Regular Animal, Author at Debris Free Oceans

The Truth About Bioplastics: Green(Washing) Is the New Black

Regular Animal — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 19:42:56 +0000

It’s no surprise that plastic, the material quite literally designed to last forever, is starting to pile so high that the hashtag #PlanetorPlastic is now trending. You’ve heard the stats: by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish, by weight. The world has produced over 9 billion tons of plastic since the 1950’s. Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been properly recycled. There are 13x more pieces of plastic in our oceans than stars in our galaxy. Need we say more?

Enter: bioplastics. An increasingly common, guilt-free alternative to traditional plastics. Plastics made from plant-based materials – the solution to the plastic crisis! Now the bioplastics we use will effortlessly decompose in the environment and we have nothing to worry about! Right? Wrong.

While the terms bioplastic, biodegradable, compostable, or plant-based may sound encouraging, this mishmash of advertising labels can be used to lead us blindly against our greenest intentions. So, what’s the truth behind these products? For those of you aren’t interested in the intimate details, here’s what we’re getting at.

”Long story short, the vast majority of bioplastic cups, cutlery, take-away containers, etc., will degrade in the environment, land or sea, just like traditional plastic… they won’t.

The graphic above was taken from case study by 5Gyres, which focused on understanding the performance of bioplastic products and packaging in two realistic settings. These settings—the ocean and a typical backyard compost bin—were established for two years. Twenty different items were placed in each setting. The results show that most bioplastic products persist in the environment like their petroleum-based plastic counterparts.

Bio-based plastics are created from renewable, plant-based biomass and avoid the use of fossil fuels in their production. Oftentimes, consumers assume that plant-based plastics will biodegrade or compost. If there’s a leaf on the packaging, there’s no way it’s bad for the environment, right? Unfortunately, the feedstock (what the bio-plastics are made from) does not determine whether the product is degradable or compostable.

Degradability and compostability are determined by molecular structure. As such, the term bioplastic holds no indication of how the product will perform in the environment and refers only to whether the product was made with a renewable feedstock, as opposed to a fossil-fuel derived plastic.

Now that we’ve used it, how do we get rid of it? In order to avoid greenwashing, it is important to understand the myriad of ways bioplastics can be disposed of.

Recyclable vs. Degradable vs. Biodegradable vs. Compostable

Recyclable: Recycling is often a for profit-based business so, although most items may theoretically be recycled, only a small amount actually are recycled, because the product will only be recycled if someone can make money off of it. Both plant-based and petroleum-based plastics have the option of being recycled. Only bio-plastics can tout the label of biodegradation or compostability. Unfortunately, if the recycling batch is contaminated, then the entire batch is rejected and sent to a landfill, resulting in a wasted recycling effort all together. Contamination occurs when incorrect items (ie. plastic bags) OR correct items that are prepared the wrong way (ie. recyclable food containers that haven’t been properly cleaned) are put into the system.

Degradable: All plastic degrades, but it never disappears. Ocean tides and sunlight break plastic into tinier and tinier pieces – micro plastics – that persist in the environment forever. Beware the difference between degradable and biodegradable. Plastics photo-degrade, but they do not bio-degrade.

Biodegradable: Indicates that items will break down naturally in the environment, decomposing in weeks to months.

Compostable: An industrial compost site is needed to support the biodegradation of this product. Unfortunately, most bioplastics on the market won’t break down in the environment like they are advertised to. Many products sporting the “compostable” label are designed to be composted in industrial compost facilities under constant temperatures higher than 50°C (122°F), rather than backyard “cold” composts. Worse yet – all compostable bioplastics that get tossed into recycling bins or trash bins won’t be sorted out and returned to composting facilities. Instead, they end up in landfills or back in the environment, where the conditions don’t match that of an industrial composting facility. So, unless properly returned to an industrial composting facility, most compostable bioplastics are just as pervasive in the environment as their oil-based counterparts.

If this all seems confusing, it’s because it is. While the ideas of recycling and industrial composting are commendable, they require a higher level of understanding to be used effectively as well as an efficient community-based waste management system able to collect, sort, and process these recyclable and compostable products.

Long story long, while bioplastics represent a step in the right, eco-conscious direction, they should not be confused as a more sustainable alternative to plastic, let alone a solution to the plastic pollution crisis.

At the end of the day, reusable and refillable alternatives will always conquer single-use plastic throwaways, plant-based or not. The hierarchy should always remain: reduce, reuse and refill, and finally, if you must create disposable waste, recycle.

This article was adapted from the 5Gyres report, Plastics BAN List 2.0, which presents a case study of bioplastic degradation as it relates to consumer expectations to answer the question, “Are bioplastics the answer?”

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Miami Youth Save the Ocean from Plastic Flower Petals

Regular Animal — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 06:23:38 +0000

Nine-year-old John was playing on the beach when he suddenly saw fake rose petals, scattered through the sand and across the dunes. John, a budding eco-warrior, recognized that these fake petals weren’t biodegradable, and got to work collecting all of them. “It just came to my head,” John said, “that these were bad for the environment and animals.”

As John figured out, fake flower petals, like any plastic, don’t biodegrade – they photodegrade. When plastic photodegrades, it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. Because plastics do not break down into simpler compounds, like an apple in a composter would, this means plastic can remain in our environment in perpetuity.

Many microplastics are consumed by ocean animals, and when small enough, they are even consumed by our ocean’s smallest organisms, such as zooplankton, the building blocks of the ocean food wed. When larger animals, such as tuna, consume smaller organisms that have eaten plastic, toxins from the plastic bioaccumulate in the larger animal. The further up the food chain, the more the toxins accumulate – all the way onto our dinner plates. (Tuna roll – hold the plastic, please!)

Plastic is everywhere – from fake rose petals to grocery bags, and as a result, over 8 million tons of plastic are added to our oceans every year. Fortunately, there are eco-friendly, reusable or biodegradable alternatives to almost all plastic products, including fake flower petals!

One option is purchasing fresh flower petals. Fresh petals always look more beautiful than fake ones, and they are totally biodegradable and safe for the Earth! Fresh petals can be found online or at a local florist. If you call a local florist in advance, they might be able to give you fallen petals or petals from older flowers for cheap. This is a great way to save money and make use of flowers that might otherwise go to waste!

A downside to fresh petals is that they don’t last very long, but luckily, several companies now sell freeze-dried petals. These are biodegradable like normal flower petals, but the freeze-drying process helps the flowers look fresh for longer! Most freeze-dried petals can last for up to a year, so they can be re-used again and again.

Check out freeze dried flowers at several online stores, including:

http://flyboynaturals.com

https://www.bloomsbythebox.com

https://www.floatingpetalsconfetti.com

Everyone can do something to help eliminate plastic marine debris – from ditching single-use plastic products to being passionate ocean activists like John!

John and his mom, Julie Frans, have made a routine of picking up all the litter they see around them every time they go to the beach. They also gather friends for frequent clean-ups! John has now seen rose petals on several beach trips, of different colors and sizes, often buried deep in dunes making them hard to collect.

So grab a reusable water bottle, gather up some friends, and head to the beach because cleaning up beaches can even pay off big time! While searching for garbage at one of their weekly cleanups, John once found a $100 bill hidden among the seaweed!

What words of advice does John have for other kids who want to help protect the ocean? “Make sure you never litter, and always help pick up trash even if it isn’t yours.”

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Florida, Waters of the United States

Regular Animal — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:24:08 +0000

The Supreme Court decided United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc., et al.on May 31, 2016. The Justices voted this case unanimously, 8-0, holding that when the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) makes an approved jurisdictional determination that states whether there is a presence or absence of waters of the United States on a particular property it is considered a final action that is judicially reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Hawkes decision will impact Florida since Section 404 of the Clean Water Act establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. Florida is made up of wetlands for the most part, and for further development, a 404 permit is required. People who want to develop in Florida will have to go through the process of getting a final order by the US Army Corps of Engineers; although the order is appealable, it may slow down development of the wetlands. This is a positive impact since the wetlands have been found to be very important to the environment and need to be protected from too much development. However, since the order is appealable, no penalties can be distributed until the final decision has been made after appeal, which may allow people to violate the rules of discharging materials into the wetlands until the whole process is over.

The Clean Water Act regulates “the discharge of any pollutant” into “the waters of the United States.” 33 U.S.C. §§1311(a), 1362(7),(12). Since the determination of whether there are “waters of the United States” is a difficult task, the Corps allow property owners to obtain a standalone “jurisdictional determination” (JD) specifying whether a particular property contains “waters of the United States.” 33 CFR §331.2. An “approved” JD is considered an administratively appealable “final agency action,” §§320.1(a)(6), 331.2, and is binding for five years on the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency. 33 CFR pt. 331, App. C; EPA, Memorandum of Agreement: Exemptions Under Section 404(F) of the Clean Water Act §VI-A.

If there is a discharge of any pollutant into waters covered by the Clean Water Act without a permit from the Corps, there can be substantial criminal and civil penalties as a consequence. However, these permits are not easy to come by, and for a specialized “individual” permit it takes an estimate of over two years and more than $250k. Even for a “general” permit it will take almost a year and more than $20k. The Corps determine whether a property contains “waters of the United States” by issuing JDs on a case-by-case basis. There are two types of JDs, the first being preliminary JD, which advises a property owner “that there may be waters of the United States on a parcel,” and an approved JD, which definitively states “the presence or absence” of such waters. §331.2. An approved JD can be administratively appealed and are defined by regulation to “constitute a Corps final agency action.” §§320.1(a)(6), 331.2. They are binding for five years on the Corps and the EPA, which share the authority to enforce the Clean Water Act.

