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Plastic marine debris is a huge problem that affects the coastal and marine ecosystems in California and across the world. Since plastics do not biodegrade, but instead break down into increasingly smaller pieces over time, this debris persists in the environment for hundreds of years: choking our waterways, dispelling harmful toxins, and harming marine life through ingestion or entanglement.

Californians use 600 plastic bags per second--the vast majority of which are not recycled. Inevitably, these bags are either landfilled, where they pose problems in waste degradation and leachate retention, or they make their way to our waterways, which flow to the ocean. Surfrider Foundation's interest in the ban of plastic bags stems from our mission to protect ocean ecosystems and ensure water quality for the benefit of public health and the marine environment.