The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board voted unanimously last week to deem the central and south bay and 24 bay tributaries are impaired by trash under the federal Clean Water Act. Jane Kay wrote in the Chronicle that litter pollution in the bay has been a growing problem:

On last year's statewide Coastal Cleanup Day, volunteers collected 125 tons of trash from the bay, including 15,000 plastic bags...[executive officer of the regional board Bruce] Wolfe praised cities and counties such as San Francisco and Oakland for banning plastic bags and making efforts to reduce waste around fast-food restaurants and convenience stores.

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The vote will eventually lead to the establishment of Total Maximum Daily Loads for Trash for the impaired waterways.

Learn More about Marine Debris.