baltimore’s trash tmdl: cause, effect and recommended...

Baltimore’s Trash TMDL: cause, effect

and recommended actions for all the

world’s port cities

6IMDC – San Diego, CA -- March 13, [email protected]

Photo: R. Summers

Baltimore

Google Earth

Baltimore Trashed

Page 4-1, Healthy Harbor Plan for Baltimore, MD – Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.

Cause

From “Pogo” by Walt Kelly

Cause

Page 4-3, Healthy Harbor Plan for Baltimore, MD – Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.

Baltimore Trash Reduction Studies

▪ Baltimore Harbor Trash Report (Moffatt and Nichol, 2006)

▪ Middle Branch Patapsco Trash Management Plan (Coastal Estuarine

Hydrology & Hydraulics Engineers, 2007)

▪ Harris Creek Small Watershed Action Plan (Center for Watershed

Protection, 2010)

▪ State of Baltimore Harbor’s Ecological and Human Health (Wicks

2011)

▪ A Healthy Harbor Plan for Baltimore, MD (Waterfront Partnership of

Baltimore, Inc. 2011)

▪ Upper Gwynns Falls Small Watershed Action Plan (Morton Thomas

Associates, Inc. 2011)

▪ Total Maximum Daily Loads of Trash and Debris for the Middle

Branch and Northwest Branch Portions of the Patapsco River

(Maryland Department of the Environment, 2014)

Clean Water Act TMDL

Requirements

▪ Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) directs each state

to identify and list waters that do not meet water quality standards.

▪ Each state is required to either establish the total maximum daily load

(TMDL) that the waterbody can receive without violating water quality

standards.

▪ CWA permits must be consistent with the TMDL.

Photo: Tom Sprehe

Maryland Water Quality Standards

▪ The waters of this State may not be polluted by any material, including

floating debris, oil, grease, scum, sludge, and other floating materials

attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other waste in amounts

sufficient to:

• Be unsightly;

• Produce taste or odor;

• Change the existing color to

produce objectionable color for

aesthetic purposes;

• Create a nuisance; or

• Interfere directly or indirectly with

designated uses;

Code of Maryland Regulations 26.08.02.03

Photo: Baltimore City WIP, Page 20

Baltimore’s Trash TMDL

▪ To address trash and debris

impairment to the shoreline of

the “Middle Branch from the

mouth (Ferry Bar Park to

Harbor Hospital Center)

extending westward and the

Northwest Branch from the

Hull Street Pier to Canton

Waterfront Park.”


▪ The source of the trash causing

the impairment is primarily

generated in the upland

watershed.


▪ All three contributing

watersheds are highly

urbanized, with mainly

residential and commercial

areas.

▪ The northern portions of both

the Gwynns Falls and Jones

Falls include forest and crop

land.

▪ The combined population of the

three watersheds is

approximately 725,000


Data inventory:

▪ Baltimore City stormwater

outfall monitoring

• Five locations sampled every 2 –

4 weeks

• dry weight of the trash was

measured and recorded


Data inventory:

▪ Baltimore County stormwater

facility and stream monitoring

• 20 in-stream sites

❖ All trash was collected within the

bankful 500 ft. reach

• 17 randomly selected stormwater

management facilities

❖ trash was collected within the fenced

boundary of the facility

• Dry weight determined for 5

categories of trash

❖ plastic bottles; glass bottles, aluminum

cans; other; and dumping


Baseline Loading rates:

▪ Point sources• items that are generally considered too large to move through the storm drain

system

▪ Nonpoint sources• items that would generally be able to move through the storm drain system are

considered part of the baseline point source load.

▪ Baseline loads do not include natural debris, such as sticks and leaves.

Photo: Tom Sprehe


Point Source Baseline Loading rates:

▪ Trash data was normalized by

precipitation

• stormwater runoff is main vector for

trash entering storm drains and

streams.

