California adopts comprehensive microplastics strategy

Textiles, tires and single-use plastic foodwear among the top sources of pollution identified.

The California Ocean Protection Council has approved the first comprehensive microplastics strategy in the nation. The Statewide Microplastics Strategy identifies early actions and research priorities to reduce microplastic pollution in California’s marine environment.

“Microplastics are poisoning the ocean, both across the planet and off the California coast,” says Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources secretary. “We must take action, and this strategy shows us how. By reducing pollution at its source, we safeguard the health of our rivers, wetlands and oceans and protect all of the people and nature that depends on these waters.”

Worldwide, an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. Without any intervention, this amount is anticipated to triple by 2040, according to COPC. Over time, plastics break down in aquatic environments into pieces of ever-decreasing size, with those less than 5 millimeters in size known as microplastics, which are easily ingested by ocean life, causing harm such as tissue inflammation, impaired growth, developmental abnormalities and reproductive complications.

Microplastics have also been found in human stool, lung, and placenta samples and within soils and plants. Research in California has identified tire and road wear, synthetic textiles, cigarette filters and single-use plastic foodware as among the top sources of microplastics in California bay and ocean waters, sediment and fish tissue. Precautionary management of microplastic pollution and upstream source reduction are the most effective response to this crisis.

COPC was created by the California Ocean Protection Act (COPA), which was signed into law in 2004 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“Some solutions, like stormwater infiltration projects and better compliance with nurdle discharge prohibitions, can reduce microplastics immediately,” says Mark Gold, COPC executive director. “But we cannot dramatically reduce microplastic pollution without leadership from the textile industry and tire manufacturers to produce consumer products that don’t add to the growing problem.”

This Statewide Microplastic Strategy provides a multi-year roadmap for California to take a national and global leadership role in managing microplastics pollution by utilizing a two-track approach to manage microplastic pollution.

The first track lists 22 immediate, “no regrets” actions and multibenefit solutions to reduce and manage microplastic pollution:

Solutions

• Pollution Prevention: Eliminate plastic waste at the source (products or materials from which microplastics originate).
• Pathway Interventions: Intervene within specific pathways (stormwater runoff, wastewater, aerial deposition) that mobilize microplastics into California waters.
• Outreach & Education: Engage and inform the public and industries of microplastic sources, impacts, and solutions.

The second track outlines a 13-point comprehensive research strategy to enhance the scientific understanding of microplastics in California and inform future action:

Science to Inform Future Action

• Monitoring: Standardize a statewide monitoring approach. Understand and identify trends of microplastic pollution statewide.
• Risk Thresholds & Assessment: Improve understanding of impacts to aquatic life and human health.
• Sources & Pathways Prioritization: Identify and prioritize future management solutions based on local data.
• Evaluating New Solutions: Develop and implement future pollution prevention and pathway intervention solutions.
  

The California Legislature recognized the need for a comprehensive plan to address microplastics with the adoption of Senate Bill 1263 in 2018, requiring the COPC to adopt a statewide research strategy and identify early actions to reduce microplastic pollution in California’s marine environment. The Statewide Microplastics Strategy was released for public comment beginning on Dec. 21, 2021, with the comment period ending Jan. 21, 2022. OPC received over 120 written comments from nearly 160 individuals, organizations, agencies, businesses and other entities. The final Statewide Microplastics Strategy was revised based on the public comment received to clarify the timeline of specific recommendations, to provide additional guidance for implementation of specific recommendations and to elevate equity and public transparency during the implementation of the final Strategy.