Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all...
Transcript of Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all...
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 [email protected]/cleanvafacebook.com/Clean.VA.Waterways/
www.longwood.edu/cleanva/publications.html