▪ For each monitoring site and

event

• loading rate = total weight / total

acreage x total precipitation

▪ Average annual loading rate

based on 30-year average rainfall.Baltimore City WIP, page 22


Baltimore City point source baseline loading rate

7.88 lbs/acre/year

average of monitored stormwater outfalls.


Baltimore County point source baseline loading rate

average of monitored stormwater facilities,

segregated by dominant land use.


Nonpoint Source Baseline Loading rates:

▪ only items that are too large to enter

the stormwater system through street-

level storm drains

▪ all nonpoint source loads have the

potential to impact the impaired

shoreline

▪ loading rate = total weight / total

acreage x number of days sampled


Nonpoint source baseline loading rate of

0.51 lbs/acre/year

average of 11 monitored sites.


TMDL Allocations:

▪ TMDL is equal to 100 percent removal of the annual

average baseline load

• Trash removal processes already in place are included in the

baseline (e.g. street sweeping, trash nets, and community

cleanups).

▪ TMDL is expressed as the ADDITIONAL quantity of

trash that must be captured or removed for the

waterbody to achieve the narrative criteria.

• Trash may be removed from anywhere within the watersheds


= 410,530 lbs/yr


▪ Ongoing programs, policies and regulatory mechanisms:

Municipal Operations

▪ solid waste management

▪ regular trash collection

▪ single-stream recycling

▪ special collections for

household hazardous waste

▪ litter control, street sweeping

& storm drain cleaning

▪ Trash interceptors in streams

▪ enforcement of litter and

trash dumping regulations

Baltimore City

▪ Harbor cleaning: fleet of trash

skimmers, booms and nets

▪ Watershed 246 Management Plan

Baltimore County

▪ Small Watershed Action Plans

▪ Clean Green County Program

Both

▪ 2002 Baltimore Watershed

Agreement, renewed in 2006

▪ Maryland Green Schools Program


▪ Stormwater (MS4) permits issued to City and County

▪ Federal Clean Water Act requirement

▪ Within one year of permit issuance

• requires an inventory and evaluation of current trash and recyclable

pick-up operations, litter control programs, and public outreach

efforts.

• Identification of opportunities for improving overall efficiency

▪ Develop and implement a public education and outreach

campaign

▪ Report annually on progress toward implementing the trash

reduction strategies,

• including personnel and financial resources expended and the

effectiveness of all program components

Baltimore’s Trash WIP*

*Watershed Implementation Plan (2016)

▪ Developed in compliance with MS4

Permit

• “Installing debris collection projects in-line

and at the end of pipe to capture trash within

public storm system;

• Employing a variety of operational programs,

such as mechanical street sweeping,

preventive inlet cleaning, and routine

waterway cleaning; and

• Fostering partnerships to encourage litter

reduction and increased recycling, coupled

with an increase in environmental

stewardship within the communities.”

Baltimore’s Trash WIP

Challenges:

▪ 16,000 vacant buildings

▪ highest concentration of vacant

properties within the TMDL

boundary

▪ Vacant properties often are

locations for illegal dumping of

trash and larger debris, including

contractors and unlicensed

private haulers who do not want

to pay a tipping fee to dump at a

legal collection point.


Challenges:

DPW identified 12 trash hot spots along the Gwynn’s Falls and Jones Falls streams with accumulations of bottles, styrofoam containers, and plastic bags.


Baltimore City WIP, Page 39

Photo: DPW


Baltimore City WIP, Page 39


Baltimore City WIP, page 47

Annual Reporting

“The Bureau provides curbside trash and recycling pickup including bulk items and seasonal waste for 640,000 residents in approximately 210,000 households citywide.”

https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/solid-waste

Trash collection

“As part of the ongoing effort to keep our neighborhoods and waterways cleaner and healthier, Baltimore City has provided a Municipal Trash Can to every residential address receiving trash collection by the City.”

https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/solid-waste/cans

Providing municipal trash cans

Nearly 171,000 cans distributed to households beginning in March 2016

Recycling

Street Sweeping

• The street sweeping program expanded in April 2014 to include all city streets outside of the downtown and central area.

