Foam Litter a threat to Coastal Tourism:
SB 568 Would Solve Litter Problem and Add Jobs

(Long Beach) – A just released study by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation shows that foam packaging is the most common type of trash flowing from the Greater Los Angeles area into its two main rivers, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. According to research scientist Charles Moore, “our investigation of the debris flowing from urban Los Angeles streets to the rivers found that, in terms of the number of pieces of debris, 71% were foam.”  

Long Beach is at the mouth of the San Gabriel River, Trash flowing through the river washes up on city beaches which can devastate coastal tourism. The City claims it spends approximately $4 million per year on trash cleanup. Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) wants to do something about it. “Foam food-ware is wreaking havoc on our beaches, storm drains, and creates litter problems throughout the state,” Senator Lowenthal stated. He introduced SB 568, a bill that would phase out the use of foam food take out containers in California by January 1, 2016.

“As long as we have disposable cups and containers, they should be made of materials that are easier to clean up so California’s beaches, parks, and communities aren’t degraded by foam litter.” He added, “I see this bill as an economic win-win.  It will reduce the taxpayer-funded burden of trash control while creating jobs that benefit California’s growing green economy.”  

California’s $23 billion dollar coastal tourism industry is threatened by foam litter. Studies of California beaches show that foam litter is abundant. Foam is the most prevalent consumer product on Orange County beaches, according to a 2001 study by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Litter-laden rivers empty trash and debris into coastal waters, much of it washing up on California’s coast.

"We applaud Senator Lowenthal for introducing a measure that solves a long-recognized environmental problem and the Senate Democrats and Republicans that supported this measure despite strong plastics industry opposition,” said Miriam Gordon, California Director of Clean Water Action. “We hope the Assembly members show the same vision in understanding the job growth potential of this bill. SB 568 will create jobs and make California a leader in the packaging industry, while protecting water quality and coastal tourism, and saving taxpayer money.”

Gordon said, “This bill will dramatically increase demand for sustainable food packaging, which California manufacturers are ready to meet.” She added, “The price of polystyrene foam containers is likely to increase since the price of benzene, the feedstock material, has been increasing in relation to increasing price of oil. Meanwhile, this bill will increase demand for non-foam alternatives driving down their cost.”

Clean Water Action is the nation's largest grassroots group focused on water and health issues, with more than 1,000,000 members (85,000 in California).