The respondents in Hawkes were three companies that engaged in mining peat in Marshall County, Minnesota. Peat can have a significant environmental and ecological impact, and therefore it is regulated by both federal and state environmental protection agencies, see, e.g., Minn. Stat. §103G.231 (2014).

In December 2010, respondents applied to the Corps for a Section 404 permit authorizing “the discharge of dredged or fill material into the navigable waters at specified disposal sites.” 33 U.S.C. §1344(a). The Corps require numerous assessments of various features of the property, which respondents’ estimate would cost more than $100,000. App. 16-17, 31-35. In February 2012, the Corps issued an approved JD stating that the property contained “water of the United States” because its wetlands had a “significant nexus” to the Red River of the North, located some 120 miles away. Id., at 13, 18, 20.

In order for agency action to be “final” under the APA there is a two-prong test. Bennett v. Spear, 520 U.S. 154 (1997). The first prong being that the action must mark the consummation of the agency’s decision-making process. And second, the action must be one by which rights or obligations have been determined, or from which legal consequences will flow. Id., at 177-178. The Corps issuing an approved JD shows that the property contains waters that are protected since they are considered “waters of the United States.” The Court has long held that parties need not await the enforcement proceedings before challenging a final agency action where such proceedings carry the risk of “serious criminal and civil penalties.” Abbott, 387 U.S. at 153.

The decision made by the Court clearly shows that final actions by the Corps are appealable. When there are determinations on whether there are “waters of the United States” present, even though that determination may be final, it can be appealed before any penalties are distributed.

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Miami-Dade County Passes Ordinance to Ban Styrofoam

Regular Animal — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:24:08 +0000

Polystyrene, known better as Styrofoam is a major problem throughout the world and extremely dangerous for coastal communities. Polystyrene does not biodegrade; it just gets smaller and smaller, clogging storm drains, entering sea life and other wildlife, filling everything with toxic chemicals. This is a product known for being inexpensive, however, what we don’t pay for in the store we make up for in the environmental impact it has. Millions of dollars are spent cleaning up trash from beaches and parks, yet there always seems to be more of it every day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, polystyrene is the fifth largest creator of waste.

There are numerous preemptions that have been passed by the Florida Legislature, one including the preemption on the regulation of polystyrene products, also known as Styrofoam. The statute reads “The regulation of the use or sale of polystyrene products by entities regulated under chapter 500 is preempted to the department. This preemption does not apply to local ordinances or provisions thereof enacted before January 1, 2016, and does not limit the authority of a local government to restrict the use of polystyrene by individuals on public property, temporary vendors on public property, or entities engaged in a contractual relationship with the local government for the provision of goods or services, unless such use is otherwise preempted by law.” Although this preemption is in effect, local governments can make ordinances and regulations that restrict the use of polystyrene products.

On June 7, 2016, the ordinance relating to Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s rules and regulation; amending Chapter 26, Article I of the Code; banning polystyrene in Parks in certain circumstances and making technical amendments was set for second reading. This was brought forth by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava as the Prime Sponsor and Sally A. Heyman as Co-Sponsor. This ordinance is to ban polystyrene in parks and beaches in Miami-Dade County. The effective date of the ordinance is July 1, 2017 and the fine in place will be $50. However, the Parks Department does not give out tickets often and the true intention of the ban is education, rather than money. Polystyrene (Styrofoam) is the most common and persistent pollutant in the Bay and it is affecting parks, sea life, and animal life. Trash compromises people from coming here, health of residents of Miami and the fishing industry. There were concerns from different commissioners, including Commissioner Diaz who is worried that the tourism industry will be hurt since there is a fine rather than a warning, he is mainly worried about the education aspect of the ordinance. There is a full year to educate the public about the ban and there will be consideration about putting up signage during the 90-day period of review. A main aspect that was emphasized with this ordinance is the public education campaign, which includes using public media and public service announcements to keep the cost to a minimal amount for the County.

Commissioner Soto expressed concerns about the distinction between adults and children that have polystyrene; the Parks and Recreation representative stated that the main goal is not to fine people, but to educate people. Commissioner Sosa and Bovo expressed concern about the ordinance, mainly the possibility that people may not be able to afford plastic coolers. Commissioner Levine stated that there is 90 days for the report to be given in order to make sure the concerns are addressed. Out of all the concerns, Commissioner Barrerrio was very supportive and believes that it is about time for this ordinance to be implemented. Through all the concerns that arose during the discussion the ordinance was passed, giving Miami-Dade County a brighter and cleaner future.