• In FY 2016, DPW‐ Bureau of Solid Waste removed 12,143 tons of debris while sweeping 111,435 miles of street surface. (DPW MS4 Annual Report)

Photo: Baltimore City DPW

• “In May 2016, DPW completed the installation of screens and inserts for 414 inlets to improve the efficiency of inlet cleaning and street sweeping by preventing trash and debris from entering the storm pipe system.”

(Page 27, Baltimore City MS4 Annual Report -Reporting Period: July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.)

Inlet Cleaning

Photos: Baltimore City DPW

“DPW has taken steps to make it easier for small commercial haulers to properly dispose of trash to improve their efficiency, reduce instances of illegal dumping, and help keep our City clean.”

https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/small-hauler-program

Small Haulers Program

“The Baltimore City Clean Guide was made by neighbors for neighbors. This guide gives residents more detailed information about trash removal, recycling, and rat prevention.”

Mayor’s 2016 Fall and Spring Cleanups:• 652 communities participated

(historic high)• 12,752 residents volunteered

(historic high)• 234.8 tons of trash was collected

(Page 34, FY 2016 City MS4 Permit Annual Report)

Citizen Education

Enforcement

Harbor Cleaning

“The City employs a fleet of thirteen boats to collect approximately 400 tons of debris from the Harbor each year. The Marine Operations Section utilizes the boats to collect floating debris and trash in the water. The boats include four skimmer boats, six bass boats, one skiff, and two whalers.” (page 45, Baltimore City Trash WIP)

Photo: R. Summers

Mr. Trash Wheel

▪ Floating trash directed by

booming system to water

wheel conveyor

▪ Trash directly deposited

by conveyor into roll off

dumpster

▪ Patented technology

▪ Developed by Clearwater

Mills

▪ Owned and maintained by

the Waterfront Partnership

of Baltimore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5l7s6wC50g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5l7s6wC50g

Professor Trash Wheel

Photos: R. Summers

http://baltimorewaterfront.com/healthy-harbor/water-wheel/

Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

How it works:

Containment booms

stretch across the river

and the trash-filled

current is funneled

along the boom to the

Trash Interceptor.

Stormwater flushes floating trash from the

watershed and carries it downstream towards

the Inner Harbor.

How it works:

➢ The conveyor lifts the trash out of the

water and drops it into a dumpster.

Conveyor and Rake System

➢ The rakes, powered via the wheel, bring

the trash funneled by the river and booms

onto the submerged bottom end of the

conveyor.

How it works:

Waterwheel and Drive

➢ Waterwheel uses energy from the river flow and the sun to provide

mechanical power for the conveyor and rakes.

How it works:

Solar Panels

➢ Solar panels provide

power which is stored in

the batteries to power

pumps.

➢ The full dumpster is taken to a boat

ramp where a truck exchanges it for an

empty one

How it works:

Advantages over Traditional Technologies

▪ All floating trash is captured

▪ Efficient – depending on current, can collect up to 50 tons/day

▪ Very low cost – operates independently during low flow periods or with a crew of 2 during storm events

▪ Green Technology -- water current and solar panels as power source

▪ Detachable floating dumpster barge allows use of existing shore facilities

▪ Continuously removes trash, 24 hours – 7 days a week

▪ The stronger the current, the faster it works

▪ Boom can be lighter and less costly due to continuous trash removal

▪ Durable Steel Construction – it lasts many years.

▪ Can be towed and installed at another location if trash removal priorities change

Results achieved in Baltimore’s

Inner Harbor

4/30/14

4/21/15

Results achieved in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

4/30/14

4/21/15

Results achieved in Baltimore’sInner Harbor

4/21/15

4/30/14

www.bmorebeyondplastic.org

Citzen Action:

Baltimore Beyond Plastic

Blue Water Baltimore

https://www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/

http://baltimorewaterfront.com/

Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

2016 Healthy Harbor Report CardWaterfront Partnership of Baltimore

http://baltimorewaterfront.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1704_HH_ReportCard_FINAL-web-nospreads.pdf

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