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This project was funded through the 2020 United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act (P.L. 116-113), which provided the NOAA Marine Debris Program funding to prevent and reduce marine debris in the North American region. Chapter 24 of the USMCA includes specific environmental goals that highlight the need to take action to prevent and reduce marine debris, including plastic litter and microplastics, in order to preserve human health and marine and coastal ecosystems, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and mitigate the costs and impacts of marine debris. This project was awarded competitively and meets the environment goals of the USMCA by promoting waste infrastructure and capturing marine debris in the Tijuana River that is heading to communities in the United States.
In the Tijuana River Valley, the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association and Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve prevented and removed marine debris in the Tijuana River watershed and Pacific Ocean in the United States and Mexico.
Type of Project: North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal
Region: California
Project Dates: September 2021 - August 2023
Who was involved?
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association and Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve led a unique project in the Tijuana River Valley to address cross-border marine debris. Other organizations that were involved in the project include, Good Neighbor Environmental Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Border 2020 and Border 2025 Program, California-Mexico Border Relations Council, and Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team.
What was the project and why is it important?
On the border between the United States and Mexico, the Tijuana River watershed is made up of large natural and open spaces, as well as urban, residential, commercial, military, and industrial areas. Trash, including food packaging, single-use bottles, and tires, as well as waste management problems, plague the watershed and its surrounding communities. Inconsistent and costly waste removal services, a lack of recycling programs, limited waste infrastructure, and difficult terrain all contribute to this problem. These and other obstacles have resulted in large amounts of waste being dumped into rivers and the Pacific Ocean. This debris can build up, causing floods and negatively impacting the quality of life for all in this cross-border region.
This collaborative project used a number of strategies to prevent and remove marine debris. Partners piloted a community-led circular economy by upcycling and selling items made from marine debris. A cross-border Marine Debris Leadership Academy for local U.S. and Mexican leaders, organizations, and groups was formed to increase discussions around marine debris solutions. Another project strategy was to improve response and recovery to floods in both the U.S. and Mexico in order to reduce the impacts of resulting marine debris. Lastly, carrying out cleanups and capturing trash in the Tijuana River helped to further protect and enhance the local environment. The overarching goal of this project was for efforts to become self-sustaining and to elevate community engagement, empowerment, leadership, partnership, and self-sufficiency.
What were the results?
Using innovative and collaborative strategies, this project prevented and removed marine debris throughout the Tijuana Watershed. Through Tijuana River Action Month and weekly clean-ups at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve , the project removed 132,840 pounds of debris, including plastics, tires, metals, glass, foam, fishing gear, and hazardous materials, which significantly reduced environmental threats in these sensitive areas.
Additionally, partners piloted a community-led circular economy by upcycling and selling items made from marine debris and engaged 164 individuals. These artisans equipped participants with the skills and knowledge to develop upcycled products from waste materials, fostering local innovation and promoting sustainable waste management solutions. Through this upcycling effort, the team diverted 1,240 pounds of debris from the landfill.
A cross-border Marine Debris Leadership Academy for local U.S. and Mexican leaders, organizations, and groups formed to increase discussions around marine debris solutions. Over the course of 8 weeks, the Academy engaged 42 participants weekly and offered 16 in-depth courses covering a range of critical topics related to both marine and land-based debris. The project partners also drafted the Binational Debris-Related Flooding Response Guide to improve response and recovery to floods in both the U.S. and Mexico to reduce the impacts of resulting marine debris. Lastly, the project team led cleanups and captured trash in the Tijuana River to further protect and enhance the local environment.
For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.