Channelkeeper

New Report Outlines a Comprehensive Approach to Prevent Ocean Plastic Pollution

February 2, 2022 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

How can we address the global issue of plastic waste? A new report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS), titled Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste, not only evaluates the United States’ contribution to plastic production and waste generation, it also offers recommendations for reducing the amount of plastic that makes its way to the ocean.

The NAS study, required by the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act of 2020, reports that the U.S. generated more plastic waste in 2016 than any country in the world—a total of 42 million metric tons (MMT) and estimates that in 2016 about 1 to 2 MMT of US-generated plastic waste entered the environment in the U.S. and abroad. Previous studies estimate that globally 8 MMT of plastic waste enters the world’s ocean each year.

The report found that the leading sources of ocean plastics include stormwater systems, wastewater discharges, atmospheric deposits, trash from boats and ships, beach waste, and transport from inland areas by rivers and streams.

These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced tracking and monitoring to gather comprehensive data and address knowledge gaps by employing technologies such as sensors, biochemical markers, and tracers, as well as the implementation of standardized measurements to collect meaningful data sets that are scientifically robust and comparable.

Recommended Interventions

What steps can the U.S. take to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean? The report recommends that a variety of interventions be implemented across various stages of plastic’s path from source to ocean.

As a fundamental step, the study suggests that the U.S. reduce overall plastic production to affect change throughout the waste stream. And, with system-wide solutions in mind, the report also recommends that the U.S. improve waste management infrastructure and accelerate innovations in material and product design to develop plastic substitutes that degrade more quickly or are easily recycled.

Physical interventions include frequent cleanups, improving the methods used to remove plastic waste from the environment such as extracting plastic waste from stormwater, and reducing the amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean directly from vessels via the establishment of waste disposal infrastructure, incentives for land-based disposal of fishing nets and gear, better tracking methods, and increased enforcement.

Ultimately, the report recommends the creation of a federal research and policy strategy that focuses on identifying and implementing interventions throughout the plastic life cycle.

The NAS report not only provides an informative assessment of the U.S.’s contribution to the global ocean plastic problem, but it also offers actionable recommendations that, if implemented, may position the US as a global leader in reducing plastic pollution and creating a more circular economy. In this sense, the report presents an opportunity to effect positive change and transform our nation’s approach to mitigating plastic pollution.

What Can We Do?

As an organization, Channelkeeper works to reduce the flow of plastic pollution to the ocean through an array of advocacy, monitoring, outreach, and education initiatives and as a lead community voice supporting the transition away from single-use plastics. We conduct cleanups, advocate for local ordinances to minimize distribution of these single-use plastic items by using less harmful alternatives, and we support a film plastic recycling program in partnership with Abblitt’s Fine Cleaners that converts plastic waste into pellets used for decking and other household materials.

On an individual level, each of us can take steps to reduce the flow of plastics into the environment. We can lessen the plastic used in our lives and choose products that come in minimal packaging. We can leverage our purchasing power to choose more sustainable options by purchasing secondhand items and products in bulk, and by reusing items rather than buying new ones. We can also simply recycle the plastic items that we use. Finally, we can support government policies that reduces plastic use. Support government initiatives at the city, county, state, and federal level to reduce the use of single-use plastics and hold businesses accountable for the packaging they produce.

In November of 2022, every Californian will have an opportunity to take action against plastic pollution by voting in support of the California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Initiative. If passed, the law would require the State to take steps to reduce plastic waste including requiring that single-use plastic packaging, containers, and utensils be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. It would also tax producers of single-use plastics and use the revenue to fund recycling and environmental programs.

We invite you to learn more about this upcoming ballot initiative and support federal legislation like the Federal Break Free from Plastic Act of 2020, which would hold plastic producers fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting their products after consumer use and would establish minimum percentages of products that must be reused, recycled, or composted.

