vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 160B20001
December 2020
INTERNATIONAL
TRASH FREE WATERS
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE
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Contents
INTRODUCTION 3
What is Trash Free Waters? 3
What is Marine Litter? 3
The Problem with Marine Litter 4
Impacts from Marine Litter 5
IMPLEMENTING ATRASH FREE WATERS PROGRAM 6
Step 1: Form a Trash Free Waters Launch Team 7
Step 2 Conduct the Situational Assessment 8
The Purpose of a Situational Assessment 8
Conduct a Situational Assessment 8
Using the Results from the Situational Assessment 10
Step 3: Convene Stakeholder Dialogue(s) 11
Planning for Stakeholder Dialogue(s) 11
Hosting Stakeholder Dialogue(s) 12
Identifying Problems and Potential Projects 14
Translating Projects into Solutions 15
Step 4 Project Implementation and Further Actions 16
Form a Stakeholder Coordinating Committee 16
Project Implementation 17
Keep the Stakeholders Connected and Engaged 18
Step 5: Monitoring, Evaluating and Sustaining a Trash Free Waters Program and its Projects 19
CONCLUSION AND SHARING TRASH FREE WATERS SUCCESSES 22
REFERENCES 23
APPENDIX 25
Outline of a Situational Assessment 25
Trash Free Waters Jamaica Questionnaire 26
San Juan Bay Estuary Program Trash Free Waters Project: Trash Characterization Materials
Found Template 28
San Juan Bay Estuary Program Trash Free Waters Project: Trash Characterization Template 39
Trash Free Waters Jamaica Agenda 30
Trash Free Waters Invitation 33
Leveraging and Funding SJBEP TFW Activities 35
Trash Free Waters Committee Terms of Reference 41
Trash Free Waters Fact Sheet 43
U.S. EPA's Trash Free Waters Domestic Newsletter 45
Stakeholder Dialogue Evaluation Form 52
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INTRODUCTION
The Trash Free Waters (TFW) International Guide is a too! designed to provide step-by-step guidance
for government representatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders to
plan and implement a TFW program. The Guide is based on TFW, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) stakeholder-based approach to address marine litter. It can be used to implement TFW
as a national program or at the local level within communities along a coast or further upstream in the
watershed. TFW is designed to include all stakeholders in decision-making to address marine, coastal
and watershed issues, as well as improvements to solid waste management. TFW works by bringing
together stakeholders to identify and prioritize their most immediate needs and develop actionable solutions
to address them.
WHAT IS TRASH FREE WATERS?
TFW is a strategic, stakeholder-based approach to address marine litter through improving solid
waste management and prioritizing community needs. Community needs are identified through a
step-by-step process that brings stakeholders together to discuss the state of marine litter and associated
solid waste management issues at the national or local level. Stakeholders will use this process to identify
and prioritize projects to prevent and reduce litter from entering waterways and eventually the ocean.
The Trash Free Waters International Implementation Guide is based on EPA's experience working with
Jamaica, Panama, and Peru to implement their own TFW programs. The Guide presents the TFW
approach in a step-by-step format to instruct users on how to implement a TFW program at the national or
local level.
Many countries face challenges that are impeding efforts to address marine litter. EPA's experience
in Jamaica, Panama, and Peru showed that, for example, countries face challenges in understanding
national ministry roles, difficulty in addressing gaps or inadequacies in policies and enforcement, limited
resources, and high turnover of leaders on the issue. Many countries face these similar challenges,
including the U.S., and TFW can serve as a model for countries to address these challenges and better
manage their land-based sources of marine litter.
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WHAT IS MARINE LITTER?
Marine litter is defined as human-created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been released
into the environment, including inland waterways and lakes, urban storm drains, coastal estuaries, and
the ocean1. When consumer goods, especially single-use items such as plastic bags, food wrappers
and beverage bottles, are improperly managed, they can find their way into rivers, streams and other
waterways. These inland waterways eventually drain into the ocean. The recent COVID pandemic has
dramatically increased single-use plastic items such as personal protective equipment (PRE). Because
of widespread PRE use outside of clinical environments, it has a high probability of becoming marine
litter and will require special consideration and focused awareness raising to reduce leakage into the
marine environment.
Land-based sources of waste account for approximately 80% of marine litter found on shorelines
worldwide, according to surveys from coastal cleanups and removal efforts2. The most common materials
that make up marine litter are plastics, glass, metal, paper, cloth, rubber, and wood1. The remaining
20% of items found during shoreline cleanups can be attributed to at-sea losses from either accidental
or deliberate discharges from ocean-going vessels, lost or abandoned fishing gear and traps, or derelict
and abandoned vessels?.
Examples of common land-based marine litter
THE PROBLEM WITH MARINE LITTER
Marine litter is a significant problem that is impacting oceans worldwide. The 80% of marine litter
stemming from land-based sources is largely a result of insufficient solid waste management. Five
countries in Asia account for over half of the waste input into the ocean - China, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam2; A recent study estimates that 88-95% of the global load of
mismanaged plastic waste transported by major waterways originates from just 10 rivers, eight of them
located in Asia4. The majority of these land-based sources of marine litter comes from plastic waste. In
the U.S., plastic waste comprises less than 13% of the municipal solid waste stream, yet because it is
lightweight, incredibly buoyant and can be easily transported by the wind and persist in the environment,
it is the most visible component of marine litter.
Uncollected waste is a major source of the problem. It is estimated that less than 50% of waste in the least
developed countries is collected and approximately 90% of waste is burned or ends up in open dumps6.
The remaining 20% of marine litter comes mostly from sea-based sources, attributed to at-sea losses from
accidental or deliberate discharges from ocean-going vessels, and from lost or abandoned fishing gear.
The Global Ghost Gear Initiative estimates that annually between 640,000 to 800,000 tons of fishing gear
is lost or abandoned in oceans, coastal estuaries and bays.
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Though the problem is visible in the marine environment, the solution requires significant improvements to
solid waste management on land. The amount of uncollected and mismanaged waste entering the ocean
has significantly worsened in the past decades, causing increased economic and environmental damage.
Litter and trash can be transported across land masses through waterways into oceans, and can also
accumulate on beaches, shorelines, and within gyres - large, offshore currents of floating trash. The trash
can also harm physical habitats for wildlife, transport chemical and nutrient pollutants, and interferes with
human uses of river, marine and coastal environments.
IMPACTS FROM MARINE LITTER
The Economy
Marine litter impacts the economy in many ways. Litter and debris can interfere
with maritime navigation and commercial and recreational fishing, impact urban
infrastructure through clogging stormwater drains and sewer systems and cost
coastal communities large sums for continuous removal and maintenance. Litter
reduces the aesthetic and recreational values of rivers, beaches, and coastal
ecosystems, which comes at a high cost to communities that rely on tourism. In
Indonesia, for example, an estimated $166 million is lost in tourism revenues annually
due to a lack of adequate waste collection and management6. The Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) estimates that the cost of marine litter to the
tourism, fishing and shipping industries is $10.8 billion in that region alone7.
The Environment
As litter accumulates in our waters, the species that depend on these environments
for foraging and shelter may decline. Riverine, coastal, and marine organisms
are threatened by physical hazards from Ingestion and entanglement, as well as
potentially harmful impacts from contaminants attached to plastics and other debris.
Illegal dumping into waterways can exacerbate flooding, and the decomposition
of unsorted, untreated waste - whether collected or dumped - releases methane,
a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change®.
Public Health
Litter in waterways has the potential to absorb chemicals of concern from the
environment and serve as global transport mechanisms for them to enter the food
chain, impacting humans. Communities that are particularly vulnerable are those
that rely primarily on seafood as a main source of food. Litter and debris in the
environment can hold water and become breeding grounds for mosquitos, potentially
easing the spread of diseases such as Zika, Chlkungunya, and Dengue Fever.
Communities with open dumps and uncollected waste have also shown higher
instances of respiratory illnesses and increased rates of food-chain contamination5.
In areas where households burn or openly dump their waste, instances of diarrhea
are twice as high, and acute respiratory infections are six times higher than in areas
where waste is regularly collected9. Uncontrolled waste collection also affects the
health of waste pickers or scavengers, who may suffer higher rates of disease10.
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IMPLEMENTING A TRASH FREE WATERS PROGRAM
TFW follows a logical, step-by-step approach that is easy to use and straightforward to implement even
with limited resources. The purpose of the step-by-step approach is to address marine litter in a holistic
manner and involve key stakeholders to the extent possible. It also helps the users identify low-cost,
low-tech projects that can be implemented in a shorter time span.
The remainder of this Guide will take users through the steps to implement TFW and provide a simple
playbook for addressing marine litter at the community or national level.
STEPS TO IMPLEMENT
TRASH FREE WATERS
o>
o>
Form a Trash Free Waters Launch Team
Conduct the Situational Assessment
o>
Convene Stakeholder Dialogue(s)
o>
©>
Project Implementation and Further Actions
Monitoring, Evaluating, and Sustaining a
Trash Free Waters Program
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o
{ Form Trash Free Waters Launch Team
The TFW Launch Team is a foundational component of a Trash Free Waters program. The Launch Team
consists of a small group of key stakeholders that are invested in addressing marine litter at the national
or local level. Typically, the Launch Team will include representatives from government, NGOs, and where
possible, a community champion. The Launch Team's principal interest is starting the program and
members may have expertise in marine litter and/or solid waste management issues in a community
or at the national level.
The Launch Team members will be responsible for the following:
• Initiate the overall Trash Free Waters program
• Coordinate and conduct the Situational Assessment
• Identify and engage with stakeholders
• Plan and convene the broader stakeholder dialogue(s)
• Inform the government, the public, and the media about the actions being taken
Each member of the Launch Team should take on a specific responsibility and serve as the point of
contact for that action item. The Launch Team should meet with sufficient frequency to identify the goals
of the program, the strategic direction, and establish a plan for conducting the Situational Assessment
and the stakeholder dialogue.
In Jamaica, the National Environment
Protection Authority (NEPA) led the
TFW Launch Team that included
stakeholders such as the Jamaica
Environment Trust, Community Youth
Environment Network, Sandals
Foundation, and U.S. Peace Corps.
Other institutions such as Jamaica's
Ministry of Economic Growth and
Job Creation and the National Solid
Waste Management Authority played
critical roles after the launch. The
United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) and EPA provided funding and
guidance to this overall effort.
TFW Jamaica Stakeholder Dialogue - February 2017
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©
Conduct the Situational Assessment
THE PURPOSE OF A SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
The next step in implementing TFW is to identify and understand the trash and marine litter problem in
the area it is being addressed. This step involves executing the Situational Assessment. The Situational
Assessment is a process that gathers, synthesizes, and communicates data and information about the
marine litter problem at the national or local level to better inform decision-making. The Launch Team will
conduct the Situational Assessment with other technical experts, such as waste management officials
and marine protection specialists in the government or civil society.
The Situational Assessment is also used as a baseline survey to inform the Launch Team of public
perception about the current status of solid waste management and marine litter issues at the national
or local level. Finally, the Situational Assessment should be shared with all stakeholders prior to the
stakeholder dialogue(s).
The Situational Assessment should provide the following information:
0 Marine litter and solid waste management problems to be addressed in the community
0 A list of relevant stakeholders and their initial concerns, including marginalized populations
0 Information gaps or misunderstandings
0 Waste and litter data to help support decision-makers on crafting solutions
0 Relevant legislation and population and geographic data
0 Current and past efforts in the community to address marine litter
0 Existing laws related to marine litter and solid waste management
0 Local studies or reports on land-based sources of marine litter
0 Information on local sources and types of marine litter
0 Capacity and resources of organizations and stakeholders involved in the issue
0 Potential barriers to success
0 Other relevant information to inform the stakeholder discussion
HOW TO CONDUCT A SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
The Launch Team should meet to develop an outline of the Situational Assessment and assign roles
and responsibilities to gather the information needed to draft it. The Assessment does not have to be
comprehensive, but should exist to better inform the stakeholders and the general public about the
current state of the marine litter problem at the national or local level. Any information gaps identified
in the Situational Assessment should be discussed during the stakeholder dialogue. An example of a
Situational Assessment outline can be found in the Appendix.
Once the Launch Team has identified member roles, responsibilities and an outline, the Launch Team
should draft questions for local experts and community members. The Launch Team should ask questions
that are based on the problems the community is facing. Every community (or country, depending on the
scope of the defined TFW program) will face different problems and realities related tofhe state of marine
litter and solid waste management.
