trash free seas in california ocean protection council marine debris workshop june 28, 2013 nicholas...

TRASH FREE SEAS IN CALIFORNIATRASH FREE SEAS IN CALIFORNIAOCEAN PROTECTION COUNCIL MARINE DEBRIS WORKSHOP

June 28, 2013Nicholas J. Mallos

TOP 10 ITEMS: CA CLEANUP 2008-2012

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TOP 10 ITEMS: 5 YEAR TRENDS

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TOP 10 ITEMS: MASS VS. ABUNDANCE

RankRank Item Total Mass (kg)

1 Glass beverage bottles (7) 35,583.65

2 Food wrappers & Takeout containers (2) 9,339.02

3 Paper bags (4) 3,289.66

4 Plastic beverage bottles (9) 2,867.67

5 Plastic bags (4) 2,534.56

6 Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons (5) 1,790.30

7 Beverage cans (10) 1,773.58

8 Caps & Lids (3) 818.43

9 Cigarettes & Cigarette Filters (1) 462.14

10 Straws & Stirrers (6) 108.26

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ANSWERING THE PLASTICS “SO WHAT?”

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis

Principle objectives:

I.Analysis and synthesis of the risks and impacts of marine debris

I.Quantification of plastic debris in the marine environment

I.Probabilistic risk assessment of marine debris

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INCREASING RIGOR OF PLASTICS DATA

• New Cleanup data form– Material specific – Tiny trash (i.e. plastics, glass, PS)

• California trash analysis:– Brand characterizations– Classification of beach plastics

THANK YOU

nmallos@oceanconservancy.orgTwitter: @NickMallos

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Brands A-D comprise 54% of trash

OCEAN TRASH BRAND CHARACTERIZATION

PE + PP•92.3% beach•58.0% annual

BEACH VS. ANNUAL PLASTICS