Preventing Plastic Pollution: Keeping Our Waterways Clean

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects our waterways, from our rivers and coastlines to the ocean. It poses a severe risk to human and environmental health. To prevent plastic pollution, we can focus on reducing plastic waste, improving stormwater management, and participating in cleanups of our local waterways. By tackling the issue at its source, we can make a significant impact on reducing plastic pollution and protecting our waterways for future generations.

Clean up local beaches and waterways

One of the most direct and rewarding ways to fight plastic pollution in our waterways is to clean up our local beaches and waterways. You can simply go to the beach or waterway and collect plastic waste on your own or with friends or family, or you can join a local organisation’s cleanup or an international event.

To prevent plastic pollution, it is important to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact, which are our rivers and coastlines. By doing our part, we can reduce the amount of plastic that ends up on our coasts and shorelines. This can be done by improving stormwater management by implementing stormwater and storm drain filtration and river mouth trash collection. This can prevent wastes such as macroplastics (littered items) and microplastics (tire dust) from flowing into rivers and eventually the ocean.

Regulating the use of nutrients and pesticides and shifting behaviours can also ensure that these pollutants do not enter the ocean through stormwater. For example, the cultural norm around having a manicured lawn can increase the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers.

Additionally, improving our understanding of microplastic pollution and management can help to prevent plastic pollution in our waterways. For instance, the California Ocean Protection Council has funded projects focused on improving the understanding of the sources of aquatic microplastic contamination and areas of ecological sensitivity, as well as low-impact development practices to intervene and prevent microplastics from reaching waterways through stormwater runoff.

Improve stormwater management

Stormwater management is a key way to prevent plastic pollution in our waterways. Stormwater and storm drain filtration and river mouth trash collection can prevent wastes such as macroplastics (littered items), microplastics (tire dust), and chemicals on roadways from flowing into rivers, and eventually, the ocean.

Stormwater runoff is a major contributor to plastic pollution in waterways. When it rains, water flows over land and can pick up pollutants such as litter, tire dust, and chemicals. This water then flows into storm drains, which often lead directly to rivers and other waterways. From there, the plastic pollution can make its way into the ocean.

One way to improve stormwater management is to implement filtration systems in storm drains. These filters can capture plastics and other pollutants before they enter the water. Another way to improve stormwater management is to collect trash at the river mouth. This can be done through the use of trash booms, which are floating barriers that collect trash and debris as it floats downstream.

In addition to these measures, it is also important to regulate the use of nutrients and pesticides. Cultural norms, such as the desire for a manicured lawn, can increase the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These chemicals can enter stormwater and eventually make their way into waterways, contributing to plastic pollution. By shifting behaviors and reducing the use of these chemicals, we can help prevent plastic pollution in our waterways.

Low-impact development practices, also known as green infrastructure, can also help to prevent microplastics from reaching waterways through stormwater runoff. This can include practices such as permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, and the use of green roofs. These practices can help to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and capture pollutants before they enter the water.

Reduce plastic use

Reducing plastic use is one of the most effective ways to prevent plastic pollution in our waterways. Here are some ways to reduce plastic use and prevent plastic pollution:

• Participate in or organise a cleanup of your local beach or waterway. This is a direct and rewarding way to fight plastic pollution. You can do this on your own or with friends and family, or you can join a local organisation's cleanup event.
• Improve stormwater management by implementing stormwater and storm drain filtration and river mouth trash collection. This can prevent wastes such as macroplastics and microplastics from flowing into rivers and eventually the ocean.
• Regulate the use of nutrients and pesticides. Shifting behaviours, such as the cultural norm of having a manicured lawn, can reduce the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, ensuring these pollutants do not enter the ocean through stormwater.
• Focus on reducing plastic pollution in rivers and coastlines. These are accessible areas where most plastic pollution originates, and by restricting how much plastic ends up on our shores, we can significantly reduce ocean plastic buildup.
• Improve understanding and management of microplastic pollution. This includes researching the sources of aquatic microplastic contamination and areas of ecological sensitivity, as well as implementing best management practices to prevent microplastics from reaching waterways through stormwater runoff.

Improve microplastic pollution understanding

Improving our understanding of microplastic pollution is key to preventing plastic pollution in our waterways. The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has funded five projects competitively selected through two research calls. The first research call focuses on improving the understanding of the sources of aquatic microplastic contamination and areas of ecological sensitivity. The second research call focuses on low-impact development (green infrastructure) best management practices to intervene and prevent microplastics from reaching California waterways through stormwater runoff.

Stormwater management is an important tool in preventing microplastics from entering waterways. Implementing stormwater and storm drain filtration and river mouth trash collection can prevent wastes such as macroplastics, microplastics, and chemicals on roadways from flowing into rivers and eventually the ocean.

Regulating the use of nutrients and pesticides and shifting behaviours can also ensure that these pollutants do not enter the ocean through stormwater.

Implement green infrastructure

Implementing green infrastructure is a key way to prevent plastic pollution in our waterways. Green infrastructure refers to low-impact development practices that aim to prevent microplastics from reaching waterways through stormwater runoff.

One way to implement green infrastructure is to improve stormwater management. This can be done by installing stormwater and storm drain filtration systems and river mouth trash collection. These systems can prevent wastes such as macroplastics, microplastics, and chemicals on roadways from flowing into rivers and eventually the ocean.

Another way to implement green infrastructure is to regulate the use of nutrients and pesticides. This can be done by shifting behaviours and cultural norms, such as the expectation of having a manicured lawn, which can increase the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. By reducing the use of these chemicals, we can ensure that they do not enter the ocean through stormwater runoff.

Additionally, green infrastructure can be implemented through the use of natural or nature-based solutions. This can include the use of constructed wetlands, vegetated buffers, and permeable pavements. These solutions can help to filter and absorb pollutants, including microplastics, before they reach our waterways.

Finally, implementing green infrastructure can also involve the use of innovative technologies, such as advanced filtration systems and materials that can capture and remove microplastics from stormwater. By investing in research and development, we can create more effective and efficient ways to prevent plastic pollution in our waterways.

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