(Image Credit: IMAGN) Hudson River Riverkeeper John Cronin patrols the Hudson River looking for polluter June 1, 1988. The Hudson River Fishermen's Association hired the former commercial fisherman as its first full-time Riverkeeper, and launched a 25-foot wooden vessel to patrol the Hudson River. The Riverkeeper patrols have resulted in tens of millions of dollars in fines to polluters and led to the Hudson River's resurgence.
San Diego, California – As a storm system moved through the San Diego region, the Tijuana River experienced an increased flow of garbage and debris from south of the border, highlighting the ongoing pollution issues affecting the area.
A trash boom, installed three months ago within U.S. territory, effectively captured floating materials such as lumber, aluminum cans, and soccer balls, rising with the river’s water level.
Alter Terra, the nonprofit responsible for the boom, has been conducting surveys to analyze the types of debris flowing in. “It’s organic compounds, lots of plastics, lots of Styrofoam,” said Oscar Terra, Alter Terra’s executive director.
Early findings reveal that plastic bottles constitute 41% of the collected trash by volume, followed by plastic foam at 25%. Other materials include organic trimmings, composite metals, glass bottles, and lumber.
“About 66 percent of all the trash is plastics, floating plastics,” said a representative of Alter Terra.
The trash survey aims to provide insights into human behavior in Tijuana, where recycling programs and consistent garbage collection are limited. This information will be used to collaborate with Tijuana partners to promote behavioral changes and reduce pollution. It will also aid in the design of a more permanent structure to capture an even greater quantity of debris, preventing it from reaching the Tijuana River Valley and the Pacific Ocean.
