Disposable cups, food wrappers and plastic bags. It’s trash that’s building up on every street corner, in gutters, on trails, on highways and in parks. Litter is a problem that is, literally, everywhere. The Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA) has just presented findings from a study of litter in the region to the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) in Oakland that shows the magnitude of the litter problem in the area.
The following information is from the BASMAA:
Preliminary estimates suggest that 1 – 1.6 million gallons of trash is discharged each year into local creeks that flow to San Francisco Bay. That’s roughly 100,000 kitchen-sized garbage bags or enough to cover a football field three-and-a-half feet deep in trash.
This data was submitted to the Water Board as part of Trash Load Reduction Plans for 73 of BASMAA’s member municipalities.
“Litter is a problem we can all see and we see it frequently,” says Geoff Brosseau, Executive Director of BASMAA. “But getting accurate data to quantify the problem is an important step in moving ahead with informed efforts to reduce litter and the water pollution it causes. Litter is an entirely preventable source of pollution.”
Litter is a major cause of water pollution in the region. Trash travels down storm drains untreated, polluting creeks, the Bay and the ocean. It degrades water quality and adversely affects fish, wildlife and aquatic habitats. That’s why the Clean Water Act Stormwater Permit issued to municipalities in five Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano) in 2009, required them to take actions to virtually eliminate trash in stormwater runoff by 2022. By 2014, a 40 percent reduction in trash must be met. (San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties are covered by a different permit.)
Many municipalities have already begun efforts to reduce litter, such as: encouraging the use of “re-usable” bags, cups and compostable food containers; educating students about the harmful impact of litter; and hosting creek clean-up events. The Trash Load Reduction Plans submitted to the Water Board describe how each local agency will achieve the 40 percent goal.
The preliminary estimates of trash volume were developed through a comprehensive study currently underway by BASMAA. The study is attempting to quantify the problem and provide water pollution prevention programs with information for planning their litter reduction efforts. To date, trash has been collected and sorted from more than 140 storm drains in wet and dry weather conditions. Key preliminary findings included:
- 49 percent of the trash collected was plastic, including candy wrappers, chip bags, cup lids, straws and cellophane.
- Paper accounted for 21 percent of litter in the form of bags, newspapers and receipts.
- Plastic grocery bags alone accounted for eight percent of the trash found.
The final report of the study will be completed this summer.
Moving ahead, Geoff Brosseau of BASMAA says that local stormwater programs will embark upon efforts such as increased public education about the impacts of litter, enhanced street sweeping and enhanced public trash can maintenance. Some Bay Area municipalities have already banned use of plastic grocery bags; others are considering adopting similar measures in 2012.
This spring BASMAA will move forward with a campaign that will heavily utilize social media as a way to reach teens and young adults—in order to increase awareness and educate the next generation of consumers.
“Litter is a preventable source of pollution,” Brosseau emphasizes. “We would like to see Bay Area residents do more to prevent litter. While most people don’t litter intentionally, it’s important to prevent accidental litter. Simple steps such as using trash bags in cars, properly closing lids on trash and recycling bins and picking up litter you see are great ways to help.”
For more information about litter prevention measures, visit www.BayWise.org.
