Latest news with #SurfriderFoundation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Virginia Beach approves filling of borrow-pit despite residents' concerns
VIRGINIA BEACH — In a 9-0 vote Tuesday, the City Council approved a permit modification that will allow the city to fill a human-made lake with dredged material. Councilman Worth Remick, who represents the district, made the motion to approve it. Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson and Councilwoman Jennifer Rouse were absent. The Department of Public Works plans to dump dredged material from navigation channels and stormwater projects into the lake. The approval came after nearly a dozen people including neighboring residents spoke against the plan citing concerns about water contamination, flooding and impact on wildlife. 'Filling this pond is a short-term solution that creates long-term problems,' said Lisa Johnson, a representative of the Virginia Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental organization. The lake, on the east side of Oceana Boulevard across from Naval Air Station Oceana, was formerly a borrow-pit for sand. Rainwater filled it, transforming the site into an oasis for migratory birds and other animals. In 2016, the City Council approved the purchase of the property for the 'deposit of dredged spoils,' according to a city resolution. Filling the lake with dredged material is not expected to increase flooding in the area because it will become more pervious, City Engineer Toni Utterback told the City Council last week. Public works will test and remove contaminants from the material before it's dumped, according to the city. The department has also installed three monitoring wells on the site and plans to build a 2-foot berm around the eastern end of the lake to protect adjacent properties along Birdneck Road. Councilman Stacy Cummings said Virginia Beach is obligated to provide a place for dredged material. 'We have to dump it somewhere, and this site works perfectly for that purpose,' he said. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125,
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Tethered for good: How senate bill 45 aims to rein in plastic waste
SB 45: California's cap on plastic pollution As summer approaches, people will head to beaches, team practices and games will be held in mid-day heat, and friends and family will gather for 4th of July BBQ celebrations. At each event, a cool refreshing beverage is sure to be consumed, but the passage of Senate Bill No. 45 might introduce an inconvenient but important design change to Californian's thirst quenching enjoyment. Senate Bill No. 45 will tether plastic caps to most beverage containers. The bill mandates the tethering of plastic bottle caps to beverage containers. Beginning on January 1st 2027, this measure will work to prevent the separation of plastic bottle caps from their containers, which often leads to plastic littering. In fact, according to the Plastics Today , the Surfrider Foundation collected over 30,000 bottle caps during their coastal clean ups last year alone. The bill would require all single-use bottles containing under 2 liters to tether their caps with the exception of 100% fruit juice and alcohol containers. Many big name companies are already on board, with Crystal Geyser, Coca-Cola (Smartwater), PepsiCo (Gatorade) already leashing their caps without a law. According to Packaging Dive, this isn't the first time the plastic shackle has been suggested. A similar bill was proposed in 2018. However, it failed to allow for enough time for manufacturers to make the adjustment. Senate Bill No. 45 is offering a longer runway, and this has gained the bill the support of the Association of Plastic Recyclers, the Product Stewardship Institute, and recycling companies such as Recology, Republic Services and Waste Connections. Small cap, big consequences According to Shop Without Plastic (SWOP) , the US generates the 'largest amount of plastic waste in the world,' responsible for a shocking 42 million tons of plastic waste in a single year. To put this in perspective, this figure is as much as India and China combined. According to , plastic 'bottle caps are one of the most common items consumed by marine animals .' Commonly, caps are made with different types of plastic than bottles themselves, and the buoyancy of this dissimilar plastic makes bott le caps dangerously attractive to marine life who mistake them as a food source. As animals ingest plastic pollution, bodily functions can be interrupted leading to death, this occurs so often that the Ocean Conservancy identified 'plastic bottle caps as one of the top five deadliest forms of marine pollution.' Additionally, many fish species can store microplastics in their fat that bioaccumulate all the way to human consumption. In the long run, both marine animals and humans will be swallowing delicious plastic waste for dinner. Europe tried it first — and it's working Tethering is nothing new in Europe. According to The Conversation , in July 2024, a European Union directive mandated plastic bottle cap tethering on single use bottles. This initiative follows in the footsteps of the 1980's packaging change to cans with detachable pull tabs. Both of these initiatives have reduced the deadly impact of single use container littering. Before, citizens had to try not to litter, now people have to try to litter these mico-plastics. Cap-tivated and frustrated While placing tabs on plastic caps has much support, there is one demographic that has been deeply affected: beverage consumers. According to Packaging Europe , many consumers have lamented the change on TikTok, encumbered by water spills from drinking around an uncomfortable plastic. Many share that the cap gets in the way of their hydration and causes frustration when used. According to Earth Day 365 , this inconvenience might just be proof that the ban will be effective as any attempts at zero-waste require consumers to ' allow themselves to be inconvenienced .' Tethered today, cleaner tomorrow Whether it's a minor inconvenience or a necessary nudge toward sustainability, Senate Bill No. 45 asks Californians to rethink convenience in favor of long-term environmental responsibility. As the summer heats up, I hope to be a bit inconvenienced for an eco-win. Related
Time Out
05-06-2025
- Health
- Time Out
This U.S. beach is the top "bacteria hot spot" in the country
Summer is almost here, and throngs of sun-seekers will soon be heading to sandy beaches for some R&R. But before you pack your towel and sunscreen, take note: some of the country's most stunning beaches are hiding a dirty secret—literally. According to the Surfrider Foundation's 2024 Clean Water Report, beachgoers may be swimming in water contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. The report ranks the most bacteria-laden beaches, and the biggest offender is Kahalu'u Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, where a jaw-dropping 92-percent of water samples failed to meet health standards. Right behind it is Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing in Poipu, Hawaii, with a 90-percent failure rate. And it's not just Hawaii. The report lists top bacteria hot spots all across the U.S.—from the East and West Coasts to Puerto Rico. These aren't remote, forgotten beaches. They're community hubs, tourist magnets and vital ecosystems. The foundation points to a nasty brew of stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, agricultural waste and failing infrastructure as the primary culprits for bacterial buildup. Nearly 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff hit U.S. waterways each year. Add in 900 billion gallons of untreated sewage from aging systems, and it's a health hazard in the making. These beaches may look pristine, but the detected bacteria can cause rashes, stomach bugs, skin infections or worse. Raw sewage also feeds harmful algal blooms, kills fish and devastates coral reefs. Climate change only fuels the mess with rising seas and more intense storms overwhelming fragile systems. In 2024, Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force processed over 10,000 samples from 604 sites, with a shocking 80% showing high bacteria levels. Volunteers test water and trace pollutants, but they can't fix the root problems alone. That's why Surfrider is calling on Congress to stop slashing EPA funding and instead invest in clean water and resilient infrastructure. Clean, swimmable beaches shouldn't be a luxury—they should be a given. U.S. beaches with the highest levels of bacteria Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing, Kauai, HI Kahalu'u, Kahalu'u, O'ahu, HI Imperial Beach - San Diego, CA San Luis Creek Mouth- Avila Beach, CA Linda Mar Beach - Pacifica, CA South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock - Tacoma, WA Playa Crashboat - Aguadilla, PR Park View Kayak Launch - Miami Beach, FL Ballard Park - Melbourne, FL Windmill Beach - Sag Harbor, NY
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
One of the most polluted waterways in the US is in WA. Here's where
Washington is home to one of the most bacteria-ridden beaches in the country, according to the Surfrider Foundation. The nonprofit organization recently released its 2024 Clean Water Report to 'build awareness of issues that affect water quality and your health at the beach.' The report, published on May 20, pinpoints 10 beaches across the United States and Puerto Rico where high bacteria levels consistently exceed state health standards and could put public health at risk. The Surfrider Foundation tested more than 600 sites across the nation, with 80% of samples yielding 'at least one high bacteria result that exceeded state health standards,' according to the report. One urban waterway in Tacoma landed on Surfrider's list of 2024 Beach Bacteria Hot Spots: Thea Foss. It had a 64% rate of unhealthy levels of bacteria detected. The location also made the hot-spot list last year. Across the state, testing took place 41 times in the Northwest Straits, 94 times in the South Sound and 46 times in Olympia. 'The ultimate goal is to use (Surfrider Foundation's) Blue Water Task Force data to find and fix the sources of pollution and prioritize local efforts to restore clean water locally,' the nonprofit notes in a statement about the report. According to the Clean Water Report, Surfrider Foundation chapters measured high bacteria levels in 2024 at multiple sampling sites across the United States. At these bacteria hot spots, the foundation consistently measured levels of high bacteria that exceeded state health standards for recreational waters, the report said. 'That means more than one in every three samples collected fail to meet safe swimming standards at this popular spot for children to play, paddle and splash around in the water,' the Surfrider Foundation report notes. Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force provides interactive data of testing sites in Washington. Testing locations, with updates through May 2025, include: Olympia - Squaxin Park Steilacoom - Sunnyside Beach University Place - Titlow Beach Tacoma - Thea Foss Floating Dock Tacoma - Jack Hyde Park Tacoma - Lee Davis Dive Steps Point Defiance - Owen Beach Gig Harbor - Jerisich Dock Dash Point - Dash Point State Park Farther north, the Northwest Straits Blue Water Task Force tests waterways in the Bellingham and Whatcom County region. In the last year, three locations there have tested positive for 'high' rates of bacteria that exceed Washington state health safety standards. Those locations include: Fairhaven - Padden Creek Mouth 1 Bellingham - Locust Beach 2 Bellingham - Locust Beach 3 No locations in eastern Washington were tested. If you don't see your beach on the list, you can check Washington's beach status tool through the Department of Ecology for information on specific beaches that are monitored by the state. According to the Surfrider Foundation, these were the 10 most polluted beaches in the United States and Puerto Rico, based on the percentage of samples that tested high for bacteria in 2024: Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York: 43% of samples Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida: 52% Park View Kayak Launch in Miami Beach, Florida: 90% Playa Crashboat in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico: 23% South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock in Tacoma, Washington: 64% Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica: 71% San Luis Creek Mouth in Avila Beach: 38% Imperial Beach in San Diego: 82% Kahalu'u in Oahu, Hawai'i: 92% Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing in Kauai, Hawai'i: 90% A total of 60 Blue Water Task Force labs processed 10,120 water samples collected from 604 distinct sampling sites in 2024, the Surfrider Foundation said. Of those sampling sites, 483 yielded at least one high bacteria result that exceeded state health standards. 'This shows the importance of regular water quality monitoring at the beach to protect public health and safe recreation,' the Surfrider Foundation report notes.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Eight Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Lowcountry
CHARLESTON, S.C. – (WCBD) – Eight restaurants in Charleston have been recognized as Ocean Friendly Restaurants by the Surfrider Foundation for following sustainable practices aimed at protecting the ocean and reducing plastic waste. 'The goal of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program is to build a community of eco-conscious restaurants and patrons that support a healthy lifestyle for all people and for the planet,' said CJ O'Brien Weddle, Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program manager. According to the Surfrider Foundation, to be considered an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, establishments must incorporate the following criteria: Using only reusable foodware for on-site dining Providing straws only upon request No use of Styrofoam No use of plastic bags for takeout orders Must follow proper recycling practices Restaurants must also implement three optional efforts, such as offering vegetarian and vegan food options regularly, using energy-efficient appliances, serving seafood that is 'Best Choice' or 'Good Alternative' as defined by Seafood Watch, or serving no seafood, and making composting efforts for food waste. Here are the full lists of requirements and optional efforts restaurants must follow to be a part of the program. Local restaurants speak out to make waves of change. Eight businesses around the Lowcountry have been recognized by the Surfrider Foundation as Ocean Friendly Restaurants. Some restaurants expressed why the program is important to them. 'Being proactive means protecting what we love – and for us, that's the ocean,' said Cyn Harlow, owner of Sun Dazed Cafe. 'Being an Ocean Friendly Restaurant means more than just good food; it's a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and bounty of our seas,' said Daniel Dalton, the area executive chef for Little Palm. 'For a guest to know we are an earth-friendly restaurant helps them understand right away that we are a business that works to reduce our impact and are conscious of our environment, creating a sense of trust and awareness,' said Greer Gilchrist, co-owner of The Harbinger and Harken Cafe & Bakeries. 'Our mission, mantra, and method is to protect, preserve, AND RESTORE the ecosystems from which healthy, sustainable food comes. And to steer consumers away from species that are overfished. For example, we don't serve tuna because it is grossly over-fished AND full of heavy metals and micro-plastics,' said Kevin Joseph, chef and founder of the Raw Lab and Empire Oyster. Here is a list of all the Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Charleston area. Why did the Surfrider Foundation create the program? Although the problems of plastic pollution may be complex, the solution behind the program is simple: stop plastic at the source. According to the Surfrider Foundation, the extraction, production, consumption, and disposal of plastic can cause serious environmental and humanitarian consequences. 'By choosing to dine at Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants, customers can make a difference and help protect the ocean and coasts for all people,' said CJ O'Brien Weddle, Surfrider's Ocean Friendly programs manager. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
