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Stephanie Barger, Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation www.earthresource.org.
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Stephanie Barger, Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation www.earthresource.org
Campaign Againstthe Plastic PlagueCAPP’s Mission:As a result of the harmful impact of plastic on global ecosystems, economies, and public health, immediate action must be taken to eliminate single use throwaway plastics. Change must be established in the consumer lifestyle through education, citizen action, and business accountability. 8/31/2014
Campaign Against the Plastic PlaguePartners, Partners and More PartnersAlgalita Marine Research Center for Health and Environmental Justice (CHEJ)California’s Against WasteClean Seas CoalitionHeal The BayGreen SanghaCalifornia’s Against WasteClean Seas CoalitionGreen Cities CaliforniaGreenLAInstitute for Local Self Reliance Sea Studios “Think Beyond Plastic”Surfrider (National and local chapters) “Rise Above Plastic” and many many more including MEDIA, businesses and government 8/31/2014
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM??!!!??? 70% (we think 90%) do not know what plastic is made out ofAmericans ignorance on the impact to the rest of the world (5% of world population 30% consumption 30% resources)Business and consumers receive misinformationA broken waste system (need a materials management zero waste system)Our ?????? has billions of $$$$(Exxon/Mobil, American Chemistry Council) 8/31/2014
Pre - Zero Waste Laws Citywide Polystyrene Bans Bay Area Calabasas Santa Monica Malibu Newport Beach Laguna Beach Newport Harbor High School (Newport/Mesa School district) Saddleback Valley School District Pacific Grove Soon to be Burbank UCI Huntington Beach Inland Cities (Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove) Monterey County San Diego and many more Polystyrene Bans – City and Special Events Aliso Viejo Huntington Beach Newport Beach Ventura San Juan Capistrano Many More Plastic Bag Bans (proposed also) San Francisco Oakland (pending) Marin County Burbank Malibu Santa Monica County of Los Angeles Seattle – Ballot for .25 cents China India Korea Afghanistan
Leaders in Fees and Bans IKEA 5 cent charge on bags Large display showing how much oil was saved Large display showing how YOU have saved the environment Clerk does not touch bags – customer has to intentionally purchase Whole Foods Worked with plastic industry for recycling bags – unsuccessful Understood the environmental impact Completely banned plastic bags Paper bags made from 100% recycled paper (close the loop) Priority is reusables Ireland Motivation for fee was because of concerns about tourism and pollution emerald hills 15 cent charge on bags HUGE outreach and educational campaign to stores and consumers Law designed with sufficient funding structure Continual evaluation of the program – raise the price again
Earth Resource High School Clubs“ Environmental Education through Action!”Smokefree Beaches – Orange CountyStyrofoam Bans – in OC city facilitiesStyrofoam Bans – Newport Beach and Laguna BeachSteps in Newport Beach:City CouncilEnvironmental Commission (three times)Newport Beach Restaurant Association – 100% supportCity Council (again and voted 5-0!!!)
Youth Against StyrofoamA project of the ERF’s Campaign Against the Plastic Plague
IN THE NEWS COMMUNITY SCHOOL CLUBS PROGRAMS EVENTS NEWS LINKS CAMPAIGNS UPCOMING EVENTS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GOVERNMENT CONTACTS ACTIVE CLUBS YOUTH ERF NEWSLETTER YOUR WATERSHED PAST EVENTS ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES & STATE SERVICES BUSINESS WATERSHED PROJECTS ORANGE COUNTY RENEWABLE ENERGIES HEALTHY EARTH SMOKE-FREE BEACHES & PIERS ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS MISSION STATEMENT HOME DONATE TO ERF BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTACT ERF MAJOR DONORS JOIN ERF KEY STAFF ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIC & COMMUNITY GARDENING ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Youth Against StyrofoamA project of the ERF’s Campaign Against the Plastic Plague Presentation by students to city council – next 11 slides
Youth Against StyrofoamGoals Eliminate Styrofoam in our personal lives and schools To ban the use of Styrofoam throughout the County of Orange by June 2009 Educate the public about the adverse effects of Styrofoam on the environment, our health and our economy Practice the three “R’s”: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Why is Styrofoam (Polystryene) harmful to the environment? • Petroleum-based • Toxic chemical: styrene • Non-sustainable, heavy pollutant
Why is Styrofoam harmful to the environment? • Polystyrene is the #2 most frequent item found as trash • Chokes animals and clogs their digestive systems • Disrupts the enjoyment of our beaches
Why is Styrofoam harmful to our health? • Styrene (toxic chemicals) leeched into your food especially when food is hot • Damages to brain tissue, Nervous/immune system • Bio-accumulation (in our fish, in our bodies) • Does not practice the precautionary principle
Why is Styrofoam harmful to our economy? • The County of Orange spends $350,000 per month on cleaning up litter • Killing our fish and wildlife • Going into landfills – not recycled into new products
What are the Alternatives? • Recyclable plastics (#1 and #2) • Non-tree products: potato, bagasse, bulrush • Recycled paper (recyclable and compostable) • Costs 5 to 10 cents more than Styrofoam • Easy for restaurants to have. The customer might be willing to pay to save the environment… ASK!
Green Business saves Money • Reusables vs Styrofoam • 2 uses per day [lunch and dinner], serving 6 days/week • restaurant would break even in 2.2 weeks by using reusables. Taco Mesa – throwaways • Time to order and stock • Time to pay invoices • Cost of lots of trashcan liners • Cost of hauling trash away • Cost of staff time to empty trash • Cost of bad Public Relations • Cost of employee relations • Cost to the environment and our future Wahoo's – reusables • Higher quality for customers • Save on ordering and stocking • Save on trash bills • Save on staff time • Minimum cost for energy and water efficient dishwasher • Good employee relations • Excellent public image
City Ordinances: Santa Monica • Bans Expanded-Polystyrene (EPS) and non-recyclable plastic disposable food service containers • “undue hardship” clause • Violations enforced:- 1st violation: written warning - 2nd violation: $100 fine- 3rd violation: $250 fine • Fines are cumulative by day and each violation constitutes a separate fine • Large compliance: in effect for a year and a half City Ordinances: Newport Beach • Short implementation: October 28, 2008-June 1st, 2009 • 70% compliance with limited outreach and no enforcement • Full support of Newport Beach Restaurant Association
City Ordinances: lots of help! • Local cities: Santa Monica, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach • Josephine Miller, City of Santa Monica (implementation for over 2 years – lots of examples) • Staff report from City of Newport Beach • Earth Resource Foundation – your one stop shop for everything about plastic and Zero Waste! • Newport Beach Restaurant Association strongly supported banning Styrofoam – request 6 months for implementation NOT the standard 1 year
Be a Leader! • Help save our future by leading the way in helping rid our environment of Styrofoam! • Ask Fountain Valley City Council to BAN STYROFOAM TODAY! Stephanie Barger, Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation www.earthresource.org Stephanie.barger@earthresource.org 949-645-5163 End of Presentation by students to city council
Upcoming Events • Coastal and Inner Coastal Cleanup – Sept 19th • 350.org – Oct 24th • “Day without a Bag” Give a Gift to the Environment! Third Thursday in December – Heal the Bay “Got Your Bag” National Campaign Keep California Beautiful – local contact
Stephanie Barger, Executive Director Earth Resource Foundation www.earthresource.org Stephanie.barger@earthresource.org 949-645-5163