Now that the ordinance has been passed there will be a year for the education of the public about the ban on polystyrene products from parks and beaches in Miami-Dade County. There will be public service announcements, numerous mentions on social media, and education for the youth of Miami-Dade County. Hopefully the education campaign goes as positively as possible and the community of Miami and the tourists of Miami will begin to understand the harm that polystyrene causes and will be comfortable with the change that is being implemented.

Debris Free Oceans and many of its partner organizations and friends submitted a letter to Miami-Dade County in support of the ordinance, which can be found here.

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The Islands have Sprinkles

Regular Animal — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 06:33:01 +0000

It’s 3AM on the Sunday after Floatopia, and I cannot stop pondering the state of our oceans.

I proudly claim myself as a South Florida born, Miami-raised girl, reveling in the awesomeness that is a booming city resting on Caribbean waters. Despite living my whole life here, I am still shocked that such a magical place exists. Yesterday, however, I had a rude awakening that human kind’s thirst for convenience and desire of ego is pillaging and abusing my home.

On Saturday morning, I joined 12 other incredible volunteers on an adventure to clean one of Biscayne National Park’s remote, forgotten beaches on an island 12 nautical miles offshore. Surrounded by dolphins, birds, and turtles, our boat ride to the island instilled that great sense of pride I regularly feel about my city, but then I noticed something – these remote islands were covered in rainbow sprinkles. Flying past these turtle-nesting beaches, I could see the plethora of trash that had accumulated even though I was nearly a tenth of a mile away.

Coming ashore, reality hit hard. Years of our disposable lifestyle pierced my soul – we have turned this wonderland into an extension of Mt. Trashmore. Despite collecting over 700lbs. of mostly plastic (i.e. lightweight) trash over a mere 50 feet of shoreline, this was my first cleanup when we physically could not clean it all.

Feeling partly accomplished and partly devastated, I made the traffic-ridden trek back to my current residence (and favorite place), Miami Beach. Reflecting on that morning’s cleanup, I geared up for the afternoon session at Floatpoia with some kale, avocado, and Red Bull.

Weaving through traffic on my bike, I felt the congestion on 1st street rising. Floats and belligerents abound, I attempted to mentally prepare myself as I rode closer to meet my friends who were tirelessly educating the public about marine debris, handing out trash bags and portable cigarette butt ashtrays, and collecting floats for charity.

A small rain shower began when I arrived so I bolted down the beach with a roll of trash bags enthusiastically handing them to individuals and politely asking them to please cleanup after themselves before they rushed inland. Racing through the crowds, however, my heart began panicking and I breathed deeply to bottle my tears. Red solo cups, water and alcohol bottles, plastic bags, and cigarette butts smothered the beach – again, the sprinkles were everywhere.

During my first race through the crowd, many people thanked me for the trash bags and admirably helped cleanup other people’s trash, but I lost emotional control only a few minutes into my second attempt to positively engage with the mass of Floatopians. Unlike prior Floatopias, something had changed – the spirit had shifted.

Promoters have monetized and hijacked this peaceful event from its originator shifting the focus from “peace, love, and floats” to “convenience, ego, and self-entitlement.” 3 times in a row, my efforts to keep the beach clean were abruptly shut down. First attempt, the men would only help cleanup if I “found them a girl.” Second attempt, the men wouldn’t cleanup because “it wasn’t theirs.” Third attempt, the man “just doesn’t clean up trash, not even at home.”

At this point, I broke down into tears. Those who told me “no” stood in a pile of trash, and they were okay with it. They were okay with knowing that the public beach they enjoyed all day was completely trashed. I could not understand this, and it crippled me. How do we effectively reach our adversaries? How do we make a lasting change in Miami?

Reflecting on today, I have a new fire inside me to educate the Miami-Dade community. DFO developed an amazing education program intended to prevent marine debris from entering our waters by inspiring students to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. As part of the Program, we will bring 1,000 students out to the “sprinkle-islands” to feel the true enormity of this issue.

Although I love sprinkles on my (vegan) ice cream, I want them off our coastline. Every day, we can all make a difference in this world. Smile at a stranger; bring your own reusable cup. It’s that simple, and the karma results are well worthwhile.

Peace, Love, & Oceans,

Caiti

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50 Shades of Green: Recycling in Miami

Regular Animal — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 16:19:14 +0000

Debris Free Oceans travelled to our local recycling plant to get the scoop on recycling in Miami. Inside the article learn the “do’s and do not’s” of recycling in Miami and the deeper economic and political reasons why Miami residents need to start taking ownership of what they place into their recycling bin.

One of the largest recycling facilities in the United States, Waste Management’s Pembroke Pines recycling plant receives 40-50 tons of potentially recyclable waste every hour from the counties of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. In addition to waste sent directly to landfills, Miami-Dade County residents send nearly 6,000 tons of potentially recyclable material to the facility each year. At the surface, these numbers incite hope that Miami has succeeded to an astounding recycling rate; however, Waste Management only recycles 30-40% of this material.