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Look at the list of questions beiow to determine which questions can be best applied in the selected
community and will assist the stakeholders in determining solutions. These are only a sample of questions
the Situational Assessment should answer and are not comprehensive of the scope of any individual
Assessment. The Launch Team may also come up with questions of its own, depending on what is
needed to reflect the realities of the country or selected community to better inform decision-making.
Is there legislation related to marine litter or solid waste management in the selected community?
What are the roles and responsibilities of the government in implementing waste management?
Are there basic waste management services in the selected community? If so, what is the extent
of those services?
If there is waste collection, what does it look like in a typical residential community?
Are there waste bins in public spaces that are regularly collected?
What is the public perception of waste and the impacts it has on the environment?
What are the financial constraints in providing waste management services to the selected community?
What current or past efforts have been conducted to address marine litter?
Has the government conducted a waste characterization study for the selected community?
Where are marine litter "hotspots" - areas of waste accumulation on shorelines or near waterways?
What efforts to address the issue have been tried but failed? What has been successful?
What's Your Favorite Trash Data App?
Marine Debris Tracker - http://www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu
Created by Dr. Jambeck's lab at the University of Georgia, this
app can aggregate and make accessible all itemized litter
data collected by users. This data helps the Jambeck lab
with modeling and analysis related to plastic inputs from
land-based sources.
Clean Swell -https://coastaicleanupdata.org
The Ocean Conservancy's Clean Swell app feeds into their
larger coastal cleanup database, making for robust analysis.
It uses the same item categories as their paper datacard.
Litterati - https://www.litterati.org
All data are not publicly downloadable yet, but with pictures
required for every item, this dataset is the most robust when it
comes to quality control. Analysts can look at multiple
characteristics like item type, material type, and brand.
Global Alert - https://www.oceanrecov.org/global-oceana-
lert-system/solution.html
Ocean Recovery Alliance has created Global Alert as an
online tool that allows users to report, rate and map trash
hot-spots in their waterways and coastlines via mobile devices
and a web-based platform.
Open Litter Map - https://openlittermap.com/
This effort out of The Netherlands compares different countries
based on litter collection. Any user can conduct their own
analyses. The use of pictures to capture landscape views
helps provide quality control.
As part of the Situational
Assessment in Jamaica, U.S.
Peace Corps Volunteers surveyed
their communities on solid waste
management practices and
provided the data to the National
Environment Protection Authority
(NEPA). NEPA incorporated that
Assessment into a nationwide
survey they used to inform their
decision making on improving
waste management.
Data on marine litter sources and
types, if available, can be a critical
component of the Assessment.
There are many smart phone apps
available to help gather, store, and
collate data on types of marine
litter found in the local environment.
Other apps are helpful in
mapping trash hotspots in the
watershed. The apps highlighted
here are more appropriate for
citizen science and should not
be a substitute for formal waste
characterization studies conducted
by local officials.
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USING THE RESULTS FROM THE SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
The information gathered from the Situational Assessment should be compiled into a report or slideshow
that can be easily shared with stakeholders and the general public. The Assessment will be used when
communicating to the public and interacting with government officials, community leaders, and the
private sector about the marine litter problem.
The Assessment will provide important insights into the state of the environment with respect to marine
litter and solid waste management. In addition, it should help assess the capacity and resources of the
organizations and the selected community working with the TFW program. Use this Assessment to inform
the process moving forward, especially with identifying which stakeholders will be significant for the
program and the stakeholder dialogue process.
The following are resources to reference how to conduct and develop a Situational Assessment or what
scope of materials are needed to be included in the assessment (i.e. waste characterization template).
The Resources are in Appendix of this document.
• Public Participation Guide (https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/public-participation-guide-
view-and-print-versions) - This guide provides a clear overview of important considerations
in the design and implementation of a meaningful public participation program, including useful
information on Situational Assessments, The Guide is also available in Spanish, Arabic, French
and Chinese.
• Trash Characterization Materials Found Template-Tracking template to
record materials found, this is a template from Puerto Rico, (see Appendix)
• Trash Characterization Template (Spanish) - A template from Puerto Rico to characterize trash
materials, (see Appendix)
• Peace Corps Jamaica Community Perception Survey - A community survey that gauges community
ideas about solid waste management practices, (see Appendix)
Installation of a Litter Gitter, or trash trap, installed along Staff sort litter that was collected from the Litter Gitter
a creek in the U.S.
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o
!> Convene Stakeholder Dialogue
Convening stakeholders for dialogue is the most important step in implementing Trash Free Waters.
The goal of the dialogue(s) is to bring together key stakeholders at the national or local level to
discuss marine litter problems and identify and prioritize solutions to address them. The added value
of stakeholder dialogues is that they provide opportunities for direct interaction between stakeholders
with diverse perspectives; foster information and data exchange; present and disseminate the Situational
Assessment; and encourage partnerships and working relationships to identify and develop actionable
solutions. These dialogues can be compressed into a one-day workshop format or consist of many
separate discussions with the same group but over a longer period, depending on the needs and
constraints of the stakeholders.
PLANNING FOR STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE(S)
Stakeholder dialogues provide an opportunity to:
~ Share key features and foundation of the TFW program
~ Identify and build the stakeholders relationships that will help to inform and implement solutions in the
TFW program
~ Provide a forum for robust information and data exchanges among those closest to the issue in
the community
~ Discuss opportunities and challenges related to addressing marine litter
~ Obtain a baseline understanding on the current problem (i.e. what has been done to address marine
litter in the past, and what can be done to better address marine litter in the future)
~ Design a clear plan and next steps for moving forward with implementing solutions and communicating
a unified message
Who are the stakeholders?
Stakeholders should consist of individuals from the following sectors:
• Government (national, local, regional)
• Private sector (businesses, chamber of commerce, tourism)
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Academia (local schools, universities, researchers)
• Community leaders
• Development Volunteers (U.S. Peace Corps, JICA, AusAid)
• Community members
It is important to Identify the relevant stakeholders for involvement in TFW. Identify individuals that make
sense to be involved based on the needs and goals of the TFW program. The appropriate stakeholder is
one who is already involved in this type of work, has responsibility and/or legal authority on the issue and/
or is impacted by or contributes to the problem.
Given that marine litter is often a result of inadequate solid waste management on land, it is critical that
the local or national solid waste management authority be included. Other valuable stakeholders may
be the ministries of tourism, environment, solid waste management, etc., coastal protection specialists
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and city managers. These people are most likely to fully understand the impact of marine litter to the
community and have the local expertise and knowledge required to better inform decision-making and
support a robust dialogue.
Over time, stakeholders will build networks with each other and the community members and leaders.
These networks and relationships within the community will increase the capacity of community members
to become more aware of the issue, better define what questions need to be asked and how they should
be answered and participate in additional stakeholder discussions to help identify appropriate solutions.
How many stakeholders should be included?
The number of stakeholders can vary, but it is more productive to the group to hold the number of
participants lower, ideally 30 or under. Maintaining low participant numbers for the dialogue(s) ensures
productive breakout groups and allows more time for stakeholders to share their perspective and work
with each other to develop solutions.
What contributions can stakeholders provide?
Stakeholders provide valuable information on the current state of the problem. Involving stakeholders
during the Trash Free Waters dialogue helps to:
• Provide full insight into the problem
• Give differing perspectives on what will be considered credible, high quality and useful information
• Facilitate discussion of existing data and information gathered (i.e. public perception surveys, waste
characterization studies, etc.)
• Ensure broad participation of community members in the Trash Free Waters program
• Connect decision-makers with people impacted by marine litter
• Manage risks, especially if the program is controversial
Once identified, how should the Launch Team
communicate with the stakeholders?
Maintaining a stakeholder database is an important part
of stakeholder outreach. Many stakeholder groups create
WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, or utilize other social
media platforms and email lists to effectively communicate
with stakeholders.
HOSTING STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE(S)
Now that stakeholders have been identified, the Launch
Team can begin planning the logistics for hosting the
stakeholder dialogue(s). The planning includes identifying
a strong facilitator and a venue, drafting the agenda(s) and
examining any budgetary needs.
Key stakeholders can be given a time
slot during the dialogue to share some
of their work. For example, in Jamaica,
the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET)
ran a well-known public awareness
anti-litter campaign on the island
called "Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica".
Having stakeholders present on
successful efforts can serve as both
motivation for new projects and a
summary of existing work.
The Facilitator
A strong facilitator (or facilitators) will help the participants to identify or clarify its objective, bring
diverse perspectives towards consensus and expertly maintain momentum with participants while
strategically moving them toward their goals. The facilitator(s) should be a neutral, dynamic speaker
with a well-rounded understanding of the issues and the ability to deal with unforeseen challenges and
disagreements that may arise throughout the course of the dialogue.
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Agenda
The agenda(s) should be carefully crafted so that it meets the needs and objectives of the stakeholders
and the goals of the dialogue. The amount of time allotted for the dialogue can vary widely. As mentioned
above, the dialogue can take place at one time in a compressed format or can be a series of dialogues
over a longer period. This all depends on the availability and motivation of the stakeholders to come
together and this should be evaluated during initial contact with them. In order to maximize time and
have the best outcome of the dialogue, the agenda should include the following:
• Introduction to the Trash Free Waters program • Identifying and prioritizing solutions
• Overview of the issue * Measuring progress
• Presentation of the Situational Assessment * Proiect design and management
Challenges and opportunities
Sustaining the Trash Free Waters program
Venue
The physical location of the venue(s)
should be accessible to all participants
and should provide enough space for
small group sessions. In large cities
it can be at a hotel, ministry building
or anywhere there is conference room
space. Smaller communities might
consider use of a community center or
school ideally, it is best to have round
tables with 5-6 participants per table.
This helps facilitate better group
discussion throughout the dialogue.
Workshop participants meet at a community center in Peru for a
TFW stakeholder dialogue
Some participants may not be able to attend in person but are committed to the development and
implementation of a TFW program. While interaction in-person between all participants is ideal for robust
discussions, the Launch Team should ensure that the venue has technical capabilities, via teleconference
or web-conferencing system, to stream the dialogue to remote participants that are unable to participate
in-person.
Invitations
It is recommended that invitations include an agenda and the goals of the dialogue Invitations should be
sent out with ample time preceding the dialogue so that stakeholders and other participants can make
themselves available. You can find examples of invitations in the Appendix.
Funding - Examine Whether a Budget is Needed
Once there is an estimate of how much a dialogue might cost, identify what financial resources are
available for the dialogue and project implementation, even if it is just an estimate. Explore funding
sources, through grants, donations, or investors. Identifying and managing these sources is an important
part of the dialogue process. Puerto Rico's San Juan Bay National Estuary Program, for example, has
a description of their approach to Trash Free Waters program funding titled "Leveraging and Funding
SJBEP TFW Activities" which can be found in the Appendix.
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?
Summary of key actions for planning and hosting Stakeholder Dialogue(s):
1. Identify date, time, and venue for the Trash Free
Wafers stakeholder dialogue.
2. Write down a list of stakeholders to invite.
3. Identify a strong facilitator(s).
4. Define goals and objectives of the dialogue(s).
5. Craft an agenda to meet the goals and
objectives of the stakeholder dialogue(s).
6. Develop invitations and send out well in
advance to ail participants. Include an agenda
and copy of the Situational Assessment.
7. Gather materials for the dialogue. This can
include notecards, poster board, flipchart paper,
pens, ruled paper for notetaking, folders, etc.
8. Confirm attendance through RSVPs.
9. Host the dialogue(s)!
IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS
The main purpose of hosting a stakeholder dialogue(s) is to identify problems and prioritize relevant
projects to address those problems. It is important to have a good facilitator to help bring potentially
divergent stakeholder views together. This process will result in a consensus to identify the most
immediate issues and select projects that are informed by stakeholder input.
It is recommended that the facilitator divide the stakeholders into small groups with diverse representation
for better exchange of information and allocate enough time for discussion on this topic. Through small
group discussions, the stakeholders should aim to achieve the following objectives;
• identify the marine fitter and solid waste
management problems and gaps in the
community
• Identify and prioritize short, medium, and
long-term solutions to address those gaps
• Set up realistic, achievable, and measurable
projects for these solutions
• Identify leads/champions for each project
• Assign action items and tasks to participants
• Identify available resources for each project
• Develop concept notes for potential projects
• Schedule follow-up required after the dialogue
When discussing solutions, stakeholders should consider projects that improve effective and
environmentally sound solid waste management in any capacity. Otherwise, stakeholders may be
attracted to "quick wins" such as beach cleanups, while beneficial, only address the problem
superficially and fail to focus efforts on the origin of the problem.
It can be helpful for stakeholders to work in small groups to better identify problems and prioritize
potential projects. The small groups should identify a group leader and a note taker/rapporteur to write
down key talking points to message to the stakeholders. This information will be summarized by the
facilitator of the dialogue. Refer to EPA's Public Participation Guide11 on the World Cafe (www.epa.gov/
international-cooperation/public-participation-guide-world-cafes); a method for how to conduct a
dynamic and interactive small group discussion.
For example, The World Cafe method of
facilitation assists in gathering information in
a non-confrontational setting and allows for
underrepresented voices to be heard. The World
Cafe process poses distinct questions for small
group discussions that help reveal the strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to
addressing the marine litter problem.
NOTE TO FACILITATOR OR LAUNCH TEAM
This part of the dialogue can become a
session where frustrations are vented. The
facilitator should try to keep the venting to
a minimum and turn the conversation into
an opportunity to understand the obstacles
that they are encountering and ultimately to
identify ways to lower the barriers.
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TRANSLATING PROJECTS INTO SOLUTIONS
The solutions that have been identified will need to be conceptualized into realistic, achievable, and
measurable projects that reflect what was discussed during the dialogue. After participants have
identified problems and prioritized solutions, they should devote time to work in their small groups to
develop concept notes broadly, outlining potential projects for implementation. For example, in Trash
Free Waters Jamaica, the stakeholders identified three potential pilot projects for the Trash Free Waters
program. Each group identified a project that was low-cost, low-tech, and addressed the gaps
presented during the stakeholder dialogue.
The concept notes can be brief, such as a one-page document that illustrates the project goal, partners
involved, potential funding sources and leveraging, and brief description of implementation. There may
be several potential projects that arise during the dialogue, so it is important that the small groups form
a Stakeholder Coordinating Committee to help shepherd the process to the next stage of implementation.
Prioritizing Projects
The projects identified may describe work that varies in
scope, duration, cost and level of effort and cooperation that
are needed for successful implementation. Stakeholders
should be realistic and initially consider prioritizing projects
that may be easier to implement and/or take a short amount
of time to implement. For example, projects that are low-cost
can generally be implemented in 6-8 months and require
limited technology which makes them strong first projects.
Stakeholders should also discuss medium (1-2 years) and long-
term (2-5+ years) projects for consideration, but these may
require large funds and extensive partnership building to be
initiated and should be regarded as low-priority for immediate
action. Examples of medium and long-term projects may
be instituting waste collection routes in new neighborhoods,
securing resources such as waste collection trucks or the
development of a sanitary landfill. Over time, stakeholders can
build relationships and seek external resources for the support
they need to implement larger projects.
TFW in Jamaica: The Whitehouse
and Bluefields Solid Waste Reduction
Project set up a collection system for
waste that was then separated into
organic composting materials and
plastics. Organics were given to a
farmer from the community and plastics
were aggregated, collected and bailed
by Recycling Partners of Jamaica.
Sandals Foundation was a partner
that financed collection and recycling
in the surrounding communities of
Sandals Resorts. Ultimately, the goal
of the project was to set up finance
mechanisms so the communities can
make money from selling what
they collect.
The Stakeholder Coordinating Committee will manage all related project concept notes and the
prioritization of projects. This record-keeping is important to the sustainability of a TFW program,
because it enables stakeholders the ability to stay on track and continue to work towards stated
medium and long-term goals.
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©
Project Implementation and Further Actions
FORM A STAKEHOLDER COORDINATING COMMITTEE
In order to implement projects effectively and successfully, it is important to form a Stakeholder
Coordinating Committee to evaluate potential projects discussed during the dialogue and bring them
into the implementation stage.
What is a Stakeholder Coordinating Committee?
A Stakeholder Coordinating Committee is a smaller group of stakeholders that is responsible for guiding
implementation of the projects identified during the dialogue and maintaining coordination with all
stakeholders involved. The Coordinating Committee can act as a forum for routinely engaging the broader
stakeholders and project partners on an informal or formal basis to:
• Evaluate project concept notes submitted during or after the stakeholder dialogue for implementation
• Ensure projects that were identified during the stakeholder dialogue are implemented or have plans for
implementation
• Discuss short, medium, and long-term opportunities identified in the stakeholder dialogue
• Make time-sensitive decisions between face-to-face stakeholder meetings and engagements
• Act as a sounding board for the broader stakeholders and project partners involved as well as the
community as a whole
Within the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee, if is helpful to identify a Trash Free Waters Champion(s).
The Trash Free Waters Champion(s) is someone who will serve as the lead coordinator of the TFW
program and maintain the sustainability and coordination of the coordinating committee throughout the
lifetime of the initiative. Champions can be anyone, but they should have leadership qualities and be
committed to addressing marine litter in the community or at the national level. In Jamaica and Panama,
for example, experts in the national environment agencies served as Champions; a mayor or community
leader could also take on that role.
The Coordinating Committee should be given formal recognition through documentation to ensure that
all parties involved will maintain the relationship and elevate the visibility and importance of the group.
A Terms of Reference document can assist in formalizing the Committee and provide clarification and
documentation of the purpose, functions, composition, and operations of the committee. A sample
TFW Committee Terms of Reference document is provided in the Appendix. Many TFW Coordinating
Committees meet several times a year, depending on implementation needs.
s — • ¦*. j l . tt*
Glass bottles in the Condado lagoon, San Juan,
Puerto Rico
Approximately 80% of aquatic trash comes from
land-based sources
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Below are questions to consider in the formation of the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee and
defining its roles and responsibilities:
1. Who should be on the Committee?
2. What is the best structure for the Committee, given the needs of the region or community?
3. What are the roles of each participant within the Committee? Who and from what organization will take
the lead and make decisions? Participants should be committed and accountable to the committee.
4. What is the overall strategy of the Committee? At a minimum, the strategy should include:
a. Stakeholder dialogue
b. Potential funding sources
c. Project implementation and planning
d. Public awareness campaign
e. Creating a task force or an advisory committee (or other organized group) to lead
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
After the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee has been formed, it should turn its focus to project
implementation. The goal of aTFW program is to have tangible outcomes from the stakeholder dialogue.
Stakeholders want to see that problems are being addressed. The role of the Stakeholder Coordinating
Committee is to guide project implementation. Individual Committee members can also have on-the-
ground responsibilities for implementation.
In order to have successful implementation of the projects identified by the Coordinating Committee, it is
necessary to have a detailed project plan that includes a timeline, budget, roles and responsibilities and
contingencies in case there are unforeseen problems due to extenuating circumstances. Prior to the work
getting started, the Coordinating Committee should be working with the on-the-ground partners to lay out
the implementation plan and statement of work.
Drafting an Implementation Plan
The Implementation Plan outlines the activities and decisions needed to turn the strategic goals and
objectives of the project into reality and helps to ensure on-the-ground success. TFW brings together
multiple stakeholders from different sectors into partnerships that will execute on-the-ground projects.
This involves many different players, budgets, and roles and responsibilities. The implementation plan
will help map out these specifics into a document that can be referenced throughout the project.
Timeline
The Implementation Plan should have a clear timeline of events and activities needed for successful
implementation. The timeline should consider the entire process, from securing funds and writing
statements of work with project partners to final completion and evaluation of success. Typically, TFW
projects are low-cost, low-tech and can be implemented within a relatively short duration of time - a year
or less. Longer, more complex projects can require extensive planning and resources. The timeline should
also include key milestones for deliverables or events, depending on the project.
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined in the Implementation Plan. The individuals writing
the Implementation Plan may not be the people executing the work. Since TFW brings together multiple
stakeholders, it can be confusing when roles and responsibilities are not defined, particularly with the
roles of executing the work itself and overseeing the project implementation and budget. These are key
positions that need to be identified early on and will maintain success of the project.
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Budget
A TFW program does not always include available resources for project implementation. This is where it
is important that stakeholders come together and pool any resources they might have into an actionable
project that provides meaningful results for the community, city, or country. Projects do not always need
to have large budgets, and a small budget should not deter stakeholders from moving forward with a
project. Consider leveraging resources from other ongoing projects in the region to maximize efforts. The
budget for a TFW project should include labor cost, materials, travel, as well as potential overhead costs
to maintain project management.
Contingencies
A TFW project does not always go as smoothly as planned. Projects can be delayed, lose a key
stakeholder's interest or materials can be damaged or stolen. While this is rare, it is important to plan
for any contingencies that might happen. When delays occur, discuss options immediately with
stakeholders and alert local officials to any theft of materials. Contingencies may include considering
security measures or additional oversight in order to prevent any unintentional or accidental delays. It
is important to be flexible with the project, and if it doesn't work out as planned, consider moving on to
another project identified during the dialogue that may be easier to directly implement.
KEEP THE STAKEHOLDERS CONNECTED AND ENGAGED
It is critical that the stakeholders stay connected, engaged and continue the work started under the
stakeholder dialogue(s). The Stakeholder Coordinating Committee's role is to maintain engagement
with project partners and broader stakeholders. Since a TFW program is mostly voluntary, it can
become deprioritized due to competing priorities and responsibilities of Committee members and other
stakeholders. Maintaining momentum with stakeholders is possible by scheduling recurring meetings,
either as formalized, in person meetings, or as informal, brief check-ins. These can be organized and
facilitated by the Committee.
Staying in contact with a large group can be difficult. The Committee should consider creating a mobile
group messaging platform (e.g. WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, etc.) for ongoing check-ins with
implementing partners and stakeholders and any others who wish to stay involved and informed. The
Committee can use these check-ins to share information about next steps, problems, and updates to the
project with the stakeholders. In-person meetings are extremely valuable to maintain the interpersonal
relationships needed for sustainability of the program but can be challenging to schedule. Informal
check-ins can be enough to ensure engagement, but their utility and effectiveness depends on the
needs of your stakeholders and implementing partners.
In addition to weekly check-ins or in-person meetings, there are other ways to keep stakeholders
connected and engaged. For example, newsletters or email blasts can be used to highlight ongoing
activities, community gatherings, citizen science events, and other actions and activities. An example
of EPA's Trash Free Waters domestic program newsletter is included in the Appendix.
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Monitoring, Evaluating, and Sustaining a
Trash Free Waters Program and its Projects
After the diatogue(s) is completed, it is important to maintain the effectiveness of a TFW program
through project monitoring, evaluation and identification of opportunities for expansion. The Stakeholder
Coordinating Committee, as explained in Step 4, should include a monitoring and evaluation process
and measures for all projects identified by the stakeholders as part of their Implementation Plan.
It is important for the Committee to work on implementing as many identified projects as possible;
there should be a clear plan for prioritizing projects. Some projects may be able to be implemented
simultaneously. If simultaneous implementation is possible, creating subcommittees for each project will
establish accountability, sustain momentum, and provide for additional coordination between the projects.
MONITORING, EVALUATION AND RELATED MEASURES
Continuous monitoring and evaluation are critical to sustaining a robust, relevant and effective TFW
program to help identify weak points and ensure long-term success. For example, the Stakeholder
Dialogue should include a post-dialogue evaluation that identifies elements of the dialogue that are
effective, elements that need improvement, and provides an opportunity for stakeholder feedback. It is
imperative that the Stakeholder Dialogue be continuously evaluated to ensure that their input is informing
both program and project implementation. An example of a Stakeholder Dialogue evaluation form is
provided in the Appendix.
At the project level, stages of implementation should be closely monitored and evaluated. In some
instances, communities implementing their project may experience unexpected challenges and/or
unplanned successes. For example, what initially is identified during the stakeholder dialogue as a
straightforward solution may not be easily implemented due to unforeseen circumstances. Monitoring
and evaluation are tools to help implementers replicate components that met project goals, while
rethinking less successful project components.
Each TFW project will have
different measures, depending
on the goal of the project.
Typically, a TFW project's
primary goal will aim to reduce
the amount of marine litter
in the environment over a
specific time period. Below
are project examples to help
illustrate goals, corresponding
measures and monitoring and
evaluation activities that may
be carried out before, during
and after a project.
Photo from NOAA's Marine Debris Program
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EXAMPLE 1 | PROJECT: Raising public awareness about beach litter
GOAL: Increase awareness about the impacts of littering by beach visitors
POTENTIAL MEASURE(S):
1. Count the number of awareness campaigns conducted over a time period,
2. Conduct an initial survey of visitors to gauge their awareness of the problem. At the conclusion of
the awareness campaign, conduct a follow-up survey to determine if more beach visitors are aware
of the problem.
