The amount of plastic flowing into the sea is set to triple by 2040.
As plastics continue to flood into our oceans, the list of marine species affected by plastic debris expands. Tens of thousands of individual marine organisms suffer from entanglement or ingestion of plastics that permeate the marine environment-from zooplankton and fish, to sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds. Some of those sea birds and fish rely on Los Cerritos Wetlands for shelter and sustenance.
Plastics never go away. Instead, they break down into smaller and smaller pieces, which act as magnets for harmful pollutants. When eaten by fish, some of those chemical-laden microplastics can work their way up the food chain and into the fish we eat.
You can do something about this problem and you should do it today.
Contact local Assemblymember, Patrick O’Donnell (who is a great friend of Los Cerritos Wetlands) and ask him to vote for the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (Senate Bill 54). This bill will establish state targets to reduce single-use plastic and packaging waste by 75 percent by 2032. This is exactly the kind of bold change we need to help save our environment from being swept up in a tide of dangerous plastic pollution — and it can start in California.
Here’s a great recap by Surfrider Foundation about the problems with plastics our ocean and what SB 54 will do to help address the problem.
I hope you will check it out and then take a moment to call Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell’s office, today, at (916) 319-2070 and ask him to support SB 54.
Tell whoever answers the phone that you are a constituent of Patrick O’Donnell’s (check here to see if you are) and are calling to urge him to vote YES on SB 54. He should vote yes because SB 54 would curb single-use plastic pollution in California. That’s all you need to say!
If you get an answering machine, leave a message. Call even if it is after work hours. Every call is counted.
If you don’t feel comfortable calling you can instead email Assemblymember O’Donnell and express your support for SB 54.
California must take robust steps NOW to reduce single-use packaging and plastic consumption and increase recycling. Thank you for your help.