Rise Above Plastics
The ocean is turning into a plastic soup.
Most plastic pollution at sea starts out on land as litter on beaches, streets and sidewalks. Rain or overwatering flushes that litter through a storm drain system or directly to creeks, streams and rivers that lead to the ocean. After plastics enter the marine environment they slowly photodegrade into smaller pieces that marine life can mistake for food, sometimes with fatal results. Ocean gyres concentrate plastic pollution in five main areas of the world’s ocean and various research groups are bringing back alarming data documenting plastics impacts.
Simple local actions can help make an impact to solve this global issue. Join us in protecting the coast and Rise Above Plastics! Check out the resources on these 'RAP' program pages, then get involved with your local Surfrider Foundation Chapter to help protect the coasts and oceans.
Plastic—it's all around us.
It's in our homes, our offices, our vehicles, our yards, our playgrounds. We use it to package food, bottle products, bag proceduce, make dinnerware and utensils, make toys....
Plastics have undoubtedly helped us to manufacture, package and ship goods more easily, for less money, and in some cases more safely than ever before.
But plastics pose a significant threat to our planet as well.
Part of the problem is plastic itself. The very qualities that make it an adaptable and durable product to use, also make plastic an environmental nightmare. You see, plastics do not biodegrade. Instead they photodegrade - breaking down under exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, into smaller and smaller pieces.
Bottom line: with the exception of the small amount that has been incinerated, virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form.
Rise Above Plastics Mission
To reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.
Rise Above Plastic Grassroots Goals
We encourage YOU to help address these globlal issues locally with plastic reductions at home, school, work and for your entire community:
- Connect with Rise Above Plastics by attending a Surfrider Foundation Chapter meeting or following 'RAP' on Facebook / Twitter.
- Get involved with your local chapter and/or spread the word to friends and family about the problems with plastics.
- Be a leader and have the biggest impact by directing a plastic reduction program at school/work or a plastic reduction ordinance with you local city council.
Check out the Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit under the 'Resources' tab for detailed tips and ideas.
Ten Ways To Rise Above Plastics
Here are ten easy things you can do to reduce your 'plastic footprint' and help keep plastics out of the marine environment:
- Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags and bottled water. Cloth bags and metal or glass reusable bottles are available locally at great prices.
- Refuse single-serving packaging, excess packaging, straws and other 'disposable' plastics. Carry reusable utensils in your purse, backpack or car to use at bbq's, potlucks or take-out restaurants.
- Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag/box that includes a thermos.
- Bring your to-go mug with you to the coffee shop, smoothie shop or restaurants that let you use them. A great wat to reduce lids, plastic cups and/or plastic-lined cups.
- Go digital! No need for plastic cds, dvds and jewel cases when you can buy your music and videos online.
- Seek out alternatives to the plastic items that you rely on.
- Recycle. If you must use plastic, try to choose #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE), which are the most commonly recycled plastics. Avoid plastic bags and polystyrene foam as both typically have very low recycling rates.
- Volunteer at a beach cleanup. Surfrider Foundation Chapters often hold cleanups monthly or more frequently.
- Support plastic bag bans, polystyrene foam bans and bottle recycling bills.
- Spread the word. Talk to your family and friends about why it is important to Rise Above Plastics!
Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit
Help reduce plastic waste in your community with the Rise Above Plastics Activist Toolkit! This is a step by step guide to creating positive change in your community through reducing single-use plastics. The RAP Toolkit is focused on establishing a plastic bag ban or similar ordinance and it also offers insight on increasing awareness of plastic pollution issues through education and outreach.
RAP Activist Toolkit E-mag version to View or RAP Activist Toolkit PDF version to Print
RAP Facts
- The amount of plastic produced from 2000 - 2010 exceeds the amount produced during the entire last century.[1]
- Plastic is the most common type of marine litter worldwide.[2]
- An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and up to 1 million sea birds die every year after ingesting or being tangled in plastic marine litter.[3]
- Up to 80% of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources.[4]
- Plastics comprise up to 90% of floating marine debris.[5]
- In 2009 about 3.8 million tons of waste plastic "bags, sacks and wraps" were generated in the United States, but only 9.4% of this total was recycled.[6]
- Plastics do not biodegrade, but instead break down into small particles that persist in the ocean, absorb toxins, and enter our food chain through fish, sea birds and other marine life.[7]
- Plastic bags are problematic in the litter stream because they float easily in the air and water, traveling long distances and never fully breaking down in water.
- Cleanup of plastic bags is costly. California spends $25 million annually to landfill discarded plastic bags, and public agencies spend more than $300 million annually in litter cleanup.[8]
- It is estimated that Americans go through about 100 billion plastic bags a year, or 360 bags per year for every man, woman and child in the country.[9]
RAP on the Web
Rise Above Plastics (RAP) likes to stay connected with our supporters as much as possible and we welcome your feedback and ideas. Here are some of the main places you can find more info and stay connected:
Learn more about Rise Above Plastics on the Coastal Blog, and Beachapedia.