3. Conduct a beach cleanup before implementing the awareness campaign to identify types and
measure the amount of waste collected. Compare those data points to those from a beach cleanup
conducted at the conclusion of the awareness campaign to determine if there is a change in the
amount and types of waste collected.
POTENTIAL MONITORING/EVALUATION ACTIVITY:
After the initial beach cleanup, periodically monitor on a set schedule (chose a day of the week and
time) to assess and record the amount and type of waste found in a small area of the beach. Use these
data points to focus messaging, location and audience of the ongoing awareness campaign.
EXAMPLE 2 j PROJECT: Improve waste collection in a targeted community
GOAL: Increase the amount of waste collected with a focus on high-value recyclable materials.
POTENTIAL MEASURE(S):
1. Conduct a waste analysis or waste characterization of waste generated in targeted community.
Information on waste characterization methodologies can be found at www.epa.gov/sites/
production/files/2015-Q9/documents/06numbers.pdf. Implement the increased and/or improved
waste collection in the targeted area informed by the waste analysis.
2. Track the amount of waste collected and/or recycled under the new collection regime. These data
will quantify the amount of managed waste and/or diverted from entering waterways.
POTENTIAL MONITORING/EVALUATION ACTIVITIES:
The results of the waste analysis or characterization will yield specific information about different waste
streams and their percentage compared to the total waste stream. For example, if the initial analysis
shows organics are a significant portion of the waste stream, then a focus should be to increase
organics recycling. After an organics recycling program is put into place, conduct periodic waste
analyses to determine whether the percentage of organics is decreasing or diverted in the general
waste stream. This information will help identify areas of the project that require adjustments to increase
organics recycling.
EXAMPLE 3 | PROJECT: Litter capture system or boom installed in a highly polluted waterway
GOAL: Decrease the amount of waste in the waterway downstream of installed litter capture system or boom
POTENTIAL MEASURE:
1. After initial installation, quantify the amount of waste and types of waste collected in the litter capture
system (e.g. litter boom) over a set time period. This can be accomplished several times during the
period in which the capture system is installed. These data will quantify the amount of waste flowing
downstream in the waterway.
POTENTIAL MONITORING/EVALUATION ACTIVITIES:
Continuous monitoring and evaluation of a boom or litter capture system is critical to ensure that the
installation is properly working and secured. This monitoring will also yield information that supports hot
spot identification (locations where waste accumulates faster as compared to other locations) and any
seasonal fluctuations in the waste types and quantities. These data points will ensure the boom is fully
operational with regards to its placement and the captured waste is periodically removed.
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Establishing realistic project goals with corresponding measures are key to demonstrating a TFW project's
effectiveness. Continuous monitoring and evaluation of project goals and established measures allows
project implementers to quantify the impact of the project's activities and determine if the activities are
meeting the set goal. If improvements or changes are required to meet the goal, they can be informed by
these data sets rather than relying on a trial and error implementation scenario. Measuring and evaluating
a projects' effectiveness allows for replication of successful elements in the implementation of future
projects while avoiding past implementation mistakes.
The success of a TFW program relies on creating an accountability structure which can be accomplished
through the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee with partners on the ground, such as local governments,
NGOs, or community groups. This Committee should have an implementation plan that includes
goals, measures and an on-going monitoring/evaluation process for the projects. Successful project
implementation should be guided by interim lessons learned from monitoring and evaluation.
Photos from NOAA's Marine Debris Program
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CONCLUSION AND SHARING TRASH FREE
WATERS SUCCESSES
The TFW International Guide is a tool designed for representatives from all levels of government, non-
governmental organizations, and community leaders. The goal of the Guide is to provide the user with
the tools and direction necessary to organize, implement and sustain a TFW program in a community
or country. TFW is a good mechanism to include stakeholders in decision-making and helps build
partnerships among stakeholders creating lasting relationships and fostering sustainable solutions to
solid waste management and marine litter issues. Ultimately, the success of a Trash Free Waters program
is contingent on community approval and passionate leaders that will ensure the project continues after
the initial dialogue.
TFW program successes should be shared with others. Sharing successes can happen with other
communities in the same watershed facing similar challenges, or with regional and global organizations
that are finding innovative ways to address marine iitter. Sharing successes can help connect local
stakeholders with national, regional or global level expertise as well as providing motivation to project
implementers. The Committee should consider developing case studies of particularly innovative
solutions to help share these successes more easily and broadly. Case studies serve as concise, easy-to-
share demonstrations for external partners to show a community's challenge with marine litter, explain why
a certain project was identified to address that challenge, and describe what contributed to the success
of the project. An example of a case study from a marine litter reduction project by the Commission
for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) can be viewed at http://www3.cec.Org/islandora/en/item/11836-
building-community-solutions-marine-litter-in-north-america-salish-sea-en.pdf.
Global and regional organizations can play a vital role in supporting TFW program in individual countries
or local communities, and organizers of a TFW program should use them as resources. For example,
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEPf6 played a key role in implementing TFW Panama
and TFW Jamaica (see fact sheet in Appendix). UNEP's permanent presence in the Latin America and
Caribbean region allows it to connect to TFW projects with similar goals throughout the region and
elsewhere. There are also other organizations in the NGO community and private sector that have similar
interest to help solve the marine litter problem, including as Ocean Conservancy1'3, Circulate Capital14;,
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation18,, and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste1® These organizations are
seeking innovative solutions to the marine litter problem, especially solutions that can be replicated and
scaled up. Therefore, it is beneficial to think more about broader impacts and solutions as the local TFW
program progresses.
in closing, reduction of land-based sources of solid waste can effectively address the marine litter
problem. Effective and environmentally sound solid waste management is key and should be emphasized
in any TFW program. Otherwise, countries may be attracted to quick wins such as beach cleanups, while
beneficial, only address the problem superficially and fail to focus efforts on the origin of the problem. A
key factor in the success of a TFW program is the involvement of stakeholders and community leaders in
the decision-making process. Strong alliances between the relevant government ministries, NGOs, and
private sector fosters sustained cooperation and action needed to comprehensively address marine litter.
When stakeholders are committed, communities can achieve their goals to address marine litter.
A pristine waterway in Central America
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 22
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REFERENCES
1. U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Debris Program.
marinedebris.noaa.gov
2. Jambeck, Jenna et al. 2015. Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science. Volume 347,
Issue 6223. pp. 768-771.
3. Ocean Conservancy, Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic-free ocean (2015).
oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/full-report-stemming-the.pdf
4. Schmidt, C et al. 2017. Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea. Environment, Science, and
Technology. Volume 51, Issue 21. pp. 12246-12253.
5. World Bank, "What a Waste 2.0" (2018) openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317
6. Hutton, G et al. 2007. Global cost-benefit analysis of water supply and sanitation interventions.
Water & Health. Volume 5, Issue 4. pp. 481-502.
7. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. 2020. Update of 2009 APEC report on economic costs of marine
debris to APEC economies. apec.org/Publications/2020/03/Update-of-2009-APEC-Report-on-Econom-
ic-Costs-of-Marine-Debris-to-APEC-Economies
8. Ocean Conservancy, The next wave investment strategies for plastic free seas (2017)
oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/the-next-wave-1 .pdf
9. Wilson, et al. 2015. Waste management - still a global challenge in the 21 st century: an
evidence-based call for action. Waste Management & Research. Volume 33, Issue 12. pp. 1049-1051
10. Afon, Abel. 2012. A survey of operational characteristics, socioeconomic and health effects of scav-
enging activity in Lagos, Nigeria. Waste Management & Research. Volume 3, Issue 7. pp. 664-671.
11. U.S. EPA, Public Participation Guide, epa.gov/international-cooperation/public-participation-guide
12. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Seas, www.unenvironment.org/explore-top-
ics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/marine-litter
13. Ocean Conservancy. Trash Free Seas oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas
14. Circulate Capital, circulatecapital.com
15. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Virtual Working Group on Marine Debris.
apec.org/marinedebris/About-Us
16. Alliance to End Plastic Waste, endplasticwaste.org
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APPENDIX
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OUTLINE OF A SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
I. Introduction
a. Background
b. Purpose and Scope
c. Background to the Country/Local Area
i. Geography
ii. Demographics
II. State of Marine Litter in national/sub-national context
a. Sources of Litter
i. Land-based Sources
ii. Sea-based sources
b. Types of Marine Litter found
i. Plastics
ii. Single-use Items
iii. Other
c. Areas of Litter Accumulation
d. Pathways of litter from source to sea zones
III. Waste Data and Information
a. Waste data
i. Amount and type of waste (if applicable):
1. Generated
2. Recycled
3. Composted
4. Combustion with Energy Recovery
5. Landfilling
6. Dumping
b. Litter Surveys and Trends
i. Government statistics
ii. Citizen Science data
iii. Academia
IV. Current efforts to prevent marine litter: Land and Sea-based Sources
a. National level/Sub-national level
i. Regulatory actions
1. Inter-ministerial committees, inter-governmental and private sector partnerships
2. Policy instruments specific to waste prevention and management and marine litter specifically
3. Laws and regulations specifically for solid waste management
ii. Voluntary/non-regulatory actions (education and awareness, non-regulatory interventions, etc.)
1. Monitoring standards and programs
2. Reporting and compliance, including standards (if applicable)
3. Funds committed
4. Economic incentives and other stakeholder engagement programs
iii. Capacity building
1. Awareness programs focusing on:
a. Impact knowledge
b. Desired behavior change
c. Regulatory frameworks (e.g. deposit return schemes)
2. Sectoral guidelines (food and beverage sector guidelines, tourism sector, etc.)
3. Workshops and conferences
V. Conclusions
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TRASH FREE WATERS JAMAICA QUESTIONNAIRE
PROFILE QUESTION
Gender: ~ Male ~ Female
Age Ranges: ~ 18-35 ~ 36-55 ~ 56 and over
Number of Persons in your household:
KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS
What is Solid Waste/Garbage?
Yes
No
Food you throw away
Old Tires
Used Plastic Bottles
Old Clothes
Used Packaging and Containers (Paper,
Plastic Bags, Cardboard, Styrofoam)
Tree branches and grass clippings
Old Furniture and Appliances
Old Cell Phones and Electronics
Sewage
Do you think poor disposal of
garbage causes?
Yes
No
Flooding
Rats
Mosquitoes
Disease ( Dengue, Chick V)
Water Pollution
Air Pollution
Can solid waste/garbage be reused? ~ Yes ~ No
If yes, can you give one example?
Do you know what day your garbage is collected? ~ Yes ~ No
How often is your garbage collected? ~ Daily ~ Weekly ~ Twice weekly ~ Other ~ Don't know
ATTITUDES
Which of the following do you believe has a role in the management of solid waste in your community?
~ You ~ NSWMA ~ Your Counsellor/Parish Council ~ Your MP ~ The Government/Ministry
~ Other
How should persons respond when garbage is not collected? ~ Do nothing ~ Protest
~ Take it to a large bin, skip or dump site ~ Call NSWMA ~ Call MP/Councillor
~ Other:
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TRASH FREE WATERS JAMAICA QUESTIONNAIRE
(Continued)
Do you agree or disagree with the following?
Agree
Disagree
1 am only responsible for managing garbage in my own home
All of us should play our part in keeping our community clean
Getting involved in Solid waste management can help generate
employment for persons in our community
People throw garbage on the streets and in the drains and gullies because
they have no other means of getting rid of (disposing of) their garbage.
Public education about proper garbage management is one way to fix the
garbage crisis.
What would encourage you to improve your solid waste management practices?
• If we received more assistance from Government?
• If we got jobs, incentives, monies
• If the collection service was better
• If we knew more about reuse and recycling
• Other:
PRACTICES
How do you dispose of your garbage? ~ Burn it ~ Bury it ~ Dump it ~ Put it out to be collected
~ Other:
Where do you store your garbage before collection?
~ In your home ~ In your yard ~ on your street ~ Other:
How do you dispose of items that are not collected by local waste management authorities,
for e.g. furniture and large appliances?
Do you reuse any of your solid waste?
If yes, can you describe what you do?
Have you ever dumped garbage on the road or in a gully?
If yes, why have you?
If not, why not?
