Reducing trash pollution in local creeks, rivers and the San Francisco Bay is a high priority for municipal agencies in the Santa Clara Valley. SCVURPPP member agencies have reduced trash pollution in the Bay by preventing and managing stormwater trash in several ways, including:
- Local ordinances limiting single-use grocery bags & foam foodware
- Trash capture devices in the storm drain system
- Creek & shoreline cleanup events
To support municipal agencies in these efforts, SCVURPPP has conducted on-land trash assessments, studied the effectiveness of trash control strategies including street sweeping and screens on storm drain inlets, and continued a webinar series via the Zero Litter Initiative (ZLI). These efforts have assisted municipal agencies in achieving reduction goals using multiple control approaches and assessment techniques.