About the Plastic Debris Rivers
to Sea Conference
The 2005 Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Conference was held in the beautiful coastal Southern California setting of the City of Redondo Beach on September 7-9 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The conference focused on the land-based discharges of marine debris, primarily industrial discharges of plastic debris and consumer contributions of litter. Sponsors, presenters and participants in the conference represented a broad spectrum of interests in the issue of marine debris that originates from land-based sources, including: the plastics industry, government agencies, environmental and coastal protection organizations, and academia.
Conference Organizers
This conference was produced as part of The Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Project, a project implemented by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and the California Coastal Commission with Proposition 13 grant funding from the State Water Resources Control Board.
The conference co-chairs were:
- Charles Moore, Algalita Marine Research Foundation
- Sheila David, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
The lead coordinator of the conference was:
- Miriam Gordon, California Coastal Commission
with support and assistance from:
- Sheila David, H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
- Deborah Neiter, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Stephen Cain, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Additional assistance was provided by the Advisory Board of the Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Project and additional volunteers.
Conference Sponsors:
Blue Whale Sponsors:
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Beluga Whale Sponsors:
- California Coastal Commission
- H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment
Humpback Whale Sponsors:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dolphin Sponsors:
- City of Los Angeles Watershed Protection Division, Stormwater Program
- The Society of the Plastics Industry
Sea Otter Sponsors:
- The California Film Extruders and Converters Association
- Orange County Stormwater Program
- Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission
Jellyfish Sponsors:
- California Coastal Coalition
- Surfriders Foundation
Participants and Welcoming Remarks
There were 244 conference participants and 14 exhibitors. Participants included representatives of government agencies, the plastic industry, environmental and coastal protection advocates, research scientists, and storm water pollution control consultants and experts. Welcome and introductory remarks were provided by Bridgett Luther Thompson, Director of the California Department of Conservation (for Terry Taminnen, California Cabinet Secretary). Additional welcoming remarks were provided by Charles Moore, Founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation; Stephen Leatherman of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and Environment; Meg Caldwell, Chair of the California Coastal Commission. On day two, welcoming remarks were provided by Jerry Secundy of the State Water Resources Control Board Sheila David of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and Environment, and Miriam Gordon of the California Coastal Commission. Remarks during lunchtime were provided by H. David Nahai of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Keynote Addresses
A keynote address by Philippe Cousteau (on day 1) highlighted the fact that plastic debris would impact ocean life indefinitely and that the need to stop the discharge of plastics and other human-made debris is immediate and imperative. William McDonough, keynote speaker on day 2 of the conference, engaged participants in thinking about the marine debris as a problem of materials inefficiency resulting from poor design of materials that result in products becoming waste and often litter. He suggested instead a new paradigm for product manufacturing (“cradle to cradle”) involving the design of all products as “technical nutrients.” In this new paradigm, all products add net benefit to the environment rather than degrade it. Vanguard Plastics and the City of San Juan Capistrano presented an example of a “cradle to cradle” use of plastic recently implemented through a cooperative effort- the curbside collection of plastic bags that are recycled into new plastic bags.
Sessions and Programs on September 7th and 8th
This conference brought together experts from a wide array of backgrounds, including experts in storm water pollution control, solid waste minimization, non-point source pollution, public education, plastic debris research, and plastics manufacturing. Sessions during September 7th and 8th included presentations of papers regarding:
- marine debris sources, distribution and composition
- plastic debris and its impacts and behavior in the ocean environment
- characterizing the sources of marine debris
- trash and debris monitoring techniques
- regulatory efforts to reduce marine debris and trash in urban runoff
- industry efforts to reduce discharges of pre-production plastic to stormwater
- structural and physical control of trash and debris in stormwater
- educating the public to reduce litter and waste
- transport of persistent organic pollutants by plastic debris and potential impacts
September 9th
Conference participants engaged in a series of field trips and workshops allowing a more hands-on experience of the marine debris from land-based discharges issue and calling for future actions in California to solve the myriad problems addressed during the conference. Field trips included:
- Tour of the Hamilton Bowl Debris Collection System
- Monitoring and Sample Collection Aboard the Research Vessel, Alguita
- Tour of the S.E.A. Lab and AMRF Lab
In addition, approximately 50 conference participants joined the California Coastal Commission’s Workgroup to develop the California Action Plan to Reduce Land-Based Discharges of Marine Debris. On September 9, 2005, the Workgroup participated in the first in a series of workshops focusing on the development of the Action Plan.
