United States
Environmental Protection
\r kl M m Agency
EPA-842-N-16-002A
November, 2016
The Flow of... Trash Free Waters
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How is it Flowing?	1
Our Ocean Conference III	1
EPA Provides $365,000 for TFW in
New Jersey and New York Waters	2
EPA Studying Microplastics
Occurrence in Great Lakes
Sport Fish	2
EPA Region 2 and 5 Gyres Partner
for Citizen Science Program	3
TFW Initiative Launched in Peru	3
EPA-Peace Corps Memorandum of
Understanding Renewed, Will
Address Trash Prevention Goals	4
2016 Urban Waters National
Training Workshop	4
Galveston Installs its First Beach
Free-Cycle Center	5
Recovery in Baltimore	5
Caribbean Recycling Summit in
Puerto Rico	6
The Rapids: News Drops	7
This newsletter is intended to
pro vi de th e latest info rm atio n
to all of our Trash Free Waters
(TFW) partners and friends.
We continue to move the needle
on reductions of aquatic trash
in the regions in which there is
work underway. With projects
wrapping up, new efforts come
online. We are even developing
"Second Gen" TFW projects in
key areas where the energy levels
are high.
The Flow is our opportunity to
highlight recent successes, as well
as shine a spotlight on news and
other related items.
How is it Flowing?
The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA)
National Trash Free Waters
(TFW) program strives to
develop a set of actions and
projects that significantly reduce
or even eliminate the volume
of trash and litter entering
watersheds and ultimately large
aquatic ecosystems, and the
marine environment. The TFW
program supports actions and
projects that are results-driven,
measurable, and achievable.
A common problem when
implementing and executing a
TFW project is developing data
that support a measurable
result. In a given action or
project, examples of data that
can be quantified are:
•	Reduction in the number
of plastic bottles/bags used
per unit of time;
•	Amount of money saved;
•	Labor hours saved;
•	Mass or volume of trash
prevented from going into a
landfill or water body;
•	Number of storm drain
overflows;
•	Number of littering
citations;
•	Volume or percent of
"trash" recycled or
otherwise diverted;
•	Number of participants;
and/or
•	Mass or volume of trash
collected.
As you continue to implement
and execute TFW-related actions
and projects, we encourage you
to quantify your data and have
a baseline to compare the data
to. Actions and projects that
are results-driven, measurable,
and achievable can then be
featured in the TFW National
Great Practices Compendium.
There are many great practices
out there, and we would love to
highlight them!
Contact: Bob Benson,
Acting TFW Program Lead,
202-566-2954
Our Ocean Conference III
The third annual Our Ocean
Conference was held in
Washington, DC on September
15-16. The focus areas of
the conference were marine
pollution, climate and oceans,
sustainable fisheries, and
marine protected areas.
Participants announced
over 136 new initiatives on
marine conservation and
protection valued at more than
$5.24 billion, as well as new
commitments on the protection
of almost 1.5 million square
miles of the ocean. To date, the
three Our Ocean conferences
hosted by Secretary John Kerry
have generated commitments
valued at over $9.2 billion
to protect our ocean and
committed to protect 3.8 million
square miles of ocean - an area
the size of the United States.
The conference embraced
the significance of our marine
pollution control efforts,
specifically in the areas of
ocean acidification and marine
litter. TFW-related work was
highlighted throughout the
conference, including a new
citizen science program, a new
TFW initiative in Peru, and a
major information exchange
program with China (see
articles below). The full list of
conference commitments can
be found at ourocean2016.org.
Contact: Grace Robiou,
202-566-2975
What is EPA's
"Trash Free Waters"
National Program ?
A strategic approach
to support innovative
aquatic trash prevention
and reduction policies,
programs and initiatives
by many public,
private, and nonprofit
stakeholders.

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Page 2
The Flow of... Trash Free Waters
EPA Provides $365,000 forTFW in New Jersey and New York Waters
EPA Region 2 has awarded
$365,000 for projects that
will prevent plastic trash
from polluting water bodies
in New Jersey and New York.
The funding was awarded to
seven organizations through a
competitive grant process run
by the New England Interstate
Water Pollution Control
Commission, and that is aimed
at stimulating comprehensive
solutions to the burgeoning
problem of plastics in lakes,
rivers, harbors and oceans.
