Trash Reduction

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

Explore this section to learn more about trash impacts and regulations, trash sources in the Santa Clara Valley, what SCVURPPP and member agencies are doing to help, and how to measure progress in reducing urban trash loads to local creeks and the San Francisco Bay.

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.

Water Impacts and Regulations

Environmental Impact Trash is a serious problem for water bodies in the San Francisco Bay, local creeks, estuaries, and the Pacific Ocean. Data suggest that plastic trash persists for hundreds of years in the environment and can pose a threat to wildlife through ingestion, entrapment, as well as harboring chemicals harmful to the aquatic environment....

Trash Sources in the Santa Clara Valley

SCVURPPP Trash Generation and Drainage Area Maps Baseline Trash Generation maps of SCVURPPP member agencies show the levels of trash observed circa 2009 on streets, sidewalks and other land areas draining to municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). The Drainage Area maps show the land areas that are > 10,000 ft2 and directly connected to the...

Actions

Trash pollution is a major issue in streets, local creeks, rivers and the San Francisco Bay. What are SCVURPPP and member agencies doing to help reduce trash pollution in the Santa Clara Valley? SCVURPPP and member agencies work to address trash concerns in a variety of ways: (1) At the source (2) In neighborhoods &...

Measuring Progress

SCVURPPP member agencies make sure their efforts are reducing trash through various monitoring activities. Read on to learn more about: On-Land Visual Trash Assessments, Creek & Shoreline Monitoring, Operation & Maintenance, and Additional Resources. On-Land Visual Trash Assessments Staff assessing the visual impact of trash that could get into stormwater (Photo by Program Staff) This...

Trash Reduction Data

Trash in receiving waters data will be included in the Water Quality Monitoring Data page. Explore Water Quality Monitoring Data Return to Trash Reduction Main Page

Trash Reduction Documents

Date	Title	Categories	Tags
11/16/2021	Trash True Source Controls	Reports	Trash
7/16/2021	New and Redevelopment Projects Litter Reduction Fact Sheet	Fact Sheets	New Development (C.3.), Trash, ZLI
4/13/2020	Volunteer Creek Cleanups in Santa Clara County	Fact Sheets	Trash
3/1/2018	On-land Visual Trash Assessment Methodology	Guidance Documents	Trash
9/1/2016	Storm Drain Trash Monitoring and Characterization Project	Reports	Trash
7/26/2016	On-land Visual Trash Assessment Database User Documentation ver 2.0	Reports	Trash
7/26/2016	Trash Assessment Training presentation handout	Workshops	Trash
7/26/2016	Trash Assessment Training Workshop – July 26, 2016	Workshops	Trash
1/19/2016	Litter Practices Recommendations for Solid Waste Franchise Agreements	Reports	Trash
6/3/2014	Litter Prevention & Management Solid Waste Collection Best Management Practices	Reports	Trash, ZLI
6/1/2014	How Trash Gets Into Creeks poster	Posters	Trash
2/1/2014	Pilot Trash Assessment Strategy	Reports	Trash
2/1/2014	Long-Term Trash Load Reduction Plans	Work Plans	Trash
9/15/2013	Long-Term Plan Draft Final Maps	Maps	Trash
2/1/2012	Short-Term Trash Load Reduction Plans	Work Plans	Trash
2/1/2012	Preliminary Baseline Trash Generation Rates for San Francisco Bay Area MS4s	Reports	Trash
4/25/2011	Baseline Trash Loading Rates from Bay Area Municipal Stormwater Systems	Reports	Trash
4/21/2011	Method to Estimate Baseline Trash Loads from Bay Area Municipal Stormwater Systems	Reports	Trash
2/1/2011	BASMAA Trash Baseline Loads and Load Reduction Trackng – MRP Provision C.10.a(ii) Progress Report	Reports	Trash
6/29/2010	Trash Hot Spot Selection Report	Reports	Trash
9/28/2007	Restricted content	Guidance Documents	Archive, Trash