Reducing the amount of plastic waste that finds its way into the environment will require the combined efforts of legislative action, producer responsibility, and consumer pressure. Channelkeeper is pleased to support the transition away from plastic and continues to take an active role in pollution reduction through ocean pollution monitoring and prevention, in addition to political advocacy and community education.

Welcome Aboard, Ted!

July 21, 2021 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

We’re thrilled to welcome Ted Morton as Channelkeeper’s new Executive Director.

Ted brings an impressive list of professional accomplishments and skills, as well as 25 years of experience in ocean conservation.

Ted joins Channelkeeper from The Pew Charitable Trusts, where he directed the organization’s oceans’ programmatic work at the federal level. Prior to that, he directed a campaign to improve the international trade of coral reef wildlife at the Environmental Defense Fund and served as the vice president of organizational effectiveness and operations at SeaWeb. He’s extremely knowledgeable and passionate about environmental conservation and we’re thrilled to work with him to protect our coastal waters.

We took a moment recently to ask Ted a few questions about his interests, his background, and his enthusiasm for preserving the rich wildlife, ecosystems, and water quality in and around the Santa Barbara Channel.

1. What makes you excited to work in our area?

Santa Barbara is such a special place. On a personal level, being involved in protecting the richness of the area–the waters, wildlife, the habitats–is very exciting to me. I’ve worked in ocean conservation for more than 25 years, but primarily in Washington D.C. on efforts to influence policy in agencies and on Capitol Hill. I’ve never had a daily, direct connection to what I was working to protect. It was distant. So being able to work in a community where I can see and appreciate what makes the area so special and the results of protection are really exciting to me. I look forward to helping monitor Goleta streams, joining public education efforts on the Channelkeeper’s boat, and advocating for a healthy, clean Channel, in addition to working with community members who are passionate about the place where we live and work. Channelkeeper does amazing work. I cannot wait to settle in, get started, and build on its record of accomplishments.

2. What are you most proud of? Is there an environmental accomplishment that stands out?

That would probably be the passage of the National Beach Bill. When I first started working at American Oceans Campaign in 1993, it was one of the first projects that were handed to me. It was, go out and build cosponsors. Get members of Congress to sign on saying that they support the bill and would like to see it move. It took time. We made changes. There was a significant public education effort and it involved leading a lot of advocates throughout the country and in Washington D.C. I was persistent in building up support for it and eventually, it did pass with solid bipartisan support in 2000. It was modeled on what California was doing, but took it to a national level. That’s the accomplishment that I’m most proud of because the passage of the National Beach Bill set federal standards for beach water testing protocols and practices.

3. What’s your favorite aquatic pastime?

I love to swim, kayak, snorkel and I enjoy walking along the beach early in the morning or late in the evening. I hope that I’ll find time to take on some new activities in the upcoming year like paddleboarding.

4. Was there a defining moment in your childhood that led you to environmental work?

Yes. It was in college, actually, when I helped form the environmental club at Furman University. I also did an internship during my junior year with the National Audubon Society. I spent 10 weeks in Washington D.C. My supervisor was moving from Utah and didn’t give me enough work to do during the first two weeks so I went up and down the hall and gathered assignments from many different programs, from grassroots volunteer initiatives and endangered species policy to data input on ancient forests in the Pacific Northwest. That was a defining moment that launched me into environmental policy as a career path.

But if you asked my mother, she would tell you that I’ve always been an environmental advocate and that I was really into recycling when I was in elementary school.

5. If you were a marine organism what would you be and why?

I would be a large pelagic fish like a bluefin tuna or a swordfish because they travel long distances and I really enjoy travel. They are also pretty charismatic, fast swimmers, and high up on the food chain.

6. Do you believe that local actions can have a larger global impact?

Absolutely. Local actions show that change is possible and they can inspire people in other places as well. Today, with the internet and social media, we have platforms that allow us to learn about what people are doing all across the world. A local initiative can create meaningful change that can have far-reaching influence. And when other communities implement the same change, it can help inform policy, so that changes can become standard in other areas throughout a county, region, or nation.