"Our oceans and lakes and
rivers are being choked with
plastic debris," said EPA
Regional Administrator Judith
A. Enck. "Estimates are that by
2025 there will be one ton of
plastic for every three tons of
fish in the world's oceans. These
projects offer real solutions that
focus on reducing plastic waste
at the source."
This $365,000 in funding is
being provided through the
EPA's New York/New Jersey
Aquatic Trash Prevention Grant
Program, which is designed to
fund projects that help meet
the goals of the EPA's TFW
program. This grant program
is focused on projects that
will support the EPA's TFW's
goal of reducing the volume of
plastic trash entering fresh and
marine water environments,
approaching zero-loading of
trash into U.S. waters within
10 years.
The recipients of the New
York/New Jersey Aquatic
Trash Prevention 2016 Grant
Program are: NYC Department
of Environmental Protection;
North Hudson Sewerage
Authority; the Product
Stewardship Institute, Inc.;
Hudson River Foundation/NY-
NJ Harbor & Estuary Program;
Cafeteria Culture; Bronx River
Alliance; and Clean Water Fund.
Contact: Josh Kogan,
212-637-3733
EPA Studying Microplastics Occurrence in Great Lakes Sport Fish
Microplastics are ubiquitous
in freshwater, estuarine and
marine ecosystems around the
world. Primary microplastics,
such as the microbeads used
in cosmetic products, are
intended for product use,
while secondary microplastics
form in the environment
from the breakdown of larger
plastic items such as grocery
bags. Recent global reports of
microplastics in a variety of
fish and shellfish species have
raised concerns about their
potential human health and
ecological impacts.
The Office of Wetlands,
Oceans and Watersheds
(OWOW) and the water
program's Office of Science
and Technology (OST) are
working with EPA's Great
Lakes National Program
Office (GLNPO) on a project
to assess the occurrence of
microplastics in the stomachs
of Great Lakes sport fish. The
study is being funded and
managed by the TFW program.
Microplastics have been found
in the Great Lakes in both
water and sediment; fish in the
Lakes may ingest microplastics
directly during feeding, or
indirectly by ingesting smaller
fish that have themselves
ingested microplastics. Fish for
the microplastics study were
collected in 2015 as part of
the joint OST/GLNPO Great
Lakes Human Health Fish Fillet
Tissue Study conducted under
EPA's 2015 National Coastal
Condition Assessment. The fish
stomachs were not used for
the OST/GLNPO human health
fish tissue study, so the fish
carcasses were repurposed for
the microplastics analysis.
Analysis of the fish stomachs
for microplastics will be
conducted by a laboratory at
the California Department of
Public Health in collaboration
with colleagues in EPA Region
9. The analysis will determine
the amount of plastics in
the fish stomachs down to
very small particle sizes, as
well as the types of plastics
present. The results of this
study will improve the current
understanding of microplastics
distribution in the Great Lakes
and their occurrence in fish.
More information can be
found at the following links:
www.lakescientist. com/
microolastics-Dollution-areat-
lakes-ecosvstem-summarv-
Dresentations-iaalr-2014/
www. aesamo. ora/work-
Droaramme/workarouDs/
workina-arouD-40/wa-40-
brochure.
Contact: Margaret Murphy,
202-566-1052
Recent global
reports of
microplastics in a
variety offish and
shellfish species
have raised concens
about their potential
human health and
ecological impacts.
"Estimates are
that by 2025 there
will be one ton of
plastic for every
three tons offish in
the world's oceans.
These projects offer
real solutions that
focus on reducing
plastic waste at the
source."
—Judith A. Enck,
EPA Region 2
Administrator

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The Flow of... Trash Free Waters
Page 3
EPA Region 2 arid 5 Gyres Partner for Citizen Science Program
With support from EPA
Headquarters, EPA Region
2 TFW is partnering with
the non-governmental
organization (NGO) 5 Gyres in
developing a citizen science
program designed to collect
data on the impact of marine
microplastics (plastics < 5 mm
in size in any dimension) on
the environment and public
health. The project's goal is
to leverage greater scientific
and public understanding
of the critical problem of
microplastics in the marine
environment in ways that
catalyze innovative, upstream
solutions to reduce and
prevent the flow of land-
based plastics into the
ocean in Puerto Rico and
the Wider Caribbean. This
project was also announced
as a US commitment at the
recent Our Ocean Conference
hosted by Secretary of State
John Kerry in September in
Washington, DC.
