Throw-Away Plastics a Big Problem, Says Baykeeper Study

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At least 165 million pieces of non-biodegradable plastic float at any given time in the 250-square-mile New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary, which includes Raritan Bay and associated waters, according to a recently released study.
The study, done by the Keyport-based New York-New Jersey Baykeeper, says this breaks down to an estimated 256,322 particles per square kilometer – or a square with sides of about 3,280 feet – throughout the estuary.
Locally, the study shows 96,402 particles per square kilometer in Raritan Bay off Keyport, 149,016 at Perth Amboy and 380,947 just at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, based on samplings at those sites.
“The big takeaway, we have a big issue on our hands,” said report author Sandra Meola, the Baykeeper’s communications and outreach associate. “And we need a big solution. The solution is to stop the use of single-use, throw-away plastic products.”
The study indicated plastics found were in these categories: plastic foam such as in take-out coffee cups, 38 percent; fragments of unidentified hard plastic, 31 percent; filmy plastic such as plastic bags or plastic wrap, 18 percent; pellets such as microbeads found in personal care products, 7 percent; and fishing line or clothing fibers, 6 percent.
About 85 percent of the materials were microplastics, or particles smaller than 5 millimeters.
Basically, the estuary runs from Raritan Bay in the south to the Tappan Zee Bridge in the north, then west to east from Perth Amboy to Sandy Hook. It also includes Sandy Hook Bay, Hudson River, East River and Arthur Kill.

Sandra Meola, the report author, demonstrates a “manta trawl net,” its name derived from its metal scoop resembling a manta ray’s fins, used to collect plastics in the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary.
Sandra Meola, the report author, demonstrates a “manta trawl net,” its name derived from its metal scoop resembling a manta ray’s fins, used to collect plastics in the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary.
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Sandra Meola

The study was released Feb. 9, but was based on sampling done from last March to August at 18 sites.
The sampling spots were near storm water and sewage pipes, Meola said.
“We figured a lot of the plastic is coming from them, especially microbeads,” Meola said.
A boat pulled a “manta trawl net,” its name derived from its metal scoop resembling a manta ray’s fins. Items were collected in a net, rinsed off, then analyzed.
“The reason we did this, I was appalled there were plastics in toothpaste and facial scrubs,” said Meola, referring to the microbeads used as abrasives in these products.
In December, President Barack Obama signed into law the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, co-sponsored by local Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. The law, which bans the manufacturing and sale of microbeads in cosmetics and healthcare products, begins taking effect in July 2017 and reaches its full effect in July 2019.
The microbeads law will put only a “small” dent in the problem, Meola said.
“Microbeads is only one type of plastic,” Meola said. “I think the next thing to tackle is the foam. We need to move forward and get rid of other nasty things we don’t need.”
Prior to this study, there had been no solid data compiled for this region, Meola said.
“We are beginning to see evidence of just how prevalent plastic pollution is in our waters,” said Dave Conover, education director at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and a partner in the Baykeeper study. “Plastic trash and debris, along with microplastics, are contaminating fish, birds, mammals, even plankton.
“By gathering more data, we can get a clearer picture of the sources of this pollution and create effective strategies to reduce it. We have a responsibility to get plastics out of our waters.”
Beth Ravit, co-director of Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability, also is working with the Baykeeper to study the impact of microplastics in the Raritan and Passaic Rivers.
Clean Ocean Action, based at Sandy Hook, is working on a microplastics study in Atlantic Ocean water and beach sand along the New Jersey coast.