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California Ocean Protection Council Targets Plastic Litter and Waste
Update: OPC Releases Marine Debris Resolution Implementation Strategy>> On February 8, 2007 in Santa Monica, the California Ocean Protection Council adopted a marine debris resolution that gives lawmakers a mandate to effectively tackle the increasing problem of marine debris. In doing so, the OPC has adopted timetables for the reduction of plastic takeout food packaging, toxic plastic waste and expansion of the "CRV" Bottle Bill. The OPC's resolution among other things, calls for:
Watch a video on the problem of marine debris. All of these goals have explicit calendar deadlines. What CAW is Doing:
Background Information:
Marine debris--in particular non-biodegradeable plastics--poses a serious and growing threat to the ocean and marine environment. The largest source of marine debris--up to 80%--is land-discharged plastic waste. Take-out food packaging, plastic bags, cigarette buts and other waste littered far inland is blown or washed through the storm drain system and flushed out to sea. The environmental affects of this deluge of plastic particles are only beginning to be understood. Levels of plastic in the marine environment have been increasing--in some areas by a factor of three. Some studies suggest that oceanic microplastics may now outweigh plankton by a factor of six! Nearly half of all marine bird species and nearly all marine turtle species have been affected by plastics--which can be mistaken as food and cause starvation. The economic affects of plastic pollution in the marine environment is already being felt. California's $46 billion economy is highly dependent on the ocean and we are already spending perhaps as much as $1 billion annually on litter clean up. The California Ocean Protection Council was created in 2004 by the Legislature and Governor to coordinate the efforts of the different agencies that deal with the protection of our marine ecosystem. Additional Resources:
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