Transcript HtB’s Beach Report Card
Kirsten James Water Quality Director Heal the Bay
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean.
The Changing Face of Water Pollution
Malibu Coastline After Rain Event
Marine Debris
Extent of the Problem
60-80% of all marine debris is plastic, and 90% of floating marine debris is plastic 3.5 million tons of plastics off CA
5 million mi 2
garbage patch 6x the amount of plastic than plankton Photo: Algalita Foundation Sources: CA Coastal Commission; AMRF; AMRF; C.J. Moore et al (2001) Photo: Algalita Foundation
Marine Life Impacts
Photo: CA Coastal Commission Photo: Vanderlip Photo: Whale Rescue Team
Economic Impacts
Tourism largest industry in CA Ocean Economy valued at $46 billion Ocean-dependent industries add over $17 billion and 370,000 jobs to California’s economy Sources: National Ocean Economics Program (2005); The Plastic and Marine Debris Waste Reduction, Recycling and Composting Act
Clean-up costs add up…
Los Angeles County: $4,157,388 (annual clean-up cost of 31 miles of beach) City of Santa Monica: $541,000 (annual cost of clean-up of plastic waste on the beach) City of Long Beach :$878,262 (1998-99 cost of gathering and disposing of trash a the mouth of the LA River during the rainy season) Sources: LA River Trash TMDL; City of Santa Monica
Solutions….
REGULATION
Trash TMDLs
East Fork San Gabriel Ballona Creek and Wetlands Los Angeles River Legg Lake, Machado Lake, Ventur a River Estuary, Lake Elizabeth, Munz Lake, Lake Hugh es, Revolon Slough and Beardsley Wash Malibu Creek
LEGISLATION
OPC Resolution on Marine Debris Reduce sources of plastic marine debris Reduce single-use plastic packaging Remove derelict fishing gear Ban toxic plastic packaging Increase enforcement of laws to eliminate pollution by nurdles
Statewide Legislation
“Nurdles” – AB 258 Derelict Fishing Gear – AB 899 Plastic Bags – AB 2058 Photo: Algalita Foundation Photo: CA Coastal Commission
Clean Seas Coalition
Local/County Ordinances
Polystyrene and bags
City of Los Angeles – PS ban in city facilities; bags 2010 Santa Monica – PS ban adopted 11/06; bags 2008 Malibu – EPS ban adopted 2/05; bags 2008 Manhattan Beach – Bags 2008 County of LA – Bag reduction targets 2008
EDUCATION
Clean-ups
Outreach
A Day Without A Bag
2007 Partnerships Bags Donated By: LA County, City of LA, Ralphs, 1Bagatatime.com, Earthwise, BYORB.com, Ecobags.com, West 19th Reusable Bag Coalition
Bring Your Own Earth Resource Foundation Environment California Mujeres de la Tierra Palisades Cares Palisades Green Initiative
Corporate Sponsors
Overview of Day Without A Bag 2007 22 cities in Los Angeles County signed resolutions designating the day as A Day Without a Bag Over 10,000 reusable bags were handed out to Los Angeles County residents 17 reusable bag giveaways took place throughout Los Angeles County
Save the Date
December 18th
Business partnerships Volunteer at giveaway locations Spread the word