A facility strewn with toilet seats, Christmas lights, and hoses, our general confusion about the recycling process forces Waste Management to waste time and money merely deciphering whether items are recyclable. This financial drain on the recycling center leads to less recycling despite technology’s capability to recycle more. For example, plastic cups so frequently contain food contamination that Waste Management has adopted a blanket policy to trash all plastic cups despite the recycling symbol imprinted on them. Not surprisingly, the facility lacks the time and financial resources to individually inspect each cup for contamination.

This high-alert to contamination arose in 2013 when China adopted “Operation Green Fence,” a series of regulations on imported materials from foreign recycling plants. Prior to the 2008 financial collapse, this policy would not have had such a crippling effect on U.S. recycling facilities, but because nearly all U.S. manufacturing facilities using recycled materials moved to China after the collapse, domestic recyclers had no option other than to comply with stricter demands. Currently, if any bail of recyclables from our local plant contains greater than 5% of contaminated material, China may immediately return the bail on the recycling plant’s bill or renegotiate the contracted price. Although Operation Green Fence hurts recyclers’ profit margins, it will ultimately lead to better education about how to properly recycle and eliminate countries’ tendency to ship garbage disguised as recyclables to China.

The spectrum of items we recycle increases as recycling profits grow, and the range of recyclables in Miami remains slim because we still haven’t mastered recycling the simplest items. In other words, Waste Management spends so much time sorting through our trash for recyclable scraps that they cannot even begin to focus on expanding upon what items we recycle.

This machine sorts plastics from paper, with the lighter paper moving upward and heavier plastics falling down. Clear plastics are separated from colored plastics prior to being bailed.

We need to prove ourselves capable of properly recycling plastic bottles, office paper, cardboard, glass jars, and aluminum cans before we can begin recycling all the other seemingly recyclable goods out there. That being said, no longer can we justify our occasional use of a plastic cup or take away container because we can “recycle” it. Practically speaking, just because an item contains a comforting circle of arrows does not mean it can be recycled.

As a first step towards enhancing recycling in Miami-Dade County, below is a “do and don’t” list for each category of recyclables. It should be noted that all items sent to recycling must be clean (no food or mangrove muck contamination).

RECYCLING IN MIAMI

Metal

Do

Beverage cans, food cans, non-hazardous aerosol cans (e.g. bathroom deodorizer)

Don’t

Aluminum foil, hardware (screws), hazardous aerosol cans (e.g. Raid), baking pans and other cookware

Plastic

Do

All narrow-neck bottles (the neck of the bottle must be smaller than its base), such as plastic water bottles or laundry detergent bottles. Caps on narrow-neck beverage bottles can be left on, and labels on bottles can be left on

Don’t

Any plastic containers that do not have a narrow-neck, (e.g. solo cups, Starbucks to-go cups for cold drinks, or yoghurt containers), straws, single-use plastic grocery bags (Note: Single-use plastic bags clog recycling machinery and further slow down the recycling process. If you need to recycle these bags, you can take them to Publix, which runs a separate recycling program specifically for plastic bags.

Paper

Do

Long-fibered paper (e.g. standard 8×11 office paper), paper towels without food waste (water is okay), cardboard cut, crushed or torn into paper-sized pieces

Don’t

Short-fibered paper (e.g. tissues and toilet paper), paper contaminated with food waste (This may be composted), starbucks paper cups (Note: the interior is lined with plastic)

Glass

Do

Jars, other unbroken glass items

Don’t

Broken glass

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City of Surfside Stops Styrofoam

Regular Animal — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:20:09 +0000

Surfside is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that truly lives up to its name. Surrounded on all sides by the Bay Harbor Islands, Miami Beach, and the Atlantic Ocean, most people would consider it picture perfect. So what’s the catch? One important factor that is keeping Surfside from achieving paradise status is styrofoam. Thankfully, Surfside is taking action and building its reputation as a sustainable and proactive city.

What is Styrofoam?

Styrofoam, also known as Polystyrene, is a type of petroleum based plastic. It is very lightweight and is known for its insulation qualities. Styrofoam’s properties and availability make it very convenient, and it is used for everything from disposable cups to housing insulation and anything in between. If you are an average person, chances are you’ve seen and/or used styrofoam at least once this past year.

Why Should We Care?

Although it is convenient, styrofoam is definitely not considered ‘sustainable’. This non-biodegradable product is commonly discarded into our ecosystems where it will stay for an incalculable number of years. When a product that cannot naturally decompose is thrown away into the environment it will move around until it eventually finds its way into the ocean, whether it be 1 year or 1000+ years after it is discarded. Our oceans are the final destinations in a piece of non-biodegradable litter’s journey. Styrofoam is a commonly littered object, and is known for breaking up into small pieces. These small pieces of styrofoam, once they make their way into our oceans, can choke marine animals, damage animal’s digestive systems, block sunlight from getting through the ocean’s surface, and can cause countless other problems for our marine ecosystems.