If you would like to connect with Ted to personally welcome him, you can reach him at [email protected].

Watershed Hero: Joy Downing Riley

February 1, 2021 by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Some people see a problem and wonder how others will solve it—but not Joy Downing Riley. When she noticed that litter was impacting marine life along one of her favorite coastal areas—the Rincon Parkway—she leaped into action, not only by picking up trash herself but by addressing the issue at its upstream source.

Joy believes in the power of individual action to create positive change and over the years she’s served the community in a variety of volunteer roles. Until last spring, she volunteered as a literacy coach. But when the pandemic made it too risky to meet in person, she looked for other ways to give back and joined Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s Watershed Brigade to help remove trash from public places. In the past nine months, she’s become a star volunteer—and a true Watershed Hero.

The Rincon Parkway, the stretch of beach along the Pacific Coast Highway between Emma Wood State Beach and Mussel Shoals, is a special place to Joy. It’s a vantage point from which she enjoys watching wildlife while taking in the island views and the ever-changing light. She appreciates that the Parkway is accessible to all and loves seeing the happiness on people’s faces–from fishermen and surfers to families.

When stay-at-home orders went in to place in March of 2020 and people looked to outdoor areas for recreation, Joy noticed an increase in the use of this area and observed more trash along the road making its way to the beach. She felt it was important to be out there cleaning the area, educating the community, and doing something positive.

Her experience locating and assessing stranded California sea lions and seals as a volunteer for Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute has provided her with firsthand insight into the trash eco-system while also fostering a sense of personal responsibility for the marine life. She has observed the impact that our trash and human street waste have on sensitive areas along the coast as the flow of stormwater runoff carries litter to the ocean and notes the direct connection between the health of wildlife and humans.

“Sea lions are important to study. They are sentinel mammals, and their health can be indicative of a number of environmental concerns,” she explains. “The trash we tend drop on the ground or let blow from trash cans, ends up in our roadsides, culverts, barrancas, and eventually in the ocean. Our degrading debris is toxic to wildlife.”

During her time clearing trash and debris from the Parkway, she’s seen beer bottles strewn by visitors, she’s watched dump trucks unload heaps of dirt, people change their oil, discard Styrofoam to-go food containers, diapers, dog waste, tangled fishing line, and cigarette butts (she once collected 150 in a ¼ mile radius), but she believes that when people know better, they do better.

Beyond cleaning litter from the coastal roadway and beach areas, Joy has taken measures to address litter at the source by educating the public and connecting with companies and public agencies to ask for their help. She talks with people and shares her passion for keeping trash out of waterways and habitats clean.

“My sense is that if people had a better understanding of ecosystems—and the flow of trash to the sea—that they would be more cautious about litter.”

While doing clean-ups in the neighborhood near Telegraph Road and Ventura College, she regularly noticed 10-12 Starbucks cups in the storm drains on her mile and a half route. In Ventura and Santa Barbara open storm drains flow straight to the ocean. So, she made an appointment to talk with the Starbucks manager and together they outlined a strategy to keep cups out of the stormwater system. Their initiatives included new signs reminding customers to dispose of their trash responsibly. She was also able to voice her concerns to the regional Starbucks manager and open a dialogue with local city officials about more expansive litter-prevention actions they could take.

Joy’s enthusiasm is infectious and her presence along this special stretch of roadway has not only shown people that she cares deeply about the Rincon Parkway, it has inspired others to join in.

“It’s as if my presence there—seeing me in my gloves and mask picking up trash has given people permission to go out there and do something positive too. That feels good.”

Joy is living proof of the power of citizen action. By doing regular clean-ups, meeting with store managers and City agencies, and launching an educational campaign to increase public awareness of the path trash takes through storm drains and creeks to the ocean, she has contributed to a community-wide movement and has empowered others to take steps toward creating change.

We are profoundly grateful.