Skip the Stuff
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation Recreational Hill Day March 2023
What are Surfrider Campaigns?
The Surfrider Foundation divides their campaigns into 5 categories: plastic pollution, ocean protection, beach access, clean water, and coast & climate; and the further into local, state, regional, and federal. In 2023 alone, Surfrider has won 30 campaigns, overall, they have won 863 since 1984.
Active (left) vs Won (right) Campaigns
East Coast Active Campaigns
On the map, are all of the active Surfrider campaigns.
- red star = plastic pollution
- green star = coast & climate
- blue circle = ocean protection
- yellow circle = beach access
- purple square = clean water
- black circle = other
The Surfrider Chapters on the East Coast are divided into Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Florida. Currently on the East Coast, there are thirty eight active campaigns, including one in VA. The East Coast has won three hundred thirty seven campaigns, only one of them has been in VA.
What is Skip the Stuff?
Skip the Stuff states that foodware accessories (single use utensils & napkins) will only be available from food service establishment, third-party courier services, and third-party food delivery services, upon request.
Why Skip the Stuff?
Single use plastic consumption has increased worldwide by between 250%-300% since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and a 30% increase in disposable foodware related waste. Single use plastics are plastics that are only good to be used once or for a short period of time before being thrown away. During the pandemic take out and online ordering increase by 63% and of those meals 98% of them were eaten at homes/ offices where reusable utensils are present.
Take out orders include the chosen meal of the recipient as well as a pile of napkins, ketchup packets that will likely not be used, and a handful of plasticware packets. These items, more likely than not, are thrown away, thus contributing to single use plastic waste.
Virginia Data
All Surfrider Foundation Clean-ups are logged into the National Surfrider Clean-up Database . In Virginia, we have done seven Surfrider logged clean-ups. In relation to Skip the Stuff we have picked up:
Surfrider Cleanups 2023
- 732 plastic wrappers
- 292 napkins
- 90 utensils
- 316 straws
VBCPS Surfrider Club Clean-up
If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, [re]designed, or removed from production
Additional Resources
Shooting for the Closest Star: Skip the Stuff
Skip the Stuff Update
