Keeping Pellets Out of the Marine Environment

2nd African Summit on Marine Debris Cape Town, South Africa

June 5, 2015 Presented by

Michael D. Taylor, Senior Director, International Affairs and Trade SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association

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-- In 1992, SPI officially launched OCS -- ACC became a key partner in 2004

Program Components

• OCS Goal: Zero Plastic Pellet Loss! – Keep pellets where they belong

• OCS Principles: – Avoid spills and clean them up if they occur – Dispose of and handle pellets properly

• OCS program composed of: – Employee training tools – Housekeeping procedures for all aspects of the industry

Good Housekeeping Examples

• Catch trays for use at all rail/truck unloading valves

• Strategic placement of pellet disposal containers on site

• Install screening in all storm drains

• Properly empty and seal bulk containers prior to shipment

Program Benefits

Protects and preserves our environment, particularly waterways and oceans

Contributes to workplace safety Enhances industry commitment to product

stewardship Reduces material waste

How Can My Organization Participate There are two types of memberships:

PARTNERS are companies that manufacture or handle plastic resin pellets.

SUPPORTERS are organizations (for profit or non-profit companies; incorporated trade associations; and unincorporated coalitions) that do not qualify for partnership (i.e., do not manufacture or handle resin pellets) but support the efforts of OCS to prevent pellet loss in the environment.

Five Basic Steps for Partners 1. Commit your company to make zero pellet

loss a priority. 2. Assess your company’s situation and needs. 3. Make needed upgrades in facilities and

equipment. 4. Raise employee awareness and create

accountability. 5. Follow up and enforce program components.

When management cares, employees will too!

Tools and Resources for Partners

Practical compliance manual includes step-by-step procedures on how to:

• Implement OCS, • Conduct a site audit, • Setup a worksite, • Design a training program, • Ensure employee participation and accountability,

and • Prevent, contain and cleanup pellet loss.

Tools and Resources

Management Checklists: • Site Audit • Implementation & Training • Employee Equipment

Employee Checklists: • Processor Operations • Warehouse • Car Cleaning/Loading • Railroad • Transloader

Industry Efforts Can Show Results Trend: -33 ± 3 pellets km-2 year-1

r2 = 0.83, p<0.01

Looking Ahead Increase membership of companies in North America

participating in Operation Clean Sweep®

Coordinate efforts with other U.S.-based plastics associations and companies

Continue to Expand OCS globally

Continue to support work of agencies like NOAA, EPA, and the Ocean Conservancy (nationally and regionally) with their marine debris programs in education and research

Encourage members to include OCS in their sustainability goals and benchmarking.

International Participation in OCS ABIPLAST (Brazil) ACIPLAST (Costa Rica) AIPMA (India) ANIPAC (Mexico) ASEPLAS (Ecuador) ASIPLA (Chile) British Plastics Federation Canadian Plastics Industry Association China Plastics Processing Industry Association COGUAPLAST (Guatemala) Danish Plastics Federation Dutch Federation of Rubber and Plastics Industry EPEMA (Egypt) Fédération de la Plasturgie (France) Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (Australia) + Tangaroa Blue Foundation PET Product & Closure Manufacturer Association (Nepal) Philippine Plastics Industry Association PlasticsEurope Plastics New Zealand Plastics SA (South Africa)

Thank you!

To learn more, visit:

www.opcleansweep.org Contact: Michael Taylor

mtaylor@plasticsindustry.org