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Be
The Solution to Litter Pollution!
The City of
Monterey prides itself on its beauty. Visitors
from all over the world continue to visit our
City because of its historic amenities and clean
appearance and to visit attractions such as the
Monterey Bay Aquarium. When citizens and
visitors drive State Highways 1 and 68 to reach
our city, they are blinded by the amount of
litter in view. The litter on these highways
also frequently reaches our storm drains and
eventually finds its way to the Bay. When
visitors see our beaches we do not want them
focusing on the litter but the incredible window
to our beautiful bay.
What can you do
about Litter & Marine Debris? Be aware!
What is Marine
Debris?
- Secure loads
in your vehicles. If you are transporting
loose material in a truck or trailer, ensure
that it is secured properly, especially the
back end.
- If you see
vehicles or commercial vehicles with litter
coming out of their vehicles, get the
license plate, location, time and date and
call the company.
- If you see
any of the garbage trucks dropping litter,
get the license plate number, location, time
and date and call them and report it.
- Stop Litter
before it starts. The most effective way to
keep litter off the beaches and roadways is
to not generate it in the first place. Say
no to plastic bags and polystyrene. When at
the beach, use the Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out
rule and take all your waste with you.
- Take part in
a coastal clean up in Monterey!
Click here for
a current schedule of organized clean up
activities.
4 Reasons
Why Marine Debris Is Everyone's Problem:
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1. |
Waterway
debris isn't just an eyesore.
It's dangerous. And it sticks
around for a long time --
especially plastic, which lasts
for hundreds of years.
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2. |
Each
year, birds, fish and other
mammals are killed or injured by
waterway debris. Turtles mistake
plastic bags for jellyfish.
Birds get tangled in
monofilament fishing lines or
discarded nets. Fish get trapped
in six-pack rings.
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3. |
Marine
debris also threatens boating
equipment. Plastic bags and
other debris can clog engine
water intakes or get caught in
propellers. Trash can damage or
snarl fishermen's nets.
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4. |
Waterway
trash also looks bad -- and
that's bad for business. After
all, who wants to visit an ugly
place? |
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More information
on Marine Debris and other Litter Programs can
be found through the
NOAA
Marine Debris Program
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