The Surfside Story

Styrofoam is a large contributor to Surfside’s litter. Garbage on the streets and beaches is certainly not aesthetically pleasing to Surfside’s locals and tourists. Styrofoam is commonly ingested by Surfside’s wildlife, specifically nesting sea turtles and shorebirds. Clearly continued styrofoam use in Surfside will hurt the city economically and environmentally. After tireless effort by inspired environmentally conscious individuals the city of Surfside decided to take action. In June of 2014, the Town Commission provided policy direction in efforts to establish and put into effect prohibitions on the use of styrofoam in Surfside.

Waving Goodbye to Styrofoam

Since the idea of regulating styrofoam was introduced in Surfside, proactive steps have been taken by Surfside’s locals and authorities to restrict the use of styrofoam in their city. An ordinance to ban styrofoam was proposed in Surfside’s most recent Town Commission meeting, on February 10th. An ordinance is essentially a law that is passed and enforced by a local government, typically in the name of public health or safety. This specific ordinance called for the regulation of styrofoam use in municipal buildings and facilities as well as the beach, with a proposal of applying styrofoam use regulations to businesses in the future.

So What’s Next?

Thankfully and encouragingly, the first reading of the ordinance was passed unanimously! The next step in this process is that the city clerk or city attorney will read through the ordinance. The proposer of the ordinance then gets to edit and provide explanation. After this task is complete, the ordinance is ready to make a reappearance. At the next Town Commission meeting the ordinance will be presented yet again. If it is approved at its second reading then the mayor signs the ordinance and it will officially become enforceable. All because a small municipality in South Florida took charge and is actively working towards cleaner oceans, there is now a real possibility of legal, enforceable regulations on styrofoam, one of the most hazardous, common, and long-lasting pollutants that our oceans are dealing with.

Now That You’re Feeling Inspired

Surfside is the fourth municipality in Miami-Dade County to take action in cleaner, healthier oceans. Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and Bal Harbour all regulate styrofoam use already, including banning it from beaches and parks, as well as restricting its use to varying degrees in municipal facilities and private businesses. The fact that a fourth municipality in the county has spoken out and taken action on behalf of our oceans is truly inspiring. It goes to show that the information you know, the education you can pass onto others, and the power you have to speak out, are an incredible combination that can create huge positive changes in our world. If you feel passionate and driven about this issue, or any other issue concerning your city, it’s easy to get involved! Ordinances are introduced at Town Commission meetings by any council member. If you want to start at the root of the problem then you can send a letter to, call, email, or try to personally speak with a council member about this issue. For example, one of the co-founders here at Debris Free Oceans wrote an email to Surfside mayor Daniel Dietch, encouraging him to implement the strictest styrofoam ban possible in the city. Furthermore, after an ordinance is introduced, a public hearing about the ordinance is held during a regular Town Commission meeting. Anyone is allowed to attend this reading, and it gives the public an opportunity to speak freely on the matter in question. Debris Free Oceans encourages all of you to take part in the movement and work towards marine environments that are litter free. Whether it be reaching out to a councilman, attending public hearings, or simply educating those around you on the legal process to enforce laws like this one, any small part helps. Everybody has a voice, and we urge you to use yours in an effort to create a world with cleaner beaches, reefs, and oceans.

Resources:

http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

https://tml.org/Handbook-M&C/Chapter7.pdf

http://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/pdf/perspec/2001-spring/spring-2001-10.pdf

http://www.townofsurfsidefl.gov/Pages/SurfsideFL_Clerk/SurfsideFL_PDocs/SurfsideFL_CommAgendas/2015/2015-01-13%20Agenda%20Packet%20-%20Website.pdf

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Are Microplastic Clothing Fibers Filling our Oceans?

Regular Animal — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:33:01 +0000

In 2011, ecologist Mark Browne released an alarming study revealing that tiny clothing fibers could be the biggest source of plastic in our oceans. It was found that these microfibers, such as nylon and acrylic, were predominately near sewage outflows. In other words, this is a man made problem. Browne, a “pioneer in mircoplastics research” has tediously examined shoreline sediment from around the world and his study has marked a milestone. By sampling wastewater from domestic washing machines, Browne estimated that around 1,900 individual fibers can be rinsed off a single synthetic garment… ending up in our oceans. As the human population grows and people use more synthetic textiles, contamination of habitats and animals by microplatics is likely to increase.