Some Conclusions Drawn from the Presentations:
- Eighty percent (80%) of marine debris originated from land-based sources- primarily litter and industrial discharges of plastic in urban runoff and storm water discharges.
- All plastic introduced into marine environment remains there, getting smaller but never breaking apart.
- Large items cause well-recognized harm, but effects of microscopic debris needs investigation.
- Plankton and krill ingest fragments and smaller debris- the effects of ingestion of plastic at the bottom of the food chain need further investigation.
- It is clearly established that Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are absorbed, adsorbed and transported by plastic pellets and fragments in the marine environment.
- Measuring POPs sorbed by plastic particles can help scientists to assess regional water quality.
- Packaging and single use disposable goods are most significant contributors to trash and marine debris
- Littering is the direct route of deposition of marine debris- the increasing quantity of solid waste is an indirect contributor of marine debris.
- Current system of Integrated Waste Management (diverting materials from landfill) not stopping the increase in solid waste generation.
- Public education regarding economic costs and environmental harm is vital to preventing litter and marine debris.
Questions Raised During the Conference
Provide Direction for Future Research and Policy:
1. Microplastics:
- What is the impact of microplastics on filter feeders and zooplankton?
- 99% of marine species are benthic- what is the impact of microplastics on these species?
- What is the role of microplastics in transferring invasive species in the marine environment?
- Will zooplankton ingest microplastics laden with concentrated chemicals?
- Do microplastics present a physical hazard in the marine environment?
2. Pollutant transport:
- Are chemicals that are sorbed to plastic fragments and pieces bioavailable to zooplankton and other species? If so, are there ecosystem level consequences?
- Do chemicals that are transported by plastic debris have toxic effects in the marine environment?
3. General plastic debris issues:
- Are high pollutant levels in seabirds directly related to plastics?
- Are there any serious impacts on marine species from ingestion of plastic debris?
4. Chemicals used in manufacturing plastics:
- Can chemicals used in plastics manufacturing that are contained in plastic debris leach from plastics when in the marine environment? If so, what impacts do they pose?
- Can chemicals used in the manufacture of plastics bioaccumulate up the food chain as a result of the presence of plastic debris in the marine environment? Does this present a threat to human health? What impacts in marine species?
5. General trash and solid waste issues:
- Is local jurisdiction control trash in urban runoff the most cost-effective means of controlling marine debris? Is it effective?
- Can public education regarding litter be effective in reducing trash flow to the marine environment?
- Are bans and prohibitions on certain materials, such as expanded polystyrene and plastic bags, effective in reducing marine debris?
- Who should be responsible for managing waste- consumers or the manufacturers of the products that become waste, or both?
6. Biodegradable plastics:
- Can international standards be developed for biodegradable plastics to prevent corruption of plastic recycling systems and false public perception that they degrade rapidly and under any conditions?
- Is it possible to make plastics that degrade rapidly in the marine environment and pose no threat to marine wildlife and public health?
Consensus Issues for Moving Forward
The overall consensus at the end of the conference was that a great deal of common ground was identified by a variety of stakeholders and that many key issues for future collaboration among differing stakeholders were identified. Some of these areas of consensus include:
A Tremendously Successful Event
This conference was a success in many respects. First and foremost, the conference was characterized by support from and dialogue among groups that don’t normally sit together and problem solve. The plastics industry provided one of the initial presentations setting the tone for consensus-building and cooperation by: 1) acknowledging the need for industry to prevent pellet and powder loss at plastics industrial facilities, 2) calling for increased research into understanding the plastic debris problem and its solutions, and 3) calling for all stakeholders to work together to reduce marine debris.
Presentations by scientists, government representatives, and environmental activists demonstrated a wide array of actions being taken to reduce trash and debris through:
- Research by marine scientists;
- Physical control of trash in stormwater and urban runoff;
- Implementation of best management practices by industry and municipalities to prevent discharges of trash and debris;
- Bans and prohibitions on certain materials;
- Voluntary efforts to achieve source reduction; and
- Public education
The conference included actions to move forward on this issue, including:
- a series of dialogues to address issues of concern for future work, and
- a workshop to develop an Action Plan for California for reducing marine debris from land-based discharges.
Conference participants found the conference extremely valuable, enjoyable, and motivating. Respondents to the conference evaluation form rated this conference a 9 on a scale from 1 to 10. Of the 68 evaluation respondents, 67 enthusiastically supported the idea of another conference on the same topic in the near future and indicated they would attend. One respondent indicated he or she would consider attending. |
