The Problem: Cap Craziness
Why is this a problem?
Although Californians are pretty good about recycling plastic bottles, the caps often undergo a different fate. Due to their small size, they are easily discarded and overlooked. These caps then enter our waterways and negatively impact marine life. In fact, bottle caps are the third most littered item found on beaches during cleanups in California.
This is deeply concerning because marine animals often mistake them for food. When ingested, these caps can cause blockages in their digestive systems, leading to starvation or even death. Additionally, caps that break down into microplastics contaminate our water, soil, and air. These microplastics enter the food web, impacting marine organisms and humans who consume seafood.
The problem doesn’t stop there. Detachable caps hinder recycling efforts because they’re too small to be processed by material recovery facilities. They often escape machinery, ending up in landfills or being incinerated instead of being recycled. Keeping caps tethered to bottles, as proposed in SB 45, would ensure they are recycled along with the container, reducing waste and protecting marine life.
Plastic caps also pose a top 5 threat to marine ecosystems, and their brightly colored designs make them especially attractive to wildlife. The ingestion of these caps can lead to bioaccumulation of hazardous toxins, causing conditions like "Bubble Butt Syndrome" in sea turtles or fatal indigestion in whales. Protecting marine life isn’t just about saving animals; it’s about preserving biodiversity and preventing the spread of harmful substances into our environment and food systems.
