Page 9 - The Shores of Jupiter - February '23
P. 9
The Shores, Page 9
Northern Notes
Dispose Of Plastic Bags from our trash cans,
Properly So They Don’t End garbage trucks and
landfills and go where
Up In Our Waterways the wind takes them
– into storm drains,
By Katie Roundtree, canals, lakes, and
Director of Finance and eventually, the ocean.
Administration, Northern Plastic bags remain
Palm Beach County toxic even after they
Improvement District break down. They
Americans use about don’t biodegrade; they
100 billion plastic bags a photodegrade. That
year. These include plastic means that after sunlight breaks them down; they degrade, Primary microplastics
grocery, shopping, food breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, until they are tiny particles
storage, yard fertilizer can ultimately enter the food chain. These tiny particles designed for commercial
and pet waste disposal of plastic are called microplastics, officially defined as use, such as cosmetics,
bags. Plastic bags are so plastics less than five millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter or microfibers shed
lightweight and aerodynamic that even if we dispose – smaller than the standard pearl used in jewelry. There are from clothing and
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of them properly, they can get misplaced. They escape two categories of microplastics: primary and secondary. other textiles, such as
fishing nets. Secondary
microplastics are particles that result from the breakdown of
larger plastic items, such as water bottles. This breakdown
is caused by exposure to environmental factors, mainly the
sun’s radiation and ocean waves.
Single-use plastics – plastic items meant to be used
just once and then discarded, such as a straw or plastic
FEBRUARY 23-26 bag – are the primary source of secondary plastics in the
environment. Some of this environmental pollution is
from littering. Still, many of the plastics in waterways
result from storms, water runoff, and winds that carry
WHERE GRIT plastic – both intact objects and microplastics – into our
waterways and oceans.
The problem with microplastics is that they do not
MEETS GREEN readily break down into harmless molecules just like
plastic items of any size. Plastics can take hundreds
or thousands of years to decompose – and in the
meantime, wreak havoc on the environment. On beaches,
microplastics are visible as tiny multicolored plastic bits
in the sand. In the oceans, microplastic pollution is often
consumed by marine animals.
Microplastics have been detected in marine organisms,
from plankton to whales, commercial seafood, and
drinking water. Alarmingly, standard water treatment
facilities cannot remove all traces of microplastics. To
further complicate matters, microplastics in the ocean can
bind with other harmful chemicals before being ingested
by marine organisms. Scientists are still unsure whether
consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal
health – and, if so, what specific dangers they may pose.
Besides the environmental aspects of plastic, plastic
bags in particular can cause damage to stormwater
C drainage systems. Plastic bags can clog storm drains
and waterways, threatening urban environments and
M
creating severe safety hazards. Drainage systems blocked
Y
by plastic bags have been identified as a major cause of
flooding in countries like India and Bangladesh during
CM
MY monsoon season.
More locally, plastic bags can get caught and
CY
damage aerator motors and stormwater pumps. Aerator
CMY
maintenance costs are higher because of plastic bag
debris. Recently an aerator required repair due to damage
K
from a plastic bag. The bag was drawn into the motor
of the aerator and wrapped around the spinning shaft,
causing the engine to freeze up and burn out. It also
Every year, burnt out the electrical lines and cabling attached to the
determined motor. After all of the repairs were completed, including
players converge in replacing 250 feet of cabling, that one plastic bag caused
Palm Beach Gardens over $4,000 in damages to the aerator.
for 72 holes of the Stormwater pumps must function optimally to provide
SEPP STRAKA proper drainage following rain events and storms. They
2022 CHAMPION fiercest competition are critical to many of the stormwater systems in our area.
on the PGA TOUR. It’s If debris gets caught in them, the motors can also burn
called The Honda out and not work properly when most needed. The pumps
Classic for a reason: used are submersed in several feet of water. They are not
because the same easily able to be inspected from above the water. When
challenging spirit that debris caught in the motor is discovered, the damage may
defines Honda will drive already be done.
one competitor above all If you choose to use plastic bags, please dispose of
them properly and securely. Please do not throw them in
the rest. It’s all happening at the waterways. This request not only pertains to shopping
the PGA National Resort, on bags, but includes fertilizer bags, pet waste disposal bags
a course fittingly known as and food storage bags. Properly placing them in a secure
“The Champion.” Get your receptacle could help keep our stormwater systems and,
ticket to history at ultimately, our waterways clear.
TheHondaClassic.com. NPDES tip: Storms occur all year round. Make sure
your yards and trees are trimmed neatly to avoid flying
debris during a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and
clippings properly. Do not put them into storm drains
or lakes!
