1. Partners in Plastic Reduction: Working with the public to reduce their plastic consumption
Jill Bartolotta and Sue Bixler
Educators
Ohio Sea Grant College Program
October 23, 2018

2. Cleanups are a great tool to get trash out of the environment but ultimately the behavior we need to change is the use of plastics, especially single-use plastics.

3. Outline NEO Plastics Project Put-in-Bay Tourist Awareness Project
Results of previous work
Upcoming plastic bag project
Methodology for behavior change information
Barriers to implementation
Status of project
Barriers to implementation
Project reception

4. NEO Plastics Project
The three items were chosen by the City of Cleveland Office of Sustainability because they are items of concern for the Cleveland area.

5. Findings Found: People forget to bring their bags into the store.
Next Step: How do we remind them to bring the reusable bags with them into the store?
Found: People do not have a place to fill their reusable water bottle.
Next Step: Where can we place water refill stations to remove this barrier?
Found: Specific user group that may be difficult to reach.
Next Step: Gather more information on the process of smoking cigar tips.

6. Next Steps vs
Received a grant from the NOAA MD program to continue this work and we will determine actual bag use at the store and then test the pilot strategies to see which is most effective at spurring proenvironmental behavior. Also gather baseline data in case a bag levy is put in place.

7. Will behavior change? Intercept Surveys
Ask customers if reminder strategies encourage them to bring their own bags
Bag Use
Determine use of single-use plastic bags before and after project
Recycling Practices
What do stores do with the bags they get for recycling?
Will recycling of bags increase or decrease with project?

8.   Project Challenges Plastic Bag Ban Memo:

9. Talking with Our Tourists: A Marine Debris Awareness Initiative
Map Credit: Google Maps, Project locations added by Jill Bartolotta.
Take place on PIB, targeted to tourists and recreational boaters. The island sees over 750,00 tourists a year. Items of focus are beverage containers, cigarettes, and straws since theses are commonly found on beach cleanups but also items of common use given the bar and restaurant scene on the island.
Has not been attempted in the Ohio area
Seeks to work with tourists during their entire stay on the island and follow up with tourists on return home
Messaging will focus on what people can do about single use plastics than why they are a problem
Purpose to encourage behavior change to reduce use and dispose of properly

10. Support for the Project
Transportation Partners
Education Partners
Boating Partners
Island Taxi Services
Put-in-Bay Tour Train
Put-in-Bay Yacht Club
Lake Erie Island Nature and Wildlife Center
Restaurant Partners
State Partners
Other Island Partners

11. Will behavior change? Coastal Litter Restaurants Recreational Boaters
Pre and post cleanups to look at litter profile
Surveys to volunteers when they return home
Restaurants
Focus group with restaurant staff
Straw purchase information from restaurants
Recreational Boaters
Surveys to boaters
Tourists
Online surveys to people leaving the island while on the ferry
Postcard sent to AVC visitors to remind them to take online survey

12. Project Challenges Hard to get to island in inclement weather.
We are seeing more big storm events and flooding making transport to the island impossible on the ferry.
Talking with tourist population
On vacation may not be interested in our message
Maybe drunk
Away from home and may not want to carry reusables with them
Island open seasons is only April – October
Lots of restaurants using single use plastics of various kinds
Habits are difficult to change
No recycling on the island is available right now
Addressing Barriers
Strong support from island community
Multiple opportunities to educate visitors when the come to island and control of most visitors as they come to and leave since there are only a few ways to get on and off the island.
Several methods for measuring behaviour change.

13. Questions?
Needs Assessment Report:
Marine Pollution Bulletin Article:
Plastic Bag Ban Memo:
Sea Grant put out a needs assessment report about the whole project, the research on plastic bags and water bottles was published in marine pollution bulletin, and the plastic bag ban memo is also shown.
Jill Bartolotta
Sue Bixler