Contact: Josh Kogan,
212-637-3733
TFW Initiative Launched in Peru
On September 21, EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy
launched Peru's TFW
initiative in Chincha, Peru.
The initiative kicked off with
a panel discussion between
Administrator McCarthy,
Peruvian Environmental
Minister Elsa Galarza, and
representatives from Coca-
Cola, the Regional Government
of lea, and two NGOs that
work on recycling initiatives
in underserved communities
within Chincha. The panel
discussion provided a broad
forum for decision makers to
hear from stakeholders about
solid waste management
issues and the pathways
forward toward solutions.
On September 22 and 23,
EPA's Office of International
and Tribal Affairs (OITA)
led Peru's first stakeholder
workshop on TFW, which
included a large and diverse
set of over 75 stakeholders
including local students,
environmental enforcement
officials, the Ministry of
Environment in Peru (MINAM),
the Regional Environment
Office in lea (GORE), Chincha
municipality officials, teachers,
women's group leaders,
human rights leaders, solid
waste officials, the US Agency
for International Development,
and the private sector.
Participants worked together
on strategic planning exercises
designed to identify local
strengths and weaknesses
with regards to solid waste
management. The participants
cataloged ongoing regulatory
and non-regulatory programs
in order to help identify
specific projects that they
will implement to help
Chincha prevent and reduce
land-based sources of
marine litter. Stakeholders
identified projects in six
separate categories including
reconstituting a local solid
waste advisory council and
institutionalizing "informal
recyclers" in Chincha. Each
of the seven participating
districts identified a TFW point
of contact for follow-up and a
local NGO was identified to play
the role of a local secretariat.
Participants noted that this
was the first time they had
been given a platform to work
with different stakeholders
to address a policy issue. In
this way, EPA has left a lasting
influence on the people of
Chincha - not only taking the
first steps along a pathway to
reduce the volumes of trash in
the region, but also building
collaborative capacities. Next
steps include identifying a TFW
pilot project for Chincha.
Contact: Andrew Horan,
202-564-5383
TFW Peruvian stakeholders with the EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy.

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Page 4
EPA-Peace Corps Memorandum of Understanding Renewed, Will Address Trash
Prevention Goals
On August 31, the EPA and
Peace Corps strengthened
institutional ties by renewing
their Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) for
another five years. This MOU
builds upon the 2010 MOU
and provides a framework
that addresses the basic
relationship, roles, and
responsibilities between
the two agencies to work
together in support of broad
environment and public health
protection initiatives across
the globe.
As part of this partnership,
the two agencies have already
collaborated on training for
Peace Corps Volunteers on
public participation, and for
Peace Corps Trainees in both
Jamaica and Panama on the
issue of marine litter and on
steps volunteers can take to
implement a TFW dialogue in
their community.
Contact: Stephanie Adrian,
202-564-6444
Peace Corps Director, Carrie Hessler-Radelet (above left)
interviews EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
2016 Urban Waters National Training Workshop
In 2011, EPA launched
the Urban Waters Federal
Partnership. The Urban
Waters Federal Partnership
seeks to reconnect urban
communities, particularly
those that are overburdened
or economically distressed,
with their waterways to
become stewards for clean
urban waters. Currently, 14
federal agencies work together
in 19 "Partnership Locations"
with the support of 28 NGOs
and in collaboration with local
partners on the ground.
On July 26-28, EPA hosted
the Urban Waters National
Training Workshop on behalf
of the Urban Waters Federal
Partnership. The workshop
focused on efforts to restore
urban waterways and
revitalize the communities
around them with sessions
on finding innovate ways
to fund their work, citizen
science, green infrastructure,
an Environmental Justice Crash
Course, mentoring, mobile
tours, a tools expo, and a film
screening. Workshop materials
can be found at:
urbanwaters.skeo. com.
Over 450 people participated
in the workshop, including
representatives from
community-based organizations,
all levels of government,
academia and NGOs.
The Headquarters TFW team
participated throughout the
workshop, interacting with
many stakeholders and laying
groundwork for integration
of TFW elements into Urban
Waters partnership programs.