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EstiiariojX
Or Lt Baliia Sau Juan
Proyecto Aguas Libre de Basura /
Materiales encontrados
Trash Free Wafers Project
I Materials found
Articulos 1 Items
Cantidad 1 Quantity
Total
Articulos / Items
Cantidad / Quantity
Total
Plastico 1 Plastic
Aluminio 1 Muminium
Anillos de plastico / 6-packs plastic rings
Latas de aerosol / Aerosol cans
Articulos de higiene personal / Personal tiygiene products
Latas de bebidas o sodas 1 Beverage cans
Bolsas o sacos plasticos / Plastic bags
Materiales de construccion / Construction materials
Botellas de bebidas / Beverages bottles
Pedazos y otros / Pieces and others:
Botellas plasticas de otro uso / Ottier plastic bottles
Goma (caucho) 1 Rubber
Boyas / Buoys
Chancletas o sandalias / Flip flops
Colillas de cigarrillo / Cigarette butts
Gomas, neumaticos o llantas / Tires
Encendedores / Lighters
Guantes / Gloves
Envoltorios de comida / Food packagings
Pedazos y otros / Pieces and others:
Fiotadores / Floatation devices
Tela 1 Fabric
Guantes / Gloves
Cuerdas, sogas (no plastico) / Ropes (non plastic)
Juguetes 1 Toys
Guantes / Gloves
Materiales de pesca / Fishing materials
Ropa o zapatos 1 Clothing or shoes
Envaces o contenedores de poliestireno / Foam containers
Toailas / Towels
Sogas o cuerdas (plasticas) / Plastic ropes
Otros / Others:
Sorbetos / Drinking straws
Otras categorias 1 Other categories
Tapas / Caps
Colchones 1 Mattresses
Utensilios (cucharas, tenedores, etc.) / Cutlery
ivtaitji ue iajj isu uCUOTI
I ramontn/hlnni 10/aromV
Vasos / Cups
Construction materials (cement/blocks/iron
Pedazos v otros / Pieces and others:
Electrodomesticos / Home appliances
Papel, carton 1 Paper, cardboard
Partes de vehtculos de motor / Motor vehicle parts
Bolsas o sacos / Bags
Otros / Others:
Carton / Cardboard
Microplasticos y pedazos /
Hojas / Sheets
Microplastics and pieces
Servilletas / Napkins
Microplasticos / Microplastics >5mm*
Pedazos y otros / Pieces and ohers:
Pedazos / Pieces 6mm a 30mm
Vidrio 1 Glass
|i|i|i|i|i|i|i|i|i
|l
Botellas de bebida / Beverage bottles
nch
Frascos o tarros / Jars
'Microplasticos segun definido por Ocean Conservancy
Mlcroplat'lc
mm
Pedazos y otros / Pieces and others:
*Microplastics as defined by Ocean Conservancy
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PROCRAMA DEL # ^
LStuario^X
de la Bahia de San Juan
SAN JUAN BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM TRASH FREE
WATERS PROJECT: TRASH CHARACTERIZATION
TEMPLATE
El Programa del Estuario de la Bahia de San Juan busca caracterizar los materiales encontrados
en las limpiezas terrestres y subacuaticas con el fin de obtener informacion sobre el origen de la
contaminacion.
Actividad y lugar:
Fecha: Hora de comienzo:
Hora de finalizada:
Nombre de anotador:
Correo electronico:
Organizacion/grupo:
Tipo de limpieza: ~ Terrestre ~ Acuatica
~ Monitoreo de alcantarillado
Descripcion del area
Municipio: Coordenadas:
Area de muestreo: ~ Laguna ~ Quebrada ~ Aljibe ~ Playa ~ Rio ~ Urbano
Condicion del tiempo: ~ Soleado ~ Lluvioso ~ Nublado
Distancia limpiada: (Metros/Millas)
Epoca del ano:
Resumen de la limpieza
Cantidad de voluntarios
Cantidad de bolsas de basura:
Total de libras de basura:
Observaciones:
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 29
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SEPA
Agancv
National Environment
and Planning Agency
Peace Corps
TRASH FREE WATERS JAMAICA AGENDA
February 14-16, 2017 • Kingston, Jamaica
Location: Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Workshop Objective: Harmonize and enhance ongoing efforts in Jamaica to prevent and reduce marine
litter through improved solid waste management, and to develop an integrated strategy for stakeholder
engagement that reflects priority issues and approaches, and identifies low-cost demonstration projects
for funding that have high potential for showing a positive impact in communities.
AGENDA
Facilitator: Shereen Kandii, US Environmental Protection Agency
DAY 1
8:30 - 9:00 am Arrival and Registration
9:00 - 9:30 am Welcome and Introductions
NEPA - Peter Knight, CEO
UN Environment Caribbean Environment Program - Chris Corbin, Programme Manager
Peace Corps - Paul Sully, Peace Corps Country Director
9:30 - 10:00 am Expectations for the Workshop and Ground Rules
Facilitator: Shereen Kandii
The purpose of and expectations for the workshop and national and global policy efforts on marine litter,
US EPA, UN Environment and PC partnership on Trash Free Waters. Short introductions of participants.
End introductions with video(s).
10:00 - 10:45 am The Trash Free Waters Story
Speaker: Stephanie Adrian, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
What is Trash Free Waters and how does it work? Highlight examples of successes and challenges
faced by projects in the US and Jamaica and some current efforts to reduce and prevent marine litter e.g
Nuh Dutty Up campaign, videos of local projects, Peace Corps community-based solid waste projects.
10:45 - 11:00 am Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:30 pm Jamaica's Story
Facilitator: Shereen Kandii
Brief presentations of existing programs and policies in Jamaica working on marine litter prevention and
reduction. Use matrix developed from information sent by stakeholders in advance. A template will be
provided to participants in advance of the meeting to allow them to share examples of ongoing efforts
that organizers can use to highlight during this session. The list does not need to be exhaustive but
rather highlight where organizations are putting their resources. This will assist with a later exercise.
12:30-2:00 pm Lunch
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 30
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TRASH FREE WATERS JAMAICA AGENDA (continued)
Facilitator: Shereen Kandil
This session will draw out of stakeholders some of the key problems that exist in Jamaica regarding
marine litter prevention and the challenges they experience that is preventing them from making as much
progress as they would like. Stakeholders will identify challenges and gaps in solid waste management
that prevent them from advancing. The groups will try to discuss what obstacles are surmountable by
working together versus the ones that require larger financial investments or political involvement.
Groups will report out after the World Cafe.
4:30 - 5:00 pm Wrap Up and Expectations of Day 2
Facilitator: Shereen Kandil
DAY 2
9:00 - 9:30 am Recap of Day 1: Setting the stage for identifying collaborative efforts under TFW
Facilitator: Shereen Kandil
9:30-10:00 am UN Environment Plastics Initiative in Jamaica
Speaker: Vincent Sweeny
UN Environment's plan for the Plastics Initiative in Jamaica and how Trash Free Waters can complement
that effort.
10:00 - 10:30 am Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:30 pm Ideas for Reducing and Preventing Marine Litter from Around the World
Speaker: Andrew Horan
Presentation on projects, innovative solutions, applications, technology, and community-based efforts
from around the world that are examples of low-cost, low-tech efforts for reducing and preventing
land-based sources of trash.
12:30-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00 - 5:00 pm Breakout: Designing projects and Prioritizing for Funding
[Working Coffee Break included]
Speaker: Chris Corbin/Stephanie Adrian
2:30 - 4:30 pm World Cafe [Technique to generate discussion on ongoing efforts,
challenges and potential opportunities]
DAY 3
9:00 - 11:00 am Presentation of final project designs and prioritization
[working coffee break included]
Facilitator: Shereen Kandil
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 31
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>
XI
XI
m
z
D
X
TRASH FREE WATERS JAMAICA AGENDA (continued)
11:00 am - 12:00 pm Measuring Progress
Speaker: Anthony Mackenzie
Identify goals/targets and how to measure. Discuss baseline data. Opportunity to discuss longer term
strategy forTFW that could inform a broader marine litter coordinating committee. Roles and responsibilities
of all stakeholders. Our 5-year Vision.
12:00 - 12:30 pm Raising the visibility of Marine Litter in the Region through the Cartagena
Convention and Land Based Sources Protocol - establishing Jamaica as
a leader in the Region and Champion of TFW
Speaker: Chris Corbin
12:30-1:00 pm Wrap up and Next Steps
Facilitator: Shereen Kandii
1:00-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00 - 4:30 pm Field visit to a recycling facility
4:30 pm Adjournment
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 32
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TRASH FREE WATERS INVITATION
United Nations Environment Programme
UNEP
SI j-h* • W^HSF««eS)*
PROGRAMME OES NATIONS UNIES POUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT • PROGRAMA OE IAS NACIONES JMIClAS PARA El MEDIO AMBIENTE
nPOTPAMMA OP"At H3AUM H OB^bEflM HEHHblX HAUHti OO OKPSOKAtOlUEei OPEflE
Programs Ambiental del Caribe
Unidad de Coordinacion Regional
Caribbean Environment Programme
Regional Co-ordinating Unit
Programme pour I'Environnement des
Caraibes/ Unite de Coordination Regionale
14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica • Tel: (876) 922-9267 to 9 • Fax: (876) 922-9292
E-mail: rcu@cep.unep.org • Web: http://www.cep.unep.org/
Ref. CJC//dhh 15 July 2016
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the United Nations Environment Program Caribbean Regional Coordinating
Unit (CAR/RCU) and the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, Peace Corps and the US
Environmental Protection Agency, we would like to thank you all for meeting with us to introduce
the new Trash Free Waters Initiative and to share with us your efforts to address solid waste
and marine litter in Jamaica. As you know, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnold
Nicholson, gave his commitment to Trash Free Waters at the Our Ocean Conference in Chile in
2015. We know there are many efforts already underway to address this issue and we welcome
your participation and enthusiasm in joining this initiative and we hope it can serve a useful
purpose in helping coordinate and strengthen stakeholder efforts while bringing additional
resources to the table.
During our meetings in June, we listened to many stakeholders involved in addressing
marine litter through improving solid waste management, and conservation and outreach, and
learned a great deal about your experiences in Jamaica. We appreciated learning about
ongoing and proposed activities, as well as challenges and opportunities that exist.
We propose to officially launch Trash Free Waters on Thursday, August 18, during a
kick-off ceremony that will publically confirm Jamaica's commitment to this joint effort. High level
officials from NEPA, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Ministry of
Economic Growth and Job Creation, and all of your respective organizations will be invited to
lend their support to Trash Free Waters Jamaica and help in introducing it to the public as an
initiative that will help reduce and prevent marine litter in Jamaica. It will also help profile
ongoing and new commitments the Government of Jamaica is taking to address this issue.
In advance of the launch of Trash Free Waters Jamaica, we would like to suggest
announcing the formation of a Trash Free Waters Steering Committee that would drive the
efforts under this initiative. Initially, we would propose that two national agencies/organizations
co-chair this committee based on existing mandate and related activities. If your organization is
interested in serving in this role, please let us know.
©UNEA
[ X
Delivering on the 2O30 AgenSs
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 33
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TRASH FREE WATERS INVITATION (continued)
Following the official launch this August, our Partnership will host a public participation
workshop on marine litter involving key stakeholders from government and non-government
sectors, including your organizations. The workshop will help prioritize needs and identify pilot
projects that will address marine litter in Jamaica at the local community level.
We look forward to launching Trash Free Waters Jamaica and helping you to achieve
the marine litter goals that keep Jamaica beautiful.
2
Sincerely,
AMEP Programme Officer
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 34
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
An Overview of the San Juan Bay National Estuary Program's
Trash Free Waters Activities
Background
The San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) is located on the north end of
Puerto Rico (PR) and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, PR Is a
Caribbean island under US jurisdiction. The SJBE was
designated an estuary of national importance in 1993 and is
one of 28 estuaries in the US comprising the Environmental
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
• Initial funding- $35k
• Leveraged funding - $54Sk plus
• Partners- Federal, local governments,
private corporations, PRRP, NGOs &
volunteers
• Key activities- stormwater pilot project,
cigarette butt and plastic bag litter
prevention, microplastics citizen science
pilot project, public outreach and
education (video, exhibition, guides),
media and public campaigns, cleanups
Protection Agency's (EPA)
National Estuary Program
(NEP). The SJBE has the
distinction of being NEP's
sole estuary located
outside the continental
US and is also the only
tropical estuary. An
estuary is a body of water
where the river meets the
The SJBE watershed
includes eight
municipalities within the
San Juan metropolitan
area. Per the 2010 US Census, this watershed is home to 2.48 million people; more than half of
Puerto Rico's population of reside mainly in the San Juan Metropolitan area. In October 2000,
the Governor of PR and EPA Administrator Carol Browner approved the Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)forthe SJBE. The CCMP contains actions to
address water quality and living resource challenges and priorities of a given NEP. Each NEP
develops and implements a long-term CCMP based on local priorities to guide the NEP efforts.
