Bay Area Student Litter Project 

There are many reasons to clean up trash in our communities! Here are just a few: 

The San Francisco Bay's watershed covers 40% of California's land area. This means that what we do on the land in 40% of our state directly affects San Francisco Bay. When there is trash on the ground in the Bay's watershed, even if it is far away, wind can blow it into a river, which can carry it all the way to the Bay and on to the Pacific Ocean. 

It is important that we pick up trash all over the Bay area to prevent it from entering San Francisco Bay and the Ocean. Approximately 10 million tons of trash makes its ways into the ocean every year, and it is estimated that 80% of that trash comes from land based sources. When trash items, and especially plastic, enter the ocean, it affects the animals that live in the ocean, humans, and the environment, . Here is a little bit more information on how: 

*Marine debris affects wildlife 

One study found that at least 693 species were documented to have encountered trash in the ocean. These animals include half of all marine mammal species and 85% of sea turtle species. Many of these encounters including cases where the animals either ate or became entangled in trash items. Both of these situations can cause the animal to become sick or even die. 

In addition, when plastics are in the ocean for long periods of time, they break down into tiny "microplastics." These microplastic pieces can even break down to be the same size as plankton. Since animals that eat plankton filter feed relatively indiscriminately, they readily consume these pieces of plastic in very high numbers. Animals known to eat microplastics include fish, seabirds, whales, clams, and many others. Since plastics easily pick up and hold any chemicals in the water, this can lead the leeching of chemicals into the animal's body. 

*Marine debris affects humans

When litter ends up on our beaches and in our ocean, it can be dangerous for us and for our boats. In addition, it affects animals that help to keep our ocean healthy and in balance. We enjoy using the ocean for many things including recreations, food transportation, as a source of oxygen, and for many other services. We have a stake in keeping the ocean healthy and trash does not belong in a healthy ocean. And hey, it also just looks plain gross! 

More strikingly, humans likely accidently ingest microplastic pieces since many of the animals that we eat such as fish and clams eat these things. When something like an oyster is filter feeding, it consumes tiny pieces of plastic. When we eat that oyster, those pieces end up in our bodies as well. In addition, one study found that since sea salt is harvested from the ocean, it too contains microplastics. 

*Marine debris affects the environment 

Trash in our oceans can affect the wildlife that live in it and those animals in turn have an effect on the environment. Therefore, trash in the ocean can negaitvely impact the environment. In addition, microplastics are suspected to sometimes settle to areas of the sea floor and create an unhealthy habitat. 

Marine debris has also been recorded to travel long distances due to ocean currents and have been observed carrying invasive species to areas that they do not belong, which can also have an negative impact on the environment. 

Marine debris and plastic pollution are one of the major threats to San Francisco Bay and to the ocean ecosystem as a whole. It affects animals - both human and non-human - and we have a responsibility to help prevent it. To learn more about how to do that, check out our suggested solutions!