Category Archives: Plastic Pollution

The Pennsylvania Story: More Plastic Pollution in the Making

My new video shows how Marcellus shale gas is changing economics of plastic production, increasing risks of plastic pollution and climate change.

 

Philadelphia’s Single Use Plastic Bag To Be introduced Soon

Councilman Squilla has announced that he plans to introduce a single use plastic bag bill that will reduce bag use in Philadelphia by 80% in first year.

 

Plastic Marine Debris – Wildlife Killer

EPA’s National Trash Free Waters Program  is described in this PDF (link)
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Troubled Waters Videos

 

 

Stormwater Contribution to Microplastics – 2 California Studies

We intuitively know that much of the plastic litter on our city streets will be carried by stormwater runoff to our creeks and rivers. We also know that macro plastic breaks down into microplastics (< 5 mm) and that researchers have found elevated levels in freshwater and marine waters across the globe.

Unfortunately there is little peer reviewed research into the direct link between stormwater runoff and microplastic levels in river and coastal bays.

Two California microplastic studies conducted by Algalita Marine Research Foundation (link) conducted in 2000 – 2001 demonstrate the role that stormwater runoff plays in Southern California coastal water and shows why we need aquatic microplastic research   in the Schuylkill – Delaware Basin.

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Trash and Microplastics in the Delaware Estuary

The DRBC’s Monitoring Advisory Coordinating Committee (MACC) and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary held their annual joint meeting on Tuesday, March 8.

I presented this slide show at the meeting to encourage DRBC and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to begin to address plastic trash as a serious water quality challenge for the Delaware Estuary.

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The presentation pdf is here 

Plastic Litter = Water Pollution

History of Philadelphia’s Plastic Litter Battle

The Schuylkill Navy Rivers Stewards Committee held a Street Litter – River Trash workshop on 11/19/15 that included representatives from the with Philadelpha’s Streets-Water-Parks & Recreation Departments as well a number of other groups.

I presented a talk on the history of Philadelphia’s plastic litter. Here are links pdf and PowerPoint copies of my talk.

Plastic Bags – The Economists Video

The Plastic Age – Documentary