Every year the San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) receives EPA funding from the Clean
Water Act Section 320 to implement activities that align with the CCMP.
During summer 2014, the SJBEP integrated EPA's Trash Free Water {TFW) initiative into their
overall implementation activities to prevent and reduce the amount of trash and litter entering
watersheds and the marine environment. On September 9, 2014, the SJBEP coordinated a
multi-sectorial meeting with participation from EPA, the United Nations Environment Program-
North America (UNEP), the PR Recycling Partnership, as well as the private sector through the
PR Chamber of Commerce, PR government agencies, and other interested non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to assess the aquatic trash problem in the area (including priority needs
and barriers), and actions to tackle this problem. As a result of this stakeholder meeting, the
SJBEP took the lead to draft the TFW PR Strategy and Projects, a document that was finalized in
August 2016
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 35
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
(Continued)
December 2014 and identified actions and projects that could prevent or even eliminate the
volume of aquatic trash and litter entering the watershed and the marine environment.
In January 2015, the SJBEP began implementation of the TFW through projects undertaken
throughout the watershed.! The SJBEP Executive Director, Dr. Javier E. Laureano, is also co-chair
the PR Recycling Partnership's (PRRP) Trash Free Waters Committee.
SJBEP TFW Activities
In October 2014, the SJBEP hired a
TFW coordinator to recruit
volunteers, plan, organize, and
implement TFW-related activities.
From that point, SJBEP has
championed some projects identified
in the TFW PR Strategy, as well as
developed and implemented
additional key projects to support
TFW activities:
• public service campaign in the
mass media,
• educational posters for
schools and businesses,
• stormwater pollution prevention pilot project in the Condado Lagoon,
• TFW educational exhibit and video,
• workshops and multi-sectorial meetings,
• cigarette butt and plastic bag litter prevention project in Old San Juan city,
• a citizen guide to improve the water quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary,
• creation of an arts and design center to reuse materials,
• coastal and watershed-based cleanups and inventories, and
• study and strategy to decrease microplastics in the watershed.
Corporate partners have been an
important part in the
implementation of the SJBEP TFW
activities. Banana Boat,
MillerCoors, Walmart, and Dasani
have all partnered and funded
targeted cleanups within the SJBE
watershed. Not only do these
cleanups provide stakeholders and
volunteers with an experience that
galvanizes the need for the TFW
August 2016
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 36
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
(Continued)
initiative in the SJBE watershed, it also allows for the data collection of the trash and litter
picked up and disposed of.
On April 29, 2015, the SJBEP partnered with the San Juan International Airport to launch a
recycling program with a goal to recover 500 tons of recyclable material of the 1,500 tons of
total waste produced each month. The SJBEP also coordinated with the airport to develop and
display an educational exhibit showcasing the TFW message at various locations throughout the
airport.
Leveraging and Funding SJBEP TFW Activities
During the first year that SJBEP initiated and implemented TFW activities a $35,000 budget was
provided entirely by EPA's CWA Section 320 program. Of this, 70% of the budget supported the
newly appointed TFW coordinator's salary. In addition to the TFW coordinator, the SJBEP hired
and funded the stipend for an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in FY 16. This additional hire will
allow for continued TFW coordination in conjunction with the SJBEP staff, partners, and
volunteers.
An additional funding and leverage opportunity was provided by the Corporation for the
National Community Services (CNCS) to support additional AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers.
Because the majority of the SJBE watershed is considered an environmental justice community,
the SJBEP is eligible to participate in the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Under this program, each
AmeriCorps volunteer receives a stipend of $15,000 per year. CNCS has provided the funds to
cover the stipends for ten AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers to work on TFW-related activities since
2014.
- Partners
The SJBEP has also successfully partnered with several organizations and government agencies
to leverage the TFW Initiative budget.
Government Partners
Corporation for the National Community Services
Martin Pefia Enlace Project (community-based)
NCAA Marine Debris Program
PR Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
PR Environmental Quality Board
San Juan Autonomous Municipality
Sea Grant
The Cantera Peninsula Integral Development Company
(community-based)
UNEP Regional Office for North America (RONA)
University of Puerto Rico
Private and NGO Partners
Banana Boat-Energizer
Crowley Maritime Corporation
Dasani
El Nuevo Dia Newspaper
6FR Media
MillerCoors
PR Contemporary Art Museum
PR Recycling Partnership's TFW Committee
Scuba Dogs Society (International Coastal Cleanup)
SJBEP volunteers
Vieques History and Conservation Trust
Walmart
Vaguazo Corridor (wetland community-based NGO)
August 2016
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 37
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
(Continued)
Cleanups
All cleanups included educational talks that explained the SJBEPTFW initiative and the
importance of preventing trash and litter from reaching our waterbodies. As a result of these
cleanups, a total of 20,839 items, with an additional 23,001 cigarette butts, were collected and
SJBEP TFW Progress
Since October 2014, when the first TFW coordinator joined SJBEP, the estuary program was
able to complete a total of 63 TFW activities as part of their workplan, including:
• 18 cleanups (2 underwater and 16 land-based at 8 different sites with a total of 516
volunteers)
• 30 talks,
• 8 workshops,
• IS solid waste stormwater
monitoring activities,
• one survey,
• cleanups,
• recycling program,
• plastic bag ban outreach
• educational materials,
• media campaign, and
• one marine litter educational
exhibition.
August 2016
Of particular note is the Banana Boat donation of $5,000 and the coordinated media tour they
executed during the month of April 2015 to raise public awareness concerning the SJBEPTFW
activities. As a result of Banana Boat's collaboration, the SJBEP was given coverage in
newspapers, radio, and TV, in addition to a special, in-depth, full-color, four page article in the
main island
newspaper, El Nuevo
Dia (an estimated
value of $40,000 in
free press for the
article). MillerCoors
joined the SJBEP TFW
efforts with a
donation of $5,000
and coordinated a
cleanup, monitoring,
and a red mangrove-
planting event in La
Esperanza Peninsula
in the San Juan Bay.
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 38
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
(Continued)
properly disposed of; nearly 2 tons of the waste collected will not become marine litter in the
SJBE.
Workshops
The eight workshops were led by 10 trained SJBEP TFW spokespersons that completed 30 talks
during the year. These talks were presented to school children in the Condado Lagoon area and
various summer camps.
Educational Exhibition- The SJBEP TFW initiative developed a marine litter educational
exhibition that included displays trash collected during underwater cleanups. These illustrative
displays were first presented to the public during the World Environment Day activity held at
the Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan. The exhibition consisted of multiple 4' x 2' acrylic display
boxes that showcased various
examples of trash collected from
the marine environment. The
exhibition received a lot of media
coverage, and over 500 children
and adults visited the installation
during the first 4 hours. The
SJBEP TFW exhibition has been
displayed at other locations
within the SJBE watershed. The
main objective of these displays
is to present the real perspective
of marine litter and its
consequences in the ecosystems.
Another achievement of the SJBEP TFW initiative was the launch of the San Juan Municipality
recycling program in Old San Juan. The municipality invested $250,000 in the project with an
overall goal to recover and recycle nearly 60% of the estimated 28,000 lbs of waste generated
in the city per day.
SJBEP TFW Media Campaign
Since 2014 the SJBEP has maintained a
media presence with features in TV
interviews, radio programs, and the
print media. In addition, the SJBEP
has developed a series TFW of public
service announcements. Over
$100,000 in free ads placement have
appeared in the island's main
newspapers.
^ M 4) 015/923
Proyecto Aguas Libres de Basura
Imptementando soluciones
Trash Free Waters Project
Implementing solutions
Kshiario1/z
The AmeriCorps VISTA program has
also provided critical communication support to the TFW activities through photo
August 2016
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 39
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LEVERAGING AND FUNDING SJBEPTFW ACTIVITIES
(Continued)
documentation and SJBEP's TFW video that have been used and/or published in SJBEP
publications, the Web, YouTube and social media. The AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers (VISTAs)
also have been involved in the graphic design of guides, documents, educational videos and
posters, flyers, and other outreach materials needed to support the SJBEP's TFW activities.
Additionally, several of the SJBEPTFW activities have been highlighted in the SJBEP director's
blog.
Educational Materials
Currently, the SJBEP is in the process of creating an interactive map using data gathered by
VISTAs and SJBEP volunteers during clean up events to identify sites where the most cigarettes
butts have been collected. They also
are preparing other maps within the
SJBE watershed to identify trash
hotspots. These maps are used as
educational materials during events
such as field trips with students and
meetings with citizens. The maps will
be completed by the end of fiscal year
16.
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Plastic Bag Ban Outreach
On October 31, 2015, the Governor of
~ . """¦ Puerto Rico signed an Executive Order
to ban plastic bags. The legislature then passed a bill that the Governor signed into law (247-
2015) on December 29, 2015. The ban took effect in mid-2016 and was preceded by a six-
month educational campaign. To that effect the Municipality of San Juan began the process of
the implementation of the law by reaching out to different organizations. The SJBEP provides
education and outreach regarding the implementation of the law to businesses and general
public in Old San Juan and other adjacent areas.
August 2016
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 40
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TRASH FREE WATERS COMMITTEE TERMS
OF REFERENCE
1. Purpose
Marine litter is a major issue in Jamaica, and is seen accumulated on the island's beaches, coastline, and
marine ecosystems. While a wide range of materials constitute marine litter, the majority is in the form of
plastics, which persists in the marine environment for hundreds of years. Over time, due to prolonged sun
exposure and other physical and chemical reactions, plastics deteriorate into numerous tiny fragments,
which can easily enter the food web, thus posing threats to marine life, coral reefs, coastal ecosystems,
and human health.
The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC)
and National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), and in collaboration with the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO), the UNEP Caribbean Regional
Coordinating Unit (CAR/RCU), the United States (US) Peace Corps and US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is leading a partnership that supports measures to reduce land-based sources of waste
including plastics from entering Jamaica's marine environment. This Partnership is under the Trash Free
Waters Initiative which was launched in August 2016.
The Trash Free Waters Committee (TFWC) will oversee the implementation of projects and related
activities and support other national efforts at reducing land-based sources of pollution, in particular from
solid waste. The TFWC is a multi-stakeholder group that will support the national effort relating to the
management of plastic litter.
2. Functions
The responsibilities of the TFWC include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:
a. Co-ordinating and monitoring implementation progress of Trash Free Waters projects for both
effectiveness and efficiency;
b. Reviewing updates provided by respective agencies on on-going partnerships/collaborative
agreements among stakeholders;
c. Identifying opportunities for synergies with other solid waste programmes, projects and activities
especially at the community level;
d. Leveraging financial and/or technical support for community-based projects including replication
and up-scaling of on-going efforts;
e. Share best practices and experiences in solid waste management and policy that have been
shown to effectively prevent and reduce marine litter.
3. Composition
The PAC will comprise the government agencies, development partners and non-governmental
organizations that are directly involved in waste management at the local and national levels. The
membership of the TFWC will include representatives of the agencies and institutions listed below:
• Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation
• Ministry of Local Government and Community Development
• Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism
• NSWMA
• NEPA
• Maritime Authority of Jamaica
• UNEP
• Recycle Partners of Jamaica
• Sandals Foundation
• WISYNCO Group
• Jamaica Environment Trust;
• UWI-Mona
• US-Peace Corps
• Alligator Head Foundation
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 41
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TRASH FREE WATERS COMMITTEE TERMS
OF REFERENCE (Continued)
4. Work of the Committee
Representatives from other organisations or individuals may from time to time be invited to attend
meetings or be co-opted to sit on the TFWC or support its work as needed, for example through expert
working groups or sub-committees that will facilitate stakeholder collaboration on crosscutting themes
of special relevance to the mandate of the TFWC. Where such committees or working groups are
established, they will function in an advisory capacity to the TFWC and operate with a specific remit and
Terms of Reference.
5. Secretariat
The NEPA will provide the secretariat support to the Committee and will be responsible for communication
and following up on actions to be undertaken by TFWC members.
6. Meeting Procedures
6.1 Frequency of Meetings
The TFWC will meet quarterly.
6.2 Quorum
Five members of the Committee constitute a quorum.
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 42
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TRASH FREE WATERS FACT SHEET
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 43
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TRASH FREE WATERS FACT SHEET (continued)
PERU
ittWSINSAStfM'
Project: The project focused on job training in two communities
within the municipality of Chincha for informal waste pickers and
improved the connection between waste pickers and a regional
recycling facility. As part of the formalization effort, our partner,
Ciudad Saludable, implemented a source segregation and selective
collection program that was expanded and now includes
alliances with recycling associations. The project also identified litter
leakage hot spots for Chincha to help prioritize removal efforts.
