Calabasas tackles water pollution

The Calabasas City Council wants to tackle the city’s clean water issue and limit the trash and other toxic debris that are finding their way to the local beaches.

At a recent city council meeting, officials discussed a number of ways that Calabasas could become more environmentally active.

Melina Watts, Malibu Creek Watershed Coordinator, applauded the city for its environmental awareness.

“I’m going to launch into some more (activities) that you can do,” Watts told the city council.

Watts said most critical action the city could take is to keep trash out of Malibu Creek. Filtration systems aren’t always adequate and once pollutants are in the creek or on beaches, the damage to the environment has been done.

Watts talked about the importance of pre-cycling versus recycling.

“Recycling is only moderately effective,” Watts said. “If you can pre-cycle and not have the source in the first place, you can really do amazing things.”

Watts said people could take their own glasses for drinks to coffee shops or fast food restaurants and eliminate the need for disposable cups, which can become pollutants. She also suggested that instead of drinking bottled water, people use a glass to drink water from the sink, which would cut down on plastic bottles that often find their way into the creeks and oceans.

Watts said that in Switzerland, grocery stores charge for the use of plastic bags to discourage their use.

The city will consider the ideas Watts presented as well as several others in an effort to fight the trash and other toxic debris in the area.

Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman asked the city council to consider adopting policy requiring restaurants and other shops in the city to use corn-made food carriers and corn-made cups instead of Styrofoam carriers and cups. He said the city of Malibu has worked with local stores and restaurants to use biodegradable materials.

Groveman and Calabasas Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer will head up a group that will research ways to better protect the environment. The group will report back to the council in about two months. The council discussed working with another city to attain grants to address such environmental issues.

“(Watershed pollution) happens in every city. It’s from golf course runoff (pesticides) and oil in the streets that run off into the storm drains. It’s animal waste. It’s cigarette butts and more,” Groveman said. “Different places have different problems.”