Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection

Katie Register, Executive DirectorClean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University

Photo: Nat Geo

Stormwater & Litter WorkshopFeb 10, 2020

MissionEnhance the health of Virginia’s water

resources through pollution

prevention, education, and

stewardship activities involving

Virginians from the classroom to the

boardroom.

Of Longwood University

25thYear!

What we know about litter & marine debris

Land-based Sources account for 60% to 80%

of all marine debris

Photo: Clean VA Waterways

Photo: Ocean Conservancy

Land � Stormwater �Waterways � Ocean

Trash travels

Photo: Clean VA Waterways

Water-based Sources•Derelict fishing gear & vessels•Disasters

Photo: Dot Field, VA DCR

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Photo: Katie Register, Clean VA Waterways

Impacts--physical and chemical

Plas%c'Debris'

styrenes'

PCBs'

PBDEs'

BPA'

phthalates'

PAHs'

Ni'

Pb'

Chemical)Ingredients)

Chemical)Byproducts)

Sorbed)Contaminants)

Cocktail'of'Toxicants'

Rochman 2015 Chapter in Marine Anthropogenic Litter

Impacts – Ingestion

Photos: VA Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Impacts – Entanglement

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Photo: Ocean Conservancy

Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

• 90% of all plastic made is still with us

• Plastics are persistent & transportable

• ~85% of trash in ocean is plastic

• Plastic pollution is preventable!

Special concern: Plastic

Image: Ocean Conservancy

We are using a permanent material for temporary uses

Plastic Items 1995-2014

1. Cigarette Filters 2. Beverage Bottles (Plastic)3. Bags 4. Cups, Plates, Forks,

Knives, Spoons5. Food Wrappers/Containers 6. Beverage Cans 7. Caps & Lids 8. Beverage Bottles (Glass) 9. Straws, Stirrers10. Building Materials

11. Balloons12. Rope 13. Clothing, Shoes14. Fishing Line 15. Oil/Lube Bottles16. Tires17. Toys18. Fishing Buoys, Pots &

Traps 19. Cigarette Lighters 20. Six-Pack Holders

Data gathered by International Coastal Cleanup volunteers in Virginia

What the public is learning

Image: Ocean Conservancy

Growing awareness & concern about plastic pollution.

Results from a poll:

“Which environmental issues are you hearing about the most?”

From family, news, social media…

Download this report from:https://sheltongrp.com/work/circularity-2019-special-report-waking-the-sleeping-giant

Awareness:

Plastics in the ocean is now on par with climate change

Q: “When you think about the future of our planet, how concerned are you about each of these issues?”

A: Plastics in the ocean came out on top. Ahead of climate change.

Concern:

There is a correlation:

As awareness of plastic bansincreases, so does concernabout plastic pollution.

High awareness & concernabout plastic pollution =

Opportunities for behavior change to decrease single-use items (source reduction) & to decrease littering.

Other concerns…

Plastic in food webs

Impacts – Health & safety

Nat Geo

63% of individuals sampled --Devriese et al., 2015

80% of individuals sampled. --Murray and Cowie, 2011

75% of individuals sampled. --Santana et al., 2016

And in salt and BEER too!

Plastic has been found in…

Philly spends $48 million a year to clean up litter, Pa. report finds.

--February 6, 2020, www.phillyvoice.com

Impacts – Economic

Our Goals:

Make the connection between litter in your town…and plastic in the ocean

Make the connection between our use of single-use disposal items… and plastic in the ocean

More plastic coming soon

Throwaway Living. 1955. Life Magazine

Plastic waste projections

This chart shows plastic waste. Production of plastic is ~20% higher.Mostly single-use disposables. Fracked gas making production of new plastic less expensive. We can’t recycle our way out of this problem.

Flexible packaging

Multi-layered plastic packaging is on the rise

Flexible packaging

Benefits with Challenges in recycling

Convenience items

“Smart” vs “Stupid” Plastic

“Smart” vs “Stupid” Plastic

Making the Connection= Demand for Change

• Petitions– Change.org – petitions asking restaurants

to decrease SUP straws, condiments, etc. • Straw campaigns• Laws, policies

SUP=Single-Use Plastic

Example petitions:

Unique times…

• Growing production of plastic (most of which is used in single-use items)

• Growing awareness & concern of plastic pollution

• Time for action

Our workshop today

Tools of change– Case studies

• Fairfax and Prince William Counties– Overview of legislative solutions– Community-based social marketing– NOAA Marine Debris Program grants

Priorities for 2021-2025

Thank You!

Katie Register, Executive DirectorClean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University434-395-2602 registerkm@longwood.eduwww.longwood.edu/cleanvafacebook.com/Clean.VA.Waterways/

www.longwood.edu/cleanva/publications.html