Contacts: Roy Simon (UW),
202-564-3868, and
Bob Benson (TFW),
202-566-2954
Urban Waters National Training Workshop.

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Page 5
Galveston Installs its First Beach Free-Cycle Center
On November 15, the
Galveston Marine Debris
Task Force (MDTF), made
up of local governments
and NGOs, as well as other
stakeholders held a ribbon-
cutting ceremony to celebrate
the installation of the first of
six recycling stations, called
Beach Free-Cycle Centers, on
Galveston Island Beaches.
The Hilton Worldwide-Travel
with a Purpose Grant and
the Harris and Elize Kempner
Foundation provided funds
for the recycling stations. The
stations provide a mechanism
for the public to recycle plastic
bottles, aluminum cans,
monofilament fishing line, and
beach accessories. Once all six
recycling stations are installed,
Galveston Park Board of
Trustees staff will collect data
on collection rates in order to
make comparisons with the
baseline information collected
throughout 2016.
Recycling stations are part of
a broader initiative aimed at
reducing the amount of trash
left on Galveston Island. The
shared vision of the MDTF,
the Galveston Park Board of
Trustees' Beach Maintenance
Advisory Committee, and
Artist Boat is to have 100%
recycling station coverage on
Galveston beaches. Prior to
installation of the recycling
center, Galveston Park Board
of Trustee employees picked
up over 725 tons of material
off of Galveston Island Beaches
this season (not including trash
collected at the designated
parks). Approximately 600
tons of that material (or 1,000
pounds per day) is considered
recyclable plastic.
Stakeholders will continue
to make improvements to
Galveston Island Beaches:
they intend to add educational
signage to the recycling
stations as well as implement
an outdoor education
exhibition in 2017 to convey
messaging about the negative
effects of litter. Stakeholders
also hope to soon address the
problem of "Left Behinds,"
or discarded beach gear,
with designated stations
and potentially an app for
facilitating transitional uses of
discarded beach gear.
Contacts: Doug Jocobson,
214-665-6692, and
Renee Bellew, 214-665-2793
Galveston Beach recycling station.
Recovery in Baltimore
Stakeholders in metropolitan
Baltimore worked together
to develop a Baltimore-
specific social marketing
campaign designed to change
the behaviors that lead to
littering and other forms of
trash pollution. The campaign,
championed by Julie Lawson
of Trash Free Maryland, is
currently in its pilot stage.
Stakeholders designed the
campaign after extensive focus
group testing. The research
showed that a significant
number of Baltimore's
residents are facing daily
struggles and are working to
overcome these struggles.
The campaign is thus designed
to help residents continue to
feel hope and empowerment
by making their immediate
areas cleaner. The approach
is to create a social norm for
individuals, particularly those
that are a part of community
organizations, to pick up litter.
Community organizations
such as Behavioral Health
Systems of Baltimore, REACH,
and the Baltimore City
Directorate are key partners.
These organizations manage
behavioral and clinical health
programs, such as drug
rehabilitation programs, that
serve low-income residents.
Stakeholders also will work
with churches in targeted
communities through the
organization, Interfaith
Partners of the Chesapeake,
The pilot of the campaign
is launching in Baltimore
neighborhoods that have
extremely high rates of
vacant properties and other
risk factors. Currently, the
campaign has launched in
five neighborhoods, as well
as the Port of Baltimore. The
campaign will launch citywide
in 2017.
Contact: Julie Lawson,
410-861-0412
irniM
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HLSMH15

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Page 6
Conferences
World Ocean Council Sustainable
Ocean Summit:
Nov 30-Dec 2, 2016
Netherlands
Caribbean Recycling Summit:
Dec 1-2, 2016
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Restore America's Estuaries Summit:
Dec 10-15, 2016
New Orleans, Louisiana
2016 Rising Seas Summit:
Dec 13-15, 2016
New Orleans, Louisiana
Caribbean Recycling Summit in Puerto Rico
With the support of the EPA, the US Department of Agriculture, and the Puerto
Rico Solid Waste Management Authority, the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership
(PRRP) and the Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP) are sponsoring the
first Caribbean Recycling Summit to be held on December 1-2, 2016 in San Juan,
Puerto Rico. The event offers an opportunity to connect the government, non-
profit organizations, citizens, environmental groups, and the private sector, with
the goal of bringing zero-waste strategies to the Caribbean Basin. The event will
provide an exhibiting opportunity for companies, organizations, and agencies to
come together, as well as a venue for themed workshops related to challenges,
opportunities, and new advances in the recycling industry. To register, please
visit; http://svr.usll.list-manaae.com/track/click?u=7dfb09adl6771349bbdb43d
a4&id=7d224c38e4&e=be8645e74a.
