Sign up to receive e-mail updates for this page
Sources of LitterLitter comes from many sources: motorists and passengers, pedestrians, uncovered truck loads, uncovered trash cans and dumpsters, construction sites, and loading docks. Next time you walk down the street, look around. When it rains, trash on sidewalks and streets accumulates in the gutter and is swept into storm drains. The storm drains discharge directly into the nearest creek or river, eventually flowing to the bay and ocean and carrying litter with it. It is also unsightly, and affects the quality of life in our community. Litter prevention is everyone's responsibility. . |
|
 |
How Litter Affects WildlifeMany animals are injured, become ill, and die each year due to litter and pollution that people leave in the environment. Every year, thousands of marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and other animals are sickened, injured, or killed because of trash in the creeks and ocean. Animals can choke or become poisoned when they eat trash, or drown when they become entangled in bags, ropes, and old fishing gear. Plastic debris poses an especially large problem, because it takes hundreds of years to break down. It can easily be mistaken for food and swallowed, blocking an animal’s digestive tract. Many endangered albatross birds and chicks have been found dead with stomachs full of plastic, including bottle caps and cigarette lighters. With debris filling their stomachs, animals have a false feeling of being full, and may die of starvation. In addition, plastic floats for hundreds of miles on ocean currents and may never fully biodegrade. |