Styrofoam: The Other White Beach

BY IAN BUTLER, RIPTIDE CORRESPONDENT

Anyone who still questions the necessity of Pacifica's Styrofoam ordinance should take a long look at this photo snapped recently at Pacifica's northernmost beach, nicknamed "Nurdle Beach." Nurdles are small particles that Styrofoam (polystyrene) is made of and quickly breaks down into: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurdle

The entire beach was covered in a white layer of the particles, which probably numbered in the millions. Recent rains washed them from Pacifica and Daly City streets into the storm drains, down the "Secret Waterfall" and into the ocean. They were then washed up onto the beach during high tide. They will all wash away in a day or two and head out to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, poisoning birds, fish, turtles, and sea mammals all the way: http://www.greatgarbagepatch.org/ 

Comments

[Matthew Levie]

The recycling yard will take Styrofoam, but for packing peanuts, you can also take them to any UPS office (like the one in the Crespi Center) and they'll recycle them.

[Dan B. Underhill]

" I will be going there on Saturday afternoon "

Can you give a time and place we might gather to wreck a noiter, so to speak?

[todd bray]

Documentation is important, but if a Daly City drain is dumping that kind/amount of trash onto the beach in Pacifica, there is no way it's legal. First calls would be to establish ownership of the drain's right-of-way.

[Karen Rosenstein]

I asked a few weeks ago at the Pacifica recycling yard on Palmetto and they said that they do recycle Styrofoam. Of course, I also hope the Styrofoam stays in the bin after I leave it there.

[Cyd Crampton]

Any idea who takes the packing nurdles for recycling?

[Betty Schultz]

The drains that make the "secret waterfall" come from Fairmont-Fairmont West and Westlake Terraces. Chances are this mess is from commercial use.

[Kathy Jana]

I will go out this weekend and pick up trash. Thank you to the Pacifica Beach Coalition for helping organize regular beach cleanups!

www.pacificabeachcoalition.org

Regular Beach Cleanup schedules:
http://www.pacificabeachcoalition.org/beach-cleanup-schedule

[ian butler]

Thanks, guys, for your generous offers! Dan, I will be going there on Saturday afternoon if you're free. And Todd, I'd love to get together with you and figure out how to get the word out, and to whom.

[Dan B. Underhill]

If you need help picking it up, I'll try to find time.

[todd bray]

Ian, if you need help with this, as in bringing this to the attention of the public, I'd like to help.