. This will complement Surfrider's hard work on our Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Gardens and Ballona Creek clean up and restoration effots. For more info, check out this LA Times article.
Labels: marine debris, OFG, TMDL
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
NO BUTTS: Cigarette Butt Litter, Fees and Campaigns
This Sacramento Bee article highlights San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's newly proposed 33-cents-a-pack fee on cigarettes to pay for the cost of cleaning up butt litter. He moved on the matter after the city's annual "litter audit" found that cigarette butts make up a quarter of littered items in the city. Litter abatement costs are deep strain on public resources, especially at a time when cities and the state are in a financial squeeze. The 33-cent fee was proposed to raise $11 million to offset the cost of picking up the discarded cigarette butts, a vast amount of which end up in the ocean and San Francisco Bay.
Cigarette filters are designed to trap toxic chemicals. When submerged in water, the toxic chemicals trapped in the filter leak out into aquatic ecosystems, threatening the quality of the water and aquatic life. Studies indicate the chemicals in cigarettes are leaching into our water ways and are deadly to water fleas (a small but important microorganism that lives in most lakes, streams and the ocean). An important component of Surfrider Foundation's Hold On To Your Butt campaign is to stop the litter problem before it starts by educating the community on the harms of cigarette butt litter. For more information on cigarette butt litter, click here.
Labels: cigarette butt, marine debris
Friday, March 6, 2009
2009 Ocean Litter Legislation
Based on the Ocean Protection Council's recently published strategy on reducing ocean litter and a concerted effort by the environmental community to highlight this problem, the California Legislature has put forth several bills geared at reducing marine debris in the current session. Specifically, Surfrider is advocating for Senate Bill 4 (Oropeza) which would reduce cigarette butt litter in state parks and beaches.
Other bills addressing marine debris include AB 68 plastic bag fee, AB 1358 addressing the prevalence of polystyrene and AB 283 proposing an Extended Producer Responsibility regime.
Check out this recent article on anti-litter legislation for more information. Also, keep up to date with Surfrider Action Alerts.
Other bills addressing marine debris include AB 68 plastic bag fee, AB 1358 addressing the prevalence of polystyrene and AB 283 proposing an Extended Producer Responsibility regime.
Check out this recent article on anti-litter legislation for more information. Also, keep up to date with Surfrider Action Alerts.
Labels: cigarette butt, marine debris, ocean litter, plastic bags