Connect with RAP at facebook.com/riseaboveplastic , twitter.com/riseaboveplstcs and our Plastics Fail page.
Check out Surfrider Foundation 'RAP' Campaigns across the county HERE.
Surfrider Foundation has new public forums where you can share your ideas and ask any questions you may have about RAP.
Visit the Surfrider Foundation Store for Rise Above Plastics reusable bags, reusable bottles and more!
Links to Partners
Algalita Marine Research Foundation
May 30 2012
Illinois Call To Action - Prevent A Bad Bag Bill
When asked about Illinois, not many people think of beaches or surfing but there is a nice stretch of waterfront along Lake Michigan that can be packed with people or pitching up fun little peaks from time to time. The Surfrider Foundation Chicago Chapter has been active for years and is calling out for help on a statewide bill for Illinois that would prevent local cities from pursuing plastic bag bans and establishing very weak industry standards. Take action TODAY to help prevent this horrible bill.
May 23 2012
LA and SB Move Forward with Plastic Bag Bans!
The Los Angeles and Santa Barbara City Councils each voted this week to move forward with plans to ban plastic checkout bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and similar retailers within each of their respective city limits. Both cities have held a series of public hearings on the issue and both have made a strong commitment to draft final ordinance language and perform the appropriate environmental review. Once those are done the will be a final series of votes, hopefully by the end of summer.
May 22 2012
Does Recycling Increase Consumption?
The world marvels at how much Americans consume, whether if it's a disproportionate share of world energy, lots of fresh water in our daily lives or throwing away over four pounds of trash per person per day. A recent study shows how providing recycling bins can lead to an increase in consumption and possibly more environmental issues. We have all heard of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, but how many people try to embrace them every day? Or at least sometimes? The most important step is trying to reduce, simply using less stuff. You would think that might be easy, but not in a disposable society where convenience is marketed as something that can be bough for cheap.
May 17 2012
How Big is the Floating Island of Plastic in the Pacific?
That's a trick question because there is no floating 'island' of plastic pollution but researchers recently released a study showing that plastic in the ocean has increased 100-fold in the past 40 years. Yes, that's correct. Plastic pollution did not double or triple during that time, it increased by a factor of 100, which shows that much more needs to be done to prevent this deadly marine debris.
May 14 2012
Hawaii Becomes the First State in the U.S. to Ban Plastic Bags!
When the Mayor of Honolulu signed into law the plastic bag ban on May 11, Hawaii became the first state in the nation where every county is covered by a plastic bag ban. This was not done by the state legislature, but instead by all four County Councils - a great example of local activists and decision makers addressing the serious issue of plastic pollution.
May 14 2012
Will your reusable bag make you sick?
Nope – but any inanimate object could potentially carry a virus, germs, bacteria or mold. A recent report from Oregon documented norovirus virus was transferred on a bag of groceries that was being kept in a hotel bathroom. The report stressed that the carrier could be any inanimate object or surface so here are a few things to remember:
April 11 2012
Phone In To Help Hawaii Reduce Plastic Bag Pollution
Hawaii stands poised to pass the nation's first statewide Bag Bill (HB2483). The bill would reduce the consumption of single-use plastic and paper bags through a small fee, and revenues from the fees would help fund watershed protection. Over the last four years, the coalition of supporters has grown to include the Governor, the heads of many government agencies, environmental groups, retailers, grocery stores, schools and thousands of people like you. Although the bill has passed through the Senate and the House, certain House leaders are still blocking the measure. So we need folks to call and let them know that this bill has broad support across Hawaii and the country.
April 05 2012
Rise Above Plastics Goes Global
Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics program started on the West Coast, has made an impact in coastal communities across the U.S. and now reaches to Europe and beyond. Surfrider’s Europe flagship event “Ocean Initiatives” held it's opening weekend from March 22 to March 25. The “Ocean Initiatives” are an awareness program highlighting the issue of marine litter combined with cleanups operations. This year “Ocean Initiatives” highlights the Rise Above Plastics program through educational and communication tools.
March 30 2012
Week In Review: Videos and Kickstarter
This past week saw some great plastic pollution awareness videos making the rounds along with a couple of Kickstarter plastic pollution projects worth mentioning. Not familiar with Kickstarter? Kickstarter is a funding platform made especially for creative projects with a clear goal that will eventually be completed, and something will be produced by it. Read on for more info.
March 23 2012
Superior Court Upholds Los Angeles County Bag Ban
Legal Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans
In a Los Angeles Superior Court hearing today, Judge James C. Chalfant upheld the County of Los Angeles ordinance to impose a single-use plastic bag ban with a 10-cent fee on paper bags.