Concerned by his findings, Browne sought partnership to try and figure out the flow of synthetic fibers from clothing to the washing machine to the ocean. He reached out to big outdoor clothing companies such as Patagonia, Nike and Polartec with hopes for developing better textile design to prevent the migration of toxic fibers into our water system. However none of these prominent clothing brands agreed to lend support. In 2013 Browne presented his vision for a program called Benign by Design, backed by a team of engineers and scientists. The goal would be to develop synthetic materials that do no shed synthetic fibers- or do so minimally by are still cost effective, high performing, and if possible rely on recycled materials. Only one firm, women’s clothing brand Eileen Fisher, offered support with a $10,000 grant for research. However, determining what type of plastic is in the water is hard and expensive sometimes up to $1000 per sample.

“I think [clothing companies] have all put a lot of marketing money into environmental programs, but I’ve not seen evidence that they’ve put much money into research,” says Browne.

The overwhelming challenge lies in determining how to measure the environmental impact of synthetic fabrics and how to go about change. Those fighting the use of microbeads in beauty products for example, have a more linear solution- removing the microbeads. Getting rid of synthetic fibers on the other hand will be extremely difficult. They are durable, versatile, and can have a smaller water and energy footprint than natural fabrics. Browne has also reached out to appliance manufacturers Siemens, Dyson, and LG trying to propose developing microfiber filters to prevent them from entering the water. He has yet to receive a productive response. While this fight for change might seem bleak there are things we can individually do to support clean oceans!

Get what clothes you need at the thrift store before you head straight to purchase new clothes (per the advice of Macklemore)
Throw a clothes-swap party with your friends! Every person brings clothes they no longer want anymore, and everyone has the opportunity to shop through the wardrobe collection brought by each guest. Clothing can be for trade or sale!
Check out rawfortheoceans.g-star.com, a clothing line by Pharrell Williams with denim made from recycled ocean plastics
Repair your clothes for as long as possible like Patagonia’s Worn Wear Program, its commitment to creating long-lasting clothing that can be repaired for years to come (http://www.patagonia.com/us/worn-wear/)
Check out http://www.teeki.com, athletic wear made form recycled plastic bottles

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5 Things You Need to Know About How Florida Banned Plastic Bags

Regular Animal — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:06:42 +0000

Written by Debris Free Oceans Communication Interns, Emma Hope and Julia Hoch from the University of Miami Ecosystem Science and Policy Program

1. The Problem: Americans use over 100 billion single-use plastic bags every year.

Although single-use plastic bags are one of the most convenient manufactured commodities of our time, they’re also one of the most destructive. We use them at supermarkets, shopping malls, drug stores, and even at home. This plastic bag can be used for five minutes, only to be thrown away where it can photodegrade into microscopicpieces of that same plastic over the next 1,000 years.

Americans use over 100 billion plastic bags each year. That’s equal to over 300 bags per person per year, with less than 10% of these bags being recycled. The vast majority ends up as pollution, with large amounts in marine environments.

2. The Consequences: Plastic bag pollution kills tourism and our environment.

Economically speaking, tourism takes the biggest hit. Consider Miami, for example. With 14.2 million visitors to Miami Beach in 2013, it’s no surprise that tourism is one of Florida’s biggest sources of income. However, as plastic bag pollution on Florida’s beaches continues to rise we can expect a loss in revenue from the tourism industry.

Plastic bags can also pose hazards to boaters, threatening damage to propellers and water intake valves. The United Nations estimates that plastic causes $13 billion in monetary damages globally to aquatic ecosystems every year.

Direct environmental impacts include ingestion, entanglement, and ecosystem alteration. Marine animals often ingest plastic bags accidentally. For example, sea turtles frequently mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them, causing irreversible damage.

Animals can also get entangled in plastic bags, which may cause serious problems such as suffocation or starvation.

Plastic bags can alter the food chain by smothering other immobile marine organisms, such as aquatic vegetation.

3. The Solution: Debris Free Oceans encourages minimizing marine debris and its impacts through reducing, reusing, recycling, recollecting and redesigning.

What better way to reduce plastic bag pollution than to ban single-use plastic bags all together? In August 2014, California became the first state legislature to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at large retail stores. Although it will not take effect until July 2015, this ban is an important first step in putting an end to an increasingly troublesome issue.

Over the past few years, all of Hawaii’s most populous counties have prohibited single-useplastic bags at a more local level. Whether it’s a statewide or a local change, banning plastic bags is one of the most productive actions to take in the fight for debris free oceans.

Florida, being surrounded by water, could save millions of bags from entering the oceans by implementing a plastic bag ban.

4. The Bag Snag: The State of Florida made it illegal to regulate single-use plastic bags in response to a powerful plastics industry lobby.

