For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Taylor McFarland, NJ Sierra Club, 732-865-1405
A new report published in Science Advances has found that the Delaware River is one of the rivers dumping the most plastic pollution into the ocean. According to the study, over 283,000 pounds of plastic waste are carried by the Delaware River and dumped into the ocean each year.
“It is alarming that the Delaware River is so highly polluted by plastic waste. According to this report, it carries over 283,000 pounds of plastic waste to the ocean every year. Even though Governor Murphy signed a statewide plastic ban last year, it still won’t go into effect for another year. Meanwhile, we’re still seeing plastic in our waterways and clogging our storm drains,” said Taylor McFarland, Chapter Coordinator, Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter.
Beach sweeps in New Jersey conducted last fall found 185,221 pieces of trash according to the 2020 Beach Sweeps Report. Of this, 134,272 pieces were plastic and 1,113 pieces were ‘personal protective equipment’ like face masks or sanitary wipes.
Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment. Rutgers scientists found densities of about 28,000 to more than 3 million plastic particles per square kilometer in the Passaic and Raritan Rivers.
“We need to be taking swift action to protect our environment, our beaches, and our oceans from plastic pollution. Right now, plastics are still clogging storm drains and polluting our drinking water. We have the plastic bag ban, but we should also be getting plastic that isn’t covered by the bill out of the waste stream. This includes establishing recycled content standards and passing a bottle bill,” said Rich Isaac, Chapter Chair, Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter.