Coastal Blog — Rise Above Plastics
September 26 2012
Skin Care In The Ocean
If you live near the coast it’s quite likely that your skin care products end up in the ocean. It’s generally not a big issue as most ingredients are made from sources that biodegrade but that appears to be changing. Recently scientists have been documenting microplastics on beaches and in…
September 25 2012
Haiti Bans Plastic Bags and Foam Foodware!
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
News stories are circulating stating that Haiti’s government has announced a ban on plastic checkout bags and plastic foam foodware. “This is a logical decision and makes sense,” Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said. “Importing, manufacturing bio-degradable items will benefit Haiti’s short, mid- and long-term environmental interest.”
September 20 2012
Bag-Related Legislation Comes out of Sacramento
Legal Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans
This week California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1219 (Wolk) into law, extending the in-store recycling program for single-use plastic bags. Unlike the former version of this bill AB 2449 (2006), there is no local preemption for municipalities in California that want to require a charge for plastic bags.
September 20 2012
China Gets Tough on Plastic Recycling
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
The mantra that big business seems to push is ‘Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!’, but at what cost? Many of the shipping containers that bring us goods from Asia don’t want to head back empty and in 2010 the #1 export from the U.S. to China was ‘Waste and Scrap.’ China recently…
September 19 2012
Plastic Pollution Hangout
KQED SCIENCE recently hosted a Google Hangout round table discussion about the growing problem of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Much of the 300 million tons of plastic is produced globally each year is carelessly discarded and goes from landfills or streets to streams, eventually floating out to sea.…
September 17 2012
International Plastic Bag Reductions
Plastic bag restrictions have been enacted in many cities and towns on the West Coast of the U.S. while international plastic bag reductions are picking up speed. There is no solid data on the number of plastic checkout bags used every year but estimates range between 500 billion and 1…
September 16 2012
City of San Francisco Wins Legal Battle over Plastics Industry
Legal Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans
The City of San Francisco successfully fended off a suit by the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition that challenged their new broader single-use bag ban. This win will likely encourage other cities to stand up to industry scare tactics and enact broad local ordinances.
September 11 2012
Coastal Cleanup Day This Saturday!
Just like every day is Earth Day for some people, every day is Coastal Cleanup Day for some of the regulars lucky enough to make it to the beach day in, day out. This Saturday September 15th is the chance for everyone to make it Coastal Cleanup Day by joining…
September 04 2012
Cheap Plastic Keeps Flowing In CA After Legislators Fail To Act
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Late last week both of the statewide plastic reduction bills weaving through the California legislature failed last week. While it’s a bummer these plastic litter reduction bills did not pass, it was great to see the efforts of Surfrider Foundation Chapter activists in some of the target districts: San Francisco,…
August 27 2012
Last Call for California
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
LAST CALL for Californians to take action on supporting two important plastic reduction bills before the legislative session ends on Friday. SB 568 would phase out expanded polystyrene foam foodware statewide and AB 298 would ban plastic checkout bags statewide. These are two of the most prolific litter items found…
August 23 2012
LA Unified and Jamba Juice Ditch Expanded Polystyrene Foam!!
Rise Above Plastics Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Two major announcements lately show the public demand to ditch expanded polystyrene foam is stronger than ever! A determined ten-year old has convinced Jamba Juice to replace their foam cups with more sustainable ones and determined students at an LA area middle school convinced the entire district to ditch the…
August 23 2012
Bring The Bag Campaign Hits The Beach!
Promoting the use of reusable bags in Texas and beyond, the Surfrider Foundation Galveston Chapter recently gave away approximately 600 reusable bags! During the day they created a Bag Monster from single use plastic bags they obtained from the public along the seawall and beach.
August 22 2012
Will California Reduce Plastic Pollution?
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
There are just nine days left in the California legislative session, which means just nine days left for bills to be passed before going to the Governor for final approval. Two groundbreaking plastic pollution reduction bills are weaving through the Capitol in Sacramento and need your support to pass! It's…
August 20 2012
Plastic Problems Under The Surface
If a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound? Yes. If litter sinks to the seafloor is it still marine debris? Of course it is. Many people simply look at the shoreline or glance at the water's surface to determine how clean a beach or other marine…
August 07 2012
Oregon Marine Debris Team Partnership Launched
Rise Above Plastics Tsunami Debris
Spurred by a need to educate, activate and engage citizens in Japanese tsunami marine debris work in Oregon, Surfrider Foundation chapters in the region have officially partnered with other NGOs and academic groups to form the Oregon Marine Debris Team partnership and initiative.
July 30 2012
Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project and Joshua Radin
2012 marks the sixth year the Barefoot Wine and Bubbly has teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation for the Beach Rescue Project to help keep beaches, rivers and lakes barefoot friendly. This year Joshua Radin has been involved at various locations across the country as his schedule permits - a…
July 30 2012
Fed Up With Foam Litter? Pass SB 568!
Rise Above Plastics Expanded Polystyrene Foam
California Senate Bill 568 is groundbreaking legislation that would phase out expanded polystyrene (EPS) food and drink containers at restaurants statewide by 2016. Sign our action alert and call your State Assemblymember to support this bill to clean up our beaches and support sustainable foodware products by phasing out the…
July 25 2012
Two Plastic Reduction Victories in Santa Cruz
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Last night the Santa Cruz City Council gave their final approval on a plastic bag ban and expanded their existing foam foodware ban to include most disposable retail items made from EPS foam. The Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapters was one of the first to focus on plastic pollution issues…
July 24 2012
Illinois, Massachusetts and California Plastic Bills
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Three states have four big bills regarding plastic pollution in play and your help is needed! It's easy, all you have to do is pick up the phone and make a call, then sign and share an online action alert.
July 23 2012
More Evidence Plastic Bag Legislation Works
Plastic bag legislation is relatively new but the results are coming in shows them to be effective in reducing plastic bags with little resistance from consumers. Recent reports from Long Beach, CA, Sunnyvale, CA and Quebec Province in Canada all show positive results. Whether it's a plastic checkout bag ban…