Confusing, right? In 2010, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection made knowledgeable recommendations in regards to managing plastic bags, but Florida has yet to act upon these recommendations. And it gets worse. Not only has the state of Florida not acted on the DEP’s proposed guidelines, but the State of Florida has banned local governments from taking the issue into their own hands like Hawaii.

Florida law states that, “Until such time that the Legislature adopts the recommendations of the [DEP], no local government, local governmental agency, or state government agency may enact any rule, regulation, or ordinance regarding use, disposition, sale, prohibition, restriction, or tax of such auxiliary containers, wrappings, or disposable plastic bags”.

Even if we want to, Miami cannot ban the bag until Florida lifts the ban on banning the bag (talk about a mouthful). The plastics lobby fights hard to force single-use plastic bags in stores through this legislation, and we as Floridians must demand that our legislators permit local governments to regulate single-use plastic bags within their own jurisdiction.

5. The Responsibility: Do your part to reduce, reuse, recycle, recollect and redesign.

Just because we can’t move forward as a state, or even as a city, it doesn’t mean we can’t each do our part individually. You can reduce your use of single-use plastic bags by (1)bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store or (2) reusing whatever plastic bags you already have lying around the house.

The biggest impact you can have is through spreading awareness. Do your part, and encourage your friends, family, school, and local businesses to do theirs. Ending our individual contribution to marine debris propels us toward reaching our dream of clean oceans.

References:

http://www.environmentmassachusetts.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Bag%20Ban%20Fact%20Sheet%20_0.pdf

http://www.takepart.com/oceans/plastic-pollution

http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/~/media/files/gmcvb/partners/research%20statistics/annual_report_2013

http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/marinedebris/prevention_plastics.cfm

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/30/florida-plastic-bagban.html

http://www.planetexperts.com/illegal-ban-plastic-bags-florida/

http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/plastic-bag-legislation.aspx

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Plastic from an Environmental Health Perspective

Regular Animal — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:23:38 +0000

This article was written by Julia Hoch and Emma Pope, DFO’s Communication Interns. Photo by Vincent Bousserez.

What comes to mind when you hear the words toy, raincoat, shower curtain, vinyl flooring, detergent, food packaging, and shampoo? All of these household items are uncontrollably a part of our day to day lives. What you may not be thinking is that when these plastics are broken down, they contain phthalates. Phthalates are chemicals that give plastic its resilience and flexibility. Basically they help make fragrances “stick” to your hair, face, or skin. The commonality of these items might appear to make them harmless. However, a 2014 article in TIME magazine reveals they may have negative health effects.

A recent study (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1307670/) has found that a woman’s exposure to plastic chemicals during pregnancy is linked to a 70 percent increase in asthma risk for her child. A research team from Columbia University followed 300 moms and children in NYC for several years. Researchers compared the urine tests of the mothers’ during pregnancy (testing for concentrations of phthalates) to whether their children had asthma at ages 5 to 11. It was shown that children of woman with higher levels of two types of phthalates in their urine had a 72% and 78% increase in the risk of asthma.

Virtually everyone is exposed to phthalates, and inhalation is a significant route of exposure for pregnant woman. Fetuses are especially at risk because their lungs develop so rapidly. Therefore they are more susceptible to environmental exposure. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, meaning they mess with the body’s natural hormone system, which are key to fetal development. Studies have also linked phthalates to early onset eczema, hormonal imbalances and respiratory problems.

So where did we go wrong? How could something as convenient as plastic be hurting the health of future generations? Well, lets backtrack about 60 years to an article published by LIFE (the former name for TIME), titled “Throwaway Living.” The idea of this 1955 article was to celebrate the convenience of using plastic and paper everything. It glorified a disposable lifestyle that meant no clean up and no hassle.

Clearly times have changed and we now understand we can not assume infinite resources and infinite disposal for the human population. The Debris Free Oceans team aims to inspire a closed loop system when it comes to waste. We encourage society to reduce, reuse, recycle, recollect and then redesign. Overall this transforms the plastic lifecycle into a circle which, in effect, will vastly reduce waste.

Eliminating exposure of phthalates altogether is impossible and limiting is difficult. However, there are positive steps we all can take towards a brighter future! For example storing food in glass containers, not microwaving foods in plastic, and avoiding air fresheners are just three simple ways to start making a difference. It is also suggested to steer clear of scented products such as laundry detergent and dishwashing soap.

When looking at the recycling number on plastic avoid 3, 6, and 7- these are types that release unwanted chemicals into your food or drink. Hopefully with increased awareness and simple personal changes we all can play a part in a smooth transition from throwaway living to sustainable living!

Resources:

http://www.worldpublicunion.org/2013-06-01-NEWS-plastic-numbers-to-avoid-bpa-numbers.html
http://time.com/3393376/phthalates-linked-to-asthma/
http://life.time.com/culture/throwaway-living-when-tossing-it-all-was-all-the-rage/#1

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