Page 3 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - February '23

Jupiter Ocean Mile, Page 3
Northern Notes

Dispose Of Plastic Bags If you choose to use plastic bags, please dispose of them
Properly So They Don’t End properly and securely. Please do not throw them in the
waterways. This request not only pertains to shopping bags,
Up In Our Waterways but includes fertilizer bags, pet waste disposal bags and food
storage bags. Properly placing them in a secure receptacle
By Katie Roundtree, could help keep our stormwater systems and, ultimately, our
Director of Finance and waterways clear.
Administration, Northern NPDES tip: Storms occur all year round. Make sure your
Palm Beach County yards and trees are trimmed neatly to avoid flying debris
Improvement District Microplastics have during a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and clippings
Americans use about been detected in marine properly. Do not put them into storm drains or lakes!
100 billion plastic bags a organisms, from plankton
year. These include plastic to whales, commercial
grocery, shopping, food seafood, and drinking Actress Fran Drescher from page 1
storage, yard fertilizer water. Alarmingly,
and pet waste disposal standard water treatment their time of need. The Grand Honorary Chair is Gloria
bags. Plastic bags are so facilities cannot remove all Herman; International Chair, Ari Rifkin; Grand Benefactor
lightweight and aerodynamic that even if we dispose of traces of microplastics. To Chairs Virginia Gildea, Lois Richards, and Katherine
them properly, they can get misplaced. They escape from further complicate matters, Walgreen; Benefactor Chairs Sandra Bobb, Charles Fisher,
our trash cans, garbage trucks and landfills and go where microplastics in the ocean Helene Karp, Kristina Gustafson, Julie Kampf and Sharon
the wind takes them – into storm drains, canals, lakes, can bind with other Loeb, Donna Mulholland, and Lisa Saur; Vice Chairs Mara
and eventually, the ocean. harmful chemicals before Benjamin, Lori Berg, Dan Drennen, Gail Corder Fisher,
Plastic bags remain toxic even after they break down. being ingested by marine Beth Goldberg, Arlette Gordon, Jayne Malfitano, Joseph
They don’t biodegrade; they photodegrade. That means organisms. Scientists McNamara, Max McNamara, David Sarama, Barbara
that after sunlight breaks them down; they degrade, are still unsure whether Zand; Ambassadors Mary Ackerman, Linda Adelson,
breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, until they consumed microplastics Abigail Beebe, Chris Cox, Dale Connor, Lynette Dallas,
can ultimately enter the food chain. These tiny particles are harmful to human or Elizabeth DeBrule, Nancy Dwyer, Lorre Erlick, Nancy
of plastic are called microplastics, officially defined animal health – and, if so, Erlick, Jan Ricci Feldman, Victor Figueredo, Jeff Fowler,
as plastics less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in what specific dangers they Barbara Gilbert, David Granville, John Herrick, Sandra
diameter – smaller than the standard pearl used in jewelry. may pose. Kriser, Linda Lachman, Beth Lane, Chris Leavitt, Mary
There are two categories of microplastics: primary and Besides the environmental aspects of plastic, plastic Bryant McCourt, Ross Meltzer, Fran Morrissette, Jeff
secondary. bags in particular can cause damage to stormwater drainage Pfeifle, Debra Roberts, Sheila Rosenblum, Jill Schecter,
Primary microplastics are tiny particles designed for systems. Plastic bags can clog storm drains and waterways, Mary Lou Schillinger, Terri Schottenstein, Renee Scott,
commercial use, such as cosmetics, or microfibers shed from threatening urban environments and creating severe safety Nancy Stone, Amie Swan, Stacey Coffee-Thorne, Cheral
clothing and other textiles, such as fishing nets. Secondary hazards. Drainage systems blocked by plastic bags have been Turnipseed, Jennifer Whitaker, and Gail Worth; Auction
microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of identified as a major cause of flooding in countries like India Chair Michael Atchison.
larger plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown is and Bangladesh during monsoon season. The 2023 Shop The Day Away Luncheonwill begin at

caused by exposure to environmental factors, mainly the sun’s More locally, plastic bags can get caught and damage 10:30 a.m. with Palm Beach’s most fabulous silent auction,
radiation and ocean waves. aerator motors and stormwater pumps. Aerator maintenance featuring more than 500 new luxury designer items, luxury
Single-use plastics – plastic items meant to be used costs are higher because of plastic bag debris. Recently an brands and one-of-a-kind experiences. Items in the silent
just once and then discarded, such as a straw or plastic aerator required repair due to damage from a plastic bag. The auction include a fantastic selection of new handbags,
bag – are the primary source of secondary plastics in the bag was drawn into the motor of the aerator and wrapped accessories, jewelry, home, beauty, men’s merchandise,
environment. Some of this environmental pollution is around the spinning shaft, causing the engine to freeze up items for your pets, and many more “must-have surprises”
from littering. Still, many of the plastics in waterways and burn out. It also burnt out the electrical lines and cabling all curated for the Palm Beach luxury lifestyle. Designers
result from storms, water runoff, and winds that carry attached to the motor. After all of the repairs were completed, and luxury brands from the world’s fashion capitals once
plastic – both intact objects and microplastics – into our including replacing 250 feet of cabling, that one plastic bag again have joined forces with local Palm Beach area fashion,
waterways and oceans. caused over $4,000 in damages to the aerator. beauty and service businesses to support Cancer Alliance in
The problem with microplastics is that they do not Stormwater pumps must function optimally to provide their efforts to assist cancer patients in our community.
readily break down into harmless molecules just like proper drainage following rain events and storms. They are After the thrill of shopping for a worthy cause, guests
plastic items of any size. Plastics can take hundreds critical to many of the stormwater systems in our area. If will enjoy a delicious lunch and featured presentations.
or thousands of years to decompose – and in the debris gets caught in them, the motors can also burn out and Media Sponsor: Palm Beach Illustrated
meantime, wreak havoc on the environment. On beaches, not work properly when most needed. The pumps used are Tickets are $525 each and VIP tickets are $750 each.
microplastics are visible as tiny multicolored plastic bits submersed in several feet of water. They are not easily able To purchase luncheon tickets or to learn more about
in the sand. In the oceans, microplastic pollution is often to be inspected from above the water. When debris caught in sponsorship opportunities, email Stanton Collemer, CEO
consumed by marine animals. the motor is discovered, the damage may already be done. of CAHH at Scollemer@cahh.org or call (561) 215-7360.
To learn more about Cancer Alliance of Help and
Hope and the 2023 Shop The Day Away Luncheon
visit CAHH.org.
About Cancer Alliance Of Help And Hope
Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope, Inc. is a Palm Beach
County not-for-profit organization that eases the burden
of qualified local cancer patients by paying a portion of
their non-medical bills, supplementing basic needs, and
providing support and information resources. For more
information about Cancer Alliance of Help and Hope,
please visit CAHH.org.

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