Rise Above Plastics 2012 Updates

The amount of plastic produced from exceeds the amount produced during the entire last century

Plastic bags are easy targets because there is an easy solution in reusable bags.

Plastic is the most common type of marine litter worldwide.

Thousands of marine mammals and sea birds die every year after ingesting or being tangled in plastic marine litter.

Even if you think you are doing the right thing by recycling are throwing your waste away properly you need to think about where your recycling goes and what happens at the landfill.

Three Main Components of the Rise Above Plastics Program: Outreach Education Legislation

RAP Program Page Views: 10,000+ Coastal Blog Readers: 8,000+ Action Alerts 25 / 10,000+ RAP Online Pledge: 3,000+ Media Hits 500+ Activists Speaking at Public Hearings: 200+ Chapters w/ RAP Program: 60+ Active Campaigns: 20+ Coastal Victories: 16 so far in 2012 Bag Monsters: 15+

Plastic Sushi PSA From Pollinate 15,ooo+ Facebook shares, etc.

Immediate:  More coastal victories – 20+ active campaigns  Focus on more bag and foam bans  Education kit w/ 5 Gyres  Tsunami Debris  RAPtoberfest in October  Practice What We Preach What’s Next for RAP?

1-3 years:  20 RAP Coastal Victories in 2013  50% bag bans / 50% foam, bottles, butts  Coastal Victories on Campus via QUAD  More education and awareness efforts  Better tracking of beach cleanup statistics What’s Next for RAP?

3+ years:  Business reductions – retail and manufacturing  Extended Producer Responsibility  Zero-Waste cities  What actions will have the biggest impact?  What can grassroots activists achieve?  How can we leverage our resources to best protect the coast? What’s Next for RAP?

REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, THEN RECYCLE Final Reminder: we can not recycle our way out of plastic pollution problems. We need more SOURCE REDUCTIONS.