Contact: Stephanie Adrian, 202-564-6444
Condado Beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Page 7
The Rapids: News Drops
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Coastal Community Small Grants
Deadline: December 9, 2016
Proposals are now being accepted from coastal communities who wish to
proactively address their vulnerabilities to coastal hazards previously identified
during a community self-assessment, such as the Community Resilience Index.
For more information or to apply, please go to www. aulfofmexicoalliance. or a/
our-oriorities/orioritv-issue-teams/communitv-resilience-team/communitv-
resilience-small-arants/.
NOAA FY2017 Marine Debris Research Grants
Deadline: December 19, 2016
This opportunity provides funding to support eligible organizations to conduct
research directly related to marine debris through field, laboratory, and
modeling experiments. Funding supports research that explores the ecological
risk associated with marine debris, determines debris exposure levels, and
examines the fate and transport of marine debris in nearshore, coastal
environments. Typical awards will range from $150,000 to $250,000. For more
information or to apply, please go to www.grants.aov/web/arants/view-
QDDortunitv.html?QDDld=289016.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Request for Proposals
Deadline: January 31, 2017
The EPA is accepting proposals for projects that support activities designed
to empower and educate vulnerable communities, disproportionately
impacted by environmental harms, to understand environmental and public
health issues, and to identify ways to address these issues at the local level.
Projects are typically awarded $30,000 each. For more information, please go
to www.eDa.aov/environmentaliustice/environmental-iustice-small-arants-
Droaram#tab-2.
National Geographic Conservation Trust Grants
Deadline: Ongoing request for proposals
The Conservation Trust will fund projects that contribute significantly to
the preservation and sustainable use of the Earth's biological, cultural, and
historical resources. Typical awards will range from $15,000 to $20,000. For
more information or to apply, please go to www.nationalaeoaraDhic.com/
exolorers/a rants-oroa rams/conservation-trust-aoDlication/.
2017 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program Request
for Proposals
Deadline: January 31, 2017
This opportunity provides funding to support projects that develop community
capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations. Projects
should focus on ecological improvements including: wetland, riparian, forest
and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation; community tree canopy
enhancement; and/or water quality monitoring and stormwater management;
along with targeted community outreach, education, and stewardship. Priority
will be given to projects in urban, suburban, and/or rural areas that advance
water quality goals in environmental justice communities. Awards range from
$20,000 to $50,000. For more information or to apply, please go to www.nfwf.
ora/fivestar/Paaes/2017rfo. asox.
STUDENT CONTESTS
2017 Bow Seat Ocean
Awareness Student Contest
Deadline: June 19,2017
Middle and high school
students from around the
world are invited to create
works of art, poetry, prose, or
film that speak to this year's
theme-Ocean Pollution:
Challenges & Solutions.
Students need an adult
sponsor to submit to the
Contest, and the Contest
is completely free to enter.
Students can earn awards up
to $1,500 in each category,
and Bow Seat also grants
Sponsor Recognition awards
of $750 for outstanding
teachers, parents, and
mentors who help a student
submit to the Contest. For
more information please visit:
htto://fromthebowseat. ora/
contest.oho.
2017 Bow Seat Marine
Debris Creative Advocacy
Competition
Deadline: June 19, 2017
This competition challenges
middle and high school
students from the US to
implement real-world
advocacy projects in their
schools and communities,
with the goals of educating
the public about marine
debris, inspiring people to
change their behavior, and
engaging them in activities
that reduce or prevent marine
debris. Students need an
adult sponsor to participate
in the competition, and the
competition is free to enter.
Students can earn awards up
to $5,000. The deadline to
submit is June 19, 2017. For
more information, please visit:
httoJ/fromthebowseat. org/
advocacy-competition, oho.

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