Author: Editor

Environmental Protection Agency

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Marine Debris in the North Pacific

Marine debris degrades ocean habitats, endangers marine and coastal wildlife, causes navigation hazards, results in economic losses to industry and governments, and threatens human health and safety.  EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) is tapping existing programs and resources to advance the prevention, reduction and clean-up of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean.  EPA Pacific Southwest activities build upon specific recommendations of the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee by targeting threats and sources of debris and responding to debris impacts.  EPA is initiating a three-pronged effort to reduce sources of marine debris, prevent trash from entering the oceans, and assess the human and ecosystem impacts and potential for cleanup.

The Last Plastic Straw

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500 million straws are used and discarded every day in the US alone. That’s 175 billion a year filtering into landfills and littering the oceans.

Join a global movement to eliminate plastic drinking straws from our landfills, our streams, our oceans, and our beaches! The Last Plastic Straw strives to educate the public about the absurdity of single use plastic, its effects on our health, our environment, and our oceans. They aim to eliminate from the source, the use of single use plastic.

• Simply request “no straw” at bars and restaurants and share your commitment with others.

• Encourage your favorite restaurant or bar to only provide straws on request and to use biodegradable or reusable options to the plastic straw.