Partners: Ministry of Environment Peru; U.S. Embassy Peru; lea
Regional Government; Ciudad Saludable (NGO); Coca-Cola
Funding:EPA-$75K; Leveraged Funds:Coca-Cola-$300K; USAID-
$300K used to construct an additional regional collection facility for
recyclable material
Metrics: 2 regional job trainings to formalize and register waste pickers; 16 hot spot sites identified, and a plan for
regular waste removal
OUTREACHTO INTERN AT IONAL PARTNERS
EPA has been working with priority countries and international partners to address marine litter by:
• Leveraging action done by private sector and NGO partners including the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and
the Ocean Conservancy, includingth rough providing technical assistance to Ocean Conservancy's Urban
Ocean initiative in pilot cities.
• Leveraging Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Projects through the Working Group on Marine Debris
and through participation in APEC workshops to provide trainings on the TFW model.
• Working with multilateral development banks, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to
address marine litter in developing countries in Asia.
• Working trilaterally through ongoing Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) marine litter projects
in shared border watersheds with Canada and Mexico.
• Seeking opportunities for TFW International expansion under U.S. Free Trade Agreements, including in
Central Americanand the Caribbean.
• Meeting bilaterally with priority countries in Asia at the G20 Environmental Ministerial Meeting to discuss
collaboration on regional marine litter issues.
Administrator Wheeler meets bi-laterally with Vietnam's
Deputy Minister for the Environment LE Cong Thanh
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 44
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U.S. ERA'S TRASH FREE WATERS DOMESTIC
NEWSLETTER
SEPA
United Slates
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-S42-N-20-001
May 2020
THE FLOW OF... TRASH FREE WATERS
ISSUE 13 HOW'S IT FLOWING?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Administrator Wheeler Administrator Wheeler Discusses Marine Litter During Visit to Brazil
Discusses Marine Litter During
visit to Brazil 1 in February, U.S. Environmental
Philadelphia 'Community Cans" Protection Agency (EPA) Admin-
Ribbon cutting Event t istrator Andrew Wheeler became
Trash Free Texas Adopt-a-Spot ,he flrst Administrator to visit the
Program Expands 2 Amazon. He participated in a
variety of events in Manaus,
Alaska Marine Debris summit ...2 Brazil to increase awareness
Trash Capture In the Proctor around recycling and projects
Creek Watershed 3 that address marine litter.
Stormwater S Litter Workshop ...3 "Buildin9 Partnerships to reduce
marine litter is one of my
Update on Hayward youth priorities EPA looks forward to
Based Capture Expansion 4 r, , ,
developing collaboration with
New story Map Highlighting Brazil to reduce marine litter
Traditional Territory 4 Sh^ °f
tion and best practices, said
Sallsh Sea Bydrodynamlc Model Administrator Wheeler,
for Microplastics Hotspots 5
Coastal Heartland NEP "Trash Amon9 other activities, AdminiS-
Tackle" cleanup Event 5 trator Wheeler met with Minister
of the Environment Ricardo
Schuylkill CleanSweep App 6 _ „ . , _
Salles and Amazonas State
The Rapids: News Drops 6 Governor Wilson Miranda Lima to
discuss shared environmental
challenges including marine litter.
He joined them to witness the
Administrator Wheeler, Minister Salles, Governor Lima, and
Congressman Ramos participate in a beach cleanup event.
signature of a Brazilian decree to
implement a national agenda on
urban environmental quality, in
partnership with the Amazonas
state government. This program
promotes stakeholder engage-
ment to reduce the volume of
plastic waste transported by the
rivers to the oceans
Following the signing, Adminis-
trator Wheeler volunteered with
other dignitaries and community
members to clean up trash at
Ponta das Lajes beach.
This newsletter is intended to
provide the latest information
to all of our Trash Free Waters
(TFW) partners and friends
The Flow..of Trash Free
Waters is our opportunity to
highlight recent successes, as
well as shine a spotlight on
news and other related items.
it is produced by the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency, with support from lEc.
Mention of commercial
products, publications, or Web
sites in this newsletter does
not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use by
EPA, and shall not be used for
advertising or product
endorsement purposes.
Philadelphia "Community Cans" Ribbon Cutting Event
On December 12th, 2019, a
ribbon cutting press event was
held in recognition of the ongoing
Philadelphia Community Cans
project. Community Cans is a
public-private partnership
program through which the City
of Philadelphia partners with
oommunity organizations,
commercial corridor managers,
and businesses to increase public
trash can coverage along
Philadelphia commercial
corridors. Community partners
take responsibility for maintaining
the cans, which are strategically
(continued on p. 2) Tiden Middle School students painting can lids for Southwest PNIfy.
%
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THE FLOW OF...TRASH FREE WATERS
Trash Free Texas Adopt-a-Spot Program Expands
MAY 2020 - ISSUE 1 3
(continued from p.1)
placed to improve litter condi-
tions along each specific
corridor. The City consults with
each participating group to
determine the best location for
each Community Can, us-
along with maps of existing
trash can locations to place the
Community Cans to most
effectively reduce litter and
illegal dumping.
The initiative was adopted
under Clean PHL's Zero Waste
and Litter Cabinet, which is
working towards the ambitious
city-wide goal of becoming zero
waste and litter-free by 2035.
The Partnership for the
Delaware Estuary, the Philadel-
phia Water Department, and
Mural Arts Philadelphia are
additional partners. This project
was supported by a 2018 EPA
grant. Read more about this
initiative at: httDs://www.metro.
us/news/local-news/philadel-
phia/trash-can-painted-art-in-
stalled-southwest-phillv-iunia-
ta-park and https://cleanphl.
gressreport/.
Photo courtesy of the
Partnership for the Delaware
Estuary.
TheTrash FreeTexas (TFTx)
Adopt-A-Spot site and online
mapping tool works to foster
a litter-free environment in
Texas watersheds and track
trash removal activities by
connecting volunteers to
litter cleanup opportuni-
ties. Locations from Waco,
Texas havejust been added
to the Trash Free Texas
network thanks to ongoing
engagement with regional
stakeholders and partners
including affiliate chapters
of Keep Texas Beautiful,
the Texas Department of
Transportation, the North
Central Texas Council of
Governments, and more.
On February 14th, 2020 the
EPA Alaska Operations Office
hosted a Marine Debris
Summit, "Leveraging our
Collective Efforts, Identifying
Needs, and Moving Forward,*
to complement the Alaska
Forum on the Environment
hosted by the National
Oceanographic and Atmo-
spheric Administration
(NOAA). The Summit
attendees included other
federal agency partners (e.g.,
NOAA, US Department of
Agriculture, National Park
Service), tribal representa-
tives, local and state
government representatives,
academics. NGO partners,
and representatives from
Senator Sullivan's office,
The morning sessions
characterized marine debris
in Alaska and discussed
New communities are coming
on board each month as the
initiative expands across the
state. The TFTx team is
currently developing a Commu-
nications and Outreach Strategy
for the program to help enhance
reach and solidify brand and
messaging. This strategy will be
complemented by new out-
reach material explaining the
responsibilities of joining as a
coordinator and helpful
resources to get started. Learn
more at: https://www trashfree-
In addition, on April 15,2020,
TFTx Champions from the City
of Fort Worth, Keep Texas
microplastics in the Arctic. The
afternoon session, led by EPA
Region 10, focused on marine
debris disposal, A special
emphasis of the meeting was
on best practices, successes,
challenges, needs, and case
study lessons learned regarding
the nexus of waste disposal
and marine debris. Summit
sessions worked to: 1) Charac-
terize marine debris issues
onshore/nearshore, reporting,
and points of contact, 2)
Discuss microplastics In the
Arctic, 3) Cover marine debris
disposal in Alaska through case
studies and a discussion panel,
4} identify action plan inputs,
and 5) Discuss next steps.
The session on characterizing
marine debris and reporting
highlighted impediments to
disposal and solutions to
address these issues, Cost, lack
TRASH
FREE
TEXAS
Beautiful, and the host. Texas
State University, held a webinar
in which they explained the
history, use and evolution of
this important tool. Look for the
archived webinar at: https://
ters/trash-free-waters-webi-
nar-series
of transportation infrastructure,
inaccessibility of shoreline,
volume and weight of debris,
contamin ants/hazardous
waste, and a large geographic
area are all potential barriers to
more efficient marine debris
cleanups. Prevention efforts
such as recycling education,
reduced plastic consumption,
and improved infrastructure for
disposal of old fishing nets and
gear were identified as strate-
gies to reduce the impact of
marine debris in the region.
Clean up protocol training and
assistance in navigating
funding opportunities were
identified as community needs
moving forward.
—Layne Marshall,
EPA ORISE participant,
Mar.shalLLayneffiepLa.gQv
Alaska Marine Debris Summit
2
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THE FLOW OF...TRASH FREE WATERS
MAY 2020 - ISSUE 13
Trash Capture in the Proctor Creek
Watershed
Trash capture in the Proctor
Creek watershed serves as an
example of interagency
collaboration and private sector
engagement to advance clean,
trash-free communities. The
Proctor Creek Urban Waters
Federal Partnership ambassa-
dor and the Region 4 Trash Free
Waters coordinator work
closely to leverage resources
and reach goals within the
community. Thanks in part to
their advocacy. Coca-Cola has
invested in the watershed to
enhance trash capture efforts
as part of their World Without
Waste campaign. Coca-Cola
has now funded two trash
capture projects In six locations
within the Proctor Creek
Watershed- One project is being
carried out in partnership with
the Chattahoochee RiverKeeper
and the other through the
National Recreation and Park
Association (NRPA) and City of
Atlanta. Various trash capture
devices such as litter gitters
have been installed both in the
main spine of Proctor Creek
and in several tributaries. They
are placed in accessible and
highly visible areas close to
elementary schools, greenways,
and pedestrian walking bridges
where people can view first-
hand the amount of in-stream
trash being collected.
Other aspects of the projects
include data collection using
the EPA's Escaped Trash
Assessment Protocol (ETAP)
tool, continued maintenance
training and workforce develop-
ment, and outreach and
education with schools and
adult learning centers. This
trash capture network is
considered a demonstration
project which can be used to
provide information for parties
domestically and abroad that
could be interested in planning
and designing a similar
Trash capture device In Proctor Creek, Atlanta-
system of traps to clean up
waterbodies.
The Proctor Creek UWFP is
currently discussing next steps
for the project after it officially
ends in December 2020.
Litter gitter technology has
greatly expanded since the first
test site in 2017, By the end of
March 2020, there will be a
projected 29 total active litter
gitter sites throughout the nation
including 6 in the Dog River
Watershed outside Mobile, Al-
and 3 in the Mill Creek Water-
shed outside Cincinnati, OH.
—Chris Plymale,
US EPA Region 4,
Stormwater & Litter Workshop
On February 10th, Clean Virginia
Waterways hosted the 2020
Stormwater and Litter Work-
shop In Ashland, VA. The goal
of the workshop was to help
stormwater and litter-prevention
professionals address urban
trash pollution and implement
strategies and engineered
solutions to intercept trash.
Topics Included the connection
between stormwater and our
oceans, state legislative
solutions to reducing litter,
stormwater technology, using
MS4 permits to monitor and
control plastic pollution, and
reducing littering behavior
through community-based
social marketing. The second
half of the workshop included a
group discussion and exercise
to help direct future trash
interception efforts under the
Virginia Marine Debris Reduc-
tion Plan. The Clean Virginia
Waterways Stormwater & Litter
Workshop has now become an
annual event for professionals
to gain insight and training.
cleanffl/stormwaterJitml to
view the workshop presenta-
tions.
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 47
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MAY 2020 - ISSUE 13 THE FLOW OF...TRASH FREE WATERS
Update on Hayward Youth Based Capture Expansion
Under the Sari Francisco Bay Area storm-
water permit, Hayward is one of 76
municipalities responsible for achieving a
100% reduction in trash discharges into the
Bay by 2022. From 2015- 2019, the City of
Hayward Installed three large trash capture
devices treating over 1,000 acres of the
city's watersheds, with the goal of prevent-
ing over 20,000 gallons of trash from
entering San Francisco Bay per year. EPA's
San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improve-
ment Fund provided the funding to support
this project. A fourth trash capture device
will be implemented this fall in another high
trash-generating area The scope of this
project includes not only capturing trash,
but also characterizing and quantifying the
trash collected and implementing actions to
engage the public (specifically youth) to
prevent littering. Hayward is continuing to
implement a 1 st-through-12th grade trash
reduction curriculum in all schools during
the project period In partnership with public
and private schools and college Interns.