March 22 2012
Happy World Water Day! What’s It To You?
Today is World Water Day! Founded in 1993 by the United Nations, this global observance highlights the need for the care and management of the world’s water resources. This year’s theme, “Water and Food Security” seeks to highlight the relationship between water and global food supplies. When I think of World Water Day I think of the global water bottle epidemic and plastic pollution it has spawned.
March 20 2012
Teach Kids About Plastic with a Hands-On Sand Dig & Scavenger Hunt!
A few years ago the Portland Chapter was asked to attend the Portland Children’s Clean Water Festival, where over 1,400 kids come and learn all about water in one day! With hundreds of other booths and games to play, I was going to have to make something fun, engaging and special to get 1,400 kids to come to our booth and really learn about plastics in our water, on our beaches and what they can do in their own lives to help decrease it!
March 15 2012
Rise Above Plastics this St. Patricks Day!
St. Patrick's Day is a festive time for many people and a perfect day to truly be green. Leave the dye out of the river, but bring out the green clothes for sure. On the plastics front, leave the disposable items at home when you go to the local parade. Think of it as a visit to the beach or park - pack in and pack out. Sure, there will probably be trash/recycle cans, but litter blows and could fly away, especially if bins are overflowing. Here's something else to consider: floating plastic widgets in your beer can, which are often found in Irish stouts.
March 12 2012
Tsunami Debris – Coming to a beach near you?
This past Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan with devastating force and sadly took thousands of lives. As Japan continues to rebuild the most impacted areas, much of the international chatter over the past few months has been about a field of debris marching across the Pacific Ocean - the result from the tsunami surge and retreat.
March 03 2012
Surfrider Hits the Nation’s Capital
Legal Rise Above Plastics Water Quality Oil Spill
This past week Surfrider Foundation staff visited Washington DC to promote our federal priorities on Capitol Hill. As a grassroots organization, our federal priorities stem from the work of the over 80 local Chapters in the United States. The common issues that have risen to the top of our local Chapter concerns currently include water quality, marine debris and oil drilling legislation.
March 02 2012
The Plastic Bag Dominos Continue To Fall
It's been a good week for the environment as more cities embrace meaningful plastic bag reductions. (For a list of ineffective plastic bag reductions, see yesterday's blog post) In Southern California, Laguna Beach finalized their plastic carryout bag ban while Carpinteria and Ojai passed first readings of their own bag ordinances. Last night, or I should say this morning since the vote was at 2am, Austin, TX voted unanimously to pass a reusable bag ordinance. I like to call the Austin and Carpinteria efforts true 'reusable bag ordinances' because they phase out both plastic AND paper bags. It's an important distinction on how we need to shift away from a disposable society.
March 01 2012
Voluntary Plastic Bag Reductions Don’t Work
As carryout plastic bag usage in the United States soars over 100 billion (115 billion now by one estimate), more cities and states are looking at ways to reduce litter and the impacts of plastic bags. Bag recycling programs have been set up across the country but as bag recycling rates hover around 5% it's easy to see that recycling is not the answer. Reusable bag policy such as bag bans and bag fees are the easiest way to control the source of the problem. Some cities are looking at voluntary measures to help solve the problem but as you can see from these examples, voluntary plastic bag reductions do not work.
February 27 2012
Hold On To Your Butt!
Hold On To Your Butt is a Surfrider Foundation campaign aimed at eliminating cigarette butt litter and pollution because of the impact on beaches and the ocean. Cigarette butt litter is a big issue because butts are the most littered item in the world and most butts are made of cellulose acetate - a type of plastic. Preliminary studies show that the substances that seep out of cigarette butts can be acutely toxic to freshwater micro-organisms - more studies need to be done to show the impacts of billions of butts that reach the ocean.
February 22 2012
Plastic Videos
One of the coolest parts of the Rise Above Plastics program is sharing some of the video projects that activists work on. Check out these great efforts from Marty Benson in San Diego County and Joanna Priestley/Create Plenty in Portland, OR.
February 08 2012
Do you need a bulldozer to cleanup your beach?
I sure hope not. I have seen photos of large equipment scooping litter out of Ballona Creek in LA, insane plastic pollution in the Tijuana River Valley near the Mexican border at the Pacific Ocean and large beach raking machines are common in many tourist areas but these photos from Lebanon were still eye opening. As we do our best to stop the flow of plastic pollution entering the oceans domestically, many foreign countries struggle with waste disposal and basic recycling. While it's tempting to branch out everywhere we see plastic pollution, a good first step is to stop plastic pollution at home. Remember the four R's of plastic: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle along with supporting plastic source reductions such as bag bans, expanded polystyrene foam bans and bottle bills.
Take Action
Plastic Bag Battle of LA
Tell the LA City Council to follow through on their commitment to a plastic checkout bag ban!