Boom On US Border Stops 20 Tons Of Trash From Mexico – Newsweek

Report on the Tijuana River Trash Boom and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A tactical environmental intervention in the Tijuana River, a 1,200-foot trash boom, is demonstrating significant efficacy in mitigating transboundary pollution. This report details the boom’s operational performance and analyzes its direct contributions to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing long-standing environmental and public health concerns at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Project Details and Performance Data

Device Specifications

• Management: The device is managed by Alter Terra, a binational ecosystem conservation nonprofit.
• Installation: It is secured across the river with 120 tons of concrete to ensure stability.
• Design: The boom features a reinforced central section and fence-like partitions designed to funnel and capture floating debris effectively, preventing gaps.

Interception Metrics

1. Recent Performance: During a rainstorm in October, the boom intercepted approximately 20 tons of debris originating from Mexico in just over one hour.
2. Seasonal Performance: Over the course of the last rainy season, the system successfully captured a total of 500 tons of trash.
3. Effectiveness Monitoring: Drone surveillance confirmed that no trash was circumventing the boom, validating its containment capabilities.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The project directly supports Target 6.3 by improving water quality through the reduction of pollution. It intercepts solid waste before it can further contaminate the Tijuana River and the Pacific Ocean.
• This action is a critical step in protecting water-related ecosystems from the harmful effects of untreated waste.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The boom is a crucial tool for achieving Target 14.1, which aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities.
• By stopping tons of trash from flowing into the Pacific Ocean, the system protects marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems from the devastating impact of plastic and other solid waste.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• This initiative contributes to Target 11.6 by reducing the adverse environmental impact of urban areas, specifically by managing municipal waste that crosses the international border.
• It safeguards the health and economic stability of U.S. communities such as Coronado and Imperial Beach, which have repeatedly faced beach closures due to contamination.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The project aids in the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems (Target 15.1), particularly significant as the Tijuana River is listed by American Rivers as the second most endangered river in the U.S.
• Reducing the pollution load is fundamental to halting the degradation of the river’s habitat.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The operation, managed by the binational nonprofit Alter Terra, exemplifies the cross-border partnerships (Target 17.16) required to solve complex, transboundary environmental challenges.

Future Outlook

• The trash boom is scheduled to remain in place through next spring to continue its mitigation efforts during the rainy season.
• Based on initial collection rates, Alter Terra’s director, Oscar Romo, anticipates that the total amount of trash captured this season may significantly exceed the 500 tons from the previous year, underscoring the ongoing scale of the pollution challenge.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article directly addresses the issue of water pollution, mentioning the flow of “untreated sewage” and “contaminated water” in the Tijuana River. This highlights the challenge of ensuring access to clean water and managing sanitation effectively.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article states that the Tijuana River empties into the Pacific Ocean, carrying trash and pollutants. The trash boom is a direct intervention to prevent “marine debris” