The impact of waste management policy on marine debris: a case study in San Mateo County

On a global scale, marine debris threatens the health and well-being of coastal environments, with land-based litter being one of these major sources. Over the last few decades, researchers around the world have discovered plastic to be the most common type of debris found in waterways and along coastlines. Municipalities in San Mateo County, California have recognized that single-use plastic bags and polystyrene food ware, known as Styrofoam, make up a large percentage of marine debris. As a result, these municipalities have adopted plastic bag and polystyrene ordinances. This research asks what cities in San Mateo County are doing to meet their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit goals to reduce trash from enter waterways, and how effective the polystyrene and plastic bag ordinances have been in reducing plastic litter from becoming marine debris. This project analyzes debris data from San Mateo County Coastal Cleanup events and on-land visual trash assessments, as well as semi-structured interviews with staff from government agencies, waste haulers, environmental organizations, and the plastic trade industry. Results indicate that (1) current policies are difficult to enforce due to lack of funding for infrastructure and staffing, (2) County of San Mateo and municipality staff have not penalized businesses that do not abide by the plastic bag and polystyrene ordinances, and (3) improved data collection is needed to enhance and inform current and future policies.