California Fights Marine Debris With New Storm Water Regulations

Posted Wed, 03/02/2016 - 09:58

By: Sherry Lippiatt, California Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program

Plastic marine debris on a beach.
Trash spouted out of a storm drain and onto a local beach in California. (Photo Credit: NOAA)

As we previously explored in this blog post, California’s coasts are consistently plagued with marine debris, so the state’s active and engaged environmental community has been working to build momentum and visibility on the issue. Recently, there has been response to this problem in the form on a new Trash Policy.

Curious about the buzz over this recently EPA-approved Trash Policy (aka Trash Amendments) in California? Check out this recent post from our partners at the California Coastal Commission for a non-wonky history of trash reduction policies in the state and what these new storm water regulations will do to reduce marine debris. Get the full story from the California State Water Resources Control Board here.