Trash On Monterey Bay Shoreline Threatens Ecosystem: NOAA

Waves rhythmically come ashore at a Santa Cruz beach near the mouth of the marina, in Santa Cruz, Calif. (Bea Karnes/Patch)

The report recommended a collective and coordinated effort on the part of individuals, producers of plastics, governments and nonprofits.

MONTEREY BAY, CA — A report released on Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, revealed just how much garbage can build up within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The shoreline, which spans 267 miles, saw 37,000 volunteers collect over one million pieces of trash over five years, ranging from cigarette butts to household appliances.

The report also outlines how much of the garbage was tied directly to smoking and food waste.

From 2017 to 2021, plastic fragments accounted for more than 25% of the trash while cigarette butts represented 23% of what was found. Add in wrappers, and those three main contributors created 59% of all the debris collected, according to NOAA.

Cigarette butts are a concern because they contain chemicals that are toxic to marine organisms, the report said.

The debris isn’t only deposited along the shoreline from beachgoers, but can also enter due to poor waste management practices at the local level or water discharge during storms and other natural events.

Debris can also come from ocean-based sources, such as […]

Full article: patch.com