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Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, Executive Director Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University Photo: Nat Geo Stormwater & Litter Workshop Feb 10, 2020

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Page 1: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection

Katie Register, Executive DirectorClean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University

Photo: Nat Geo

Stormwater & Litter WorkshopFeb 10, 2020

Page 2: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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!

Page 3: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

What we know about litter & marine debris

Page 4: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Land-based Sources account for 60% to 80%

of all marine debris

Photo: Clean VA Waterways

Photo: Ocean Conservancy

Page 5: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Land � Stormwater �Waterways � Ocean

Trash travels

Photo: Clean VA Waterways

Page 6: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Water-based Sources•Derelict fishing gear & vessels•Disasters

Photo: Dot Field, VA DCR

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Photo: Katie Register, Clean VA Waterways

Page 7: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 8: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Impacts – Ingestion

Photos: VA Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Page 9: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Impacts – Entanglement

Photo: Pam Denmon, FWS

Photo: Ocean Conservancy

Photo: Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

Page 10: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

• 90% of all plastic made is still with us

• Plastics are persistent & transportable

• ~85% of trash in ocean is plastic

• Plastic pollution is preventable!

Page 11: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Special concern: Plastic

Image: Ocean Conservancy

We are using a permanent material for temporary uses

Page 12: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 13: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

What the public is learning

Page 14: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Image: Ocean Conservancy

Growing awareness & concern about plastic pollution.

Page 15: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 16: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 17: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Awareness:

Plastics in the ocean is now on par with climate change

Page 18: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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:

Page 19: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

There is a correlation:

As awareness of plastic bansincreases, so does concernabout plastic pollution.

Page 20: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

High awareness & concernabout plastic pollution =

Opportunities for behavior change to decrease single-use items (source reduction) & to decrease littering.

Page 21: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 22: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 23: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 24: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 25: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%
Page 26: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Other concerns…

Plastic in food webs

Page 27: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Impacts – Health & safety

Nat Geo

Page 28: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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…

Page 29: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Philly spends $48 million a year to clean up litter, Pa. report finds.

--February 6, 2020, www.phillyvoice.com

Impacts – Economic

Page 30: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 31: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

More plastic coming soon

Throwaway Living. 1955. Life Magazine

Page 32: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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.

Page 33: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Flexible packaging

Multi-layered plastic packaging is on the rise

Page 34: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Flexible packaging

Benefits with Challenges in recycling

Page 35: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Convenience items

Page 36: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

“Smart” vs “Stupid” Plastic

Page 37: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

“Smart” vs “Stupid” Plastic

Page 38: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 39: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Example petitions:

Page 40: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

Unique times…

• Growing production of plastic (most of which is used in single-use items)

• Growing awareness & concern of plastic pollution

• Time for action

Page 41: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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

Page 42: Stormwater to Oceans: Making the Connection Katie Register, growing concer… · • 90% of all plastic made is still with us • Plastics are persistent & transportable • ~85%

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