High school curricula will include more
sophisticated aspects of trash reduction,
including trash capture design and attend-
ing trash capture device installation and/or
clean-outs. Learn more hers.
New Story Map Highlighting Marine Debris Clean Up in Samish Traditional Territory
A GIS story map tool was
recently developed by the
Samish Indian Nation Depart-
ment of Natural Resources
(DNR) with support provided by
EPA Region 10. Over the past
six years, the Samish DNR
partnered with the Washington
Department of National
Resources, Washington
Conservation Corps, Veterans
Conservation Corps, and
Earth Corps to remove over
76,000 pounds of treated wood
and other marine debris
(equivalent to 18,000 gallons of
chemical creosote) from public
and private shorelines of Skagit
County, Island County, Southern
Whatcom County and the San
Juan Islands within the San
Juan Archipelago off the coast
of mainland Washington.
Projects highlighted In the story
map include removing creosote
treated wood and other debris
like plastic and Styrofoam that
washes onto beaches, lagoons,
and estuaries, as well as
removing derelict shoreline
structures.
decided to survey the region for
marine debris before sending
out cleanup crews. They found
that over 325 creosote or
marine debris sites were
present within the San Juan
Islands and used imagery, GPS
coordinates, and size of debris
to expedite the process and
prioritize highly contaminated
shorelines. Pre-cleanup data
collection was used to make
informed decisions about
where to allocate resources for
efficient cleanup and removal
efforts. In 2019, the team
resurveyed the 2017 survey
area and found 141 fewer
contaminated sites.
The Samish DNR and its
partners plan to continue their
cleanup efforts this summer.
Restoring the Samish Territory
ensures the protection of the
Samish People's cultural identity
which is deeply connected to
the Salish Sea coastal environ-
ment. Check out the Creosote
Marine Debris Data Summary
Report Story Map here: https://
The story map highlights which
shorelines were addressed
under the cleanup project each
year In 2017, the Samish DNR
907423ba45d84895b769db1d
bd061502
A creosote piling being removed from Lopez Island, WA
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 48
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U.S. ERA'S TRASH FREE WATERS DOMESTIC
fM E VV S LETTER (Continued)
Vancouver
Portland
Newport
THE FLOW OF.,.TRASH FREE WATERS MAY 2020 - ISSUE 13
Salish Sea Hydrodynamic Model for Microplastics Hotspots
Coastal Heartland NEP "Trash Tackle" Cleanup Event
In 2018, EPA hired the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory (PNNL) to use their
Salish Sea Hydrodynamic Model to
examine transport and accumulation
patterns of waste plastics entering the
Salish Sea, the complex fjord system
shared by Washington State and British
Columbia, The southern part is frequently
referred to as Puget Sound. Coast Salish
people in the region use the term Salish Sea
for these waters, north and south, to
highlight their longstanding stewardship of
it and the cross-border interconnections.
The increasing level of escaped plastic
trash In the Pacific Northwest has been
identified as a significant concern to the
health of the Salish Sea marine ecosystem.
The Salish Sea Model (SSM) was developed
through a collaborative effort between
PNNL and state and federal agencies to
model water circulation and transport
throughout the Salish Sea watershed. The
2018 Trash Free Waters study sought to
answer four questions: 1) If microplastics
were uniformly entering the Salish Sea,
where would they accumulate? 2) How is
the micro plastic load from wastewater
treatment plants expected to travel in the
The Coastal & Heartland National Estuary
Partnership (CHNEP) held a 'Trash Tackle'
on Saturday, February 29'", In partnership
with Keep Charlotte Beautiful and to
celebrate #EmbracetheGulf2Q20 and
Great American Cleanup month. CHNEP
staff educated the 33 volunteers about
single use plastics and microplastics.
Volunteers and staff then picked up
marine debris out of the mangroves and
shoreline along Charlotte Harbor in Punta
Gorda, FL. This event was part of a
monthly volunteer event series that
CHNEP offers to educate and equip
citizens to protect and restore the natural
resources in their own communities.
Salish Sea? 3) How great is the potential
for microplastics to accumulate in regions
where shellfish beds are located? and 4)
Where would macro trash (greater than
5 mm) accumulate if it was uniformly
entering the Salish Sea watershed?
When the questions were posed, the
uniform entry of microplastics seemed
unlikely, and the model run was proposed
to better understand comparative factors
between scenarios. Since the model run,
EPA has become aware of findings that
indicate that tire particle wear, a normal
part of tire use, may be releasing micro
plastics in what is indeed a broad scale
across the landscape and that storm water
is bringing those particles into waterways
such as the Salish Sea.
While the SSM is geographically specific, salish Sea Model Domain (from website)
there are similar hydrodynamic models in
other waterways. Using them for studies
like this help us all determine where to
focus our efforts. For more information on
the Salish Sea Model, visit httos://sal-
ish-sea.Dnnl.aov/SSM/proieets/marine-pol-
lution/microplastic-transport.stm.
Volunteers at the CHNEP cleanup event (photo courtesy of CHNEP)
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 49
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U.S. ERA'S TRASH FREE WATERS DOMESTIC
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MAY 2020 - ISSUE 1 3
THE FLOW OF...TRASH FREE WATERS
Schuylkill CleanSweep App
The new and improved
Schuylkill CleanSweep App
(Streets and Walkways Educa-
tion and Enforcement Program)
Is officially up and running.
CleanSweep is a free tool which
can be used to find and record
cleanup efforts, register
cleanup events and teams, and
report and adopt litter hotspots.
The expansion of the Clean-
Sweep App was designed to
help volunteer cleanup coordi-
nators document and record
team successes within the
watershed- The app is comple-
mented by a "Guidebook for
Leading Litter Cleanups."
Project sponsors include the
Schuylkill Action Network,
Partnership for the Delaware
Estuary, Schuylkill River
Greenways, and William Penn
Foundation. This litter data
collection system expansion
was supported by a 2018 EPA
Urban Waters grant. Metrics
and photos uploaded through
the app will also be displayed
on the Schuylkill CleanSweep
website here: https:/feGbuyllsiIt
cleansweep.org/. This app will
serve to enhance the ongoing
work being done in the
Schuylkill watershed to connect
people, science, and nature
for a healthy Delaware River
and Bay.
Got Uw CUwtSwtwp App & Manual!
Record Your Glean Up Efforts
Schuylkill CleanSweep app and manual.
The Rapids: News Drops
NEWS
Gulf of Mexico Trash Free Waters Grant Program
On September 24th, 2019, EPA announced the availability of grant
funding for innovative projects focused on reducing the amount of
trash in our waterways through trash prevention and/or removal in
the Gulf of Mexico. Overall, EPA's Gulf of Mexico Division received
just over 40 grant applications. Final awards are expected by June
2020. For updates, visit the Trash Free Waters website at: https://
Save Our Seas 2.0
On January 9th, the Senate unanimously passed the Save Our Seas
2.0 Act (SOS 2,0). The related bill in the House is still in committee.
The legislation seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste,
find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from
entering the oceans, spur innovation, and tackle the problem on a
global scale. It builds on the initial progress of the Save Our Seas
Act of 2018.
NOAA Announces Release of 2020 Florida Marine Debris
Reduction Plan
The 2020 Florida Marine Debris Reduction Plan was created
through the voluntary, collaborative effort of 41 organisations to
address marine debris in Florida through coordinated actions. This
Reduction Plan encompasses work that will be undertaken in the
next five years (2020-2025) and establishes a comprehensive
framework for strategic action to help ensure that Florida and its
coasts, people, and wildlife are free from the impacts of marine
debris. Leam more at: bttBs;//mariDetl<;bti5.,noaa,g9y/re^iorial:ac-
tion-plan/florida-marine-debris-reduction-plan
Nurdle Patrol Update
In February 2020, Nurdle Patrol volunteers removed 8,524 nurdles
from beaches primarily around the Gulf of Mexico. (Nurdles are
small round plastic pellets that are the base material used to manu-
facture most plastic items.) The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is
now partnering with Nurdle Patrol, and will be holding education
programs and spreading the word in the Great Lakes region. This
makes 28 Nurdle Patrol partners to date. In addition, The Nurdle
Facebook page Nurdle Patrol now has 2,162 followers. Visit www.
nurdlepatrol.org for more information.
-JaceTunnell, Mission-Aransas National
Estuarine Research Reserve, ]
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 50
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U.S. ERA'S TRASH FREE WATERS DOMESTIC
fM E VV S LETTER (Continued)
EPA's Trash Free Waters program will be providing
recipients of The Flow with news about upcoming
funding opportunities, webinars, and more via a
new monthly "The Rapids" email. Please look for
that first email in your in-box on June 1,2020.
THE FLOW OF...TRASH FREE WATERS MAY 2020 - ISSUE 13
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
National Science Foundation Proposal: Micro- and Nano-plastics
The National Science Foundation seeks proposals that tackle some
of the fundamental scientific questions underlying micro- and
nano-plastic characterization, behavior, and reactivity in the environ-
ment. as well as their elimination from land and water systems. NSF
is considering proposals in a wide range of research having to deal
with chemistry, toxicity and the geoscience, ecological and evolu-
tionary science interactions of micro- and nano-plastics as well as
solutions regarding engineering, innovation, and education around
the topic. Learn more at: littps7/wwWjrisf,SftV/putls/2Q2.Q/
nsf20050/nsf20050.iSD?WT,mc ev=click&WT.mc id-USNS-
WEBINAR
Webinar: Plastics or Planet? Moving Beyond Plastics
June 4, 2020 at 1pm Eastern/Warn Pacific/Spm UTC
Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics will explore the environmental,
economic, and health implications of plastic production, use, and
disposal, and will discuss the latest plastic reduction laws. The
webinar is co-hosted by the EBM Tools Network and OCTO. To
register, visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/realster/WN.-tb3QBx7TJI-
9rCik7w4aJg
Have a TFW Story to Share?
The Flow is always looking for TFW articles, news and event information.
Contact the editor at mavio.alicefgiepa.gov for submission deadlines.
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 51
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STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE EVALUATION FORM
CEC Meeting-Participants Survey
Building community solutions to prevent land-based litter from entering
the Tijuana River watershed 4 May 2018 Imperial Beach, CA
Meeting Content
Please rate the statements in the table below on a scale of 1 to 5 as follows:
5—Strongly agree; 4—Agree; 3—Neitheragree nor disagree; 2—Disagree; 1—Strongly disagree
Statements
Rating
(Ito 5)
Comments
1.
The agenda was balanced
2.
The facilitator(s) clearly explained
the meeting objectives and
methodology
3.
Presenters spoke clearly and were
engaging
4.
Presenters gave about the right
amount of detail
5.
The presenters answered
questions well
6.
The time allocated for questions
was sufficient
7.
Documentation and PowerPoint
presentations were useful
8.
The discussion topics were
appropriate
9.
The meeting was productive and
the objectives of the meeting
were met
10.
The meeting was well organized
and ran smoothly
11.
The meeting met my
objectives/expectations
12.
1 felt comfortable contributing to
the meeting
13.
The information presented was
useful to my work
Please continue on the next page.
*
£/-
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!
Page 1 of 2
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 52
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STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE EVALUATION FORM
(continued)
CEC Meeting-Participants Survey
Building community solutions to prevent land-based litter from entering
the Tijuana River watershed 4 May 2018 Imperial Beach, CA
14.
1 foresee implementing some
changes in my work as a result of
what 1 learned at this meeting
15.
1 foresee being able to share with
others in my work environment
what 1 learned at this meeting
Meeting Logistics
Please rate the elements in the table below on a scale of 1 to 5 as follows:
5—Excellent; 4—Above average; 3—Average; 2—Below average; 1—Poor
Logistic Elements
Rating
(Ito 5)
Comments
Overall preparation by CEC Secretariat
Meeting destination
Accessibility of meeting facilities
Quality of meeting facilities
Room set-up
Food during the meeting
Interpretation services
Audiovisual equipment
Shuttle Service
Feel free to provide additional comments here, including questions and suggestions you may have for the
experts or CEC staff regarding this type of events:
4*
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!
Page 2 of 2
Trash Free Waters International Guide | 53
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»EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
BATTELl£
The design work and presentation was made possible through collaboration under a cooperative
agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Battelle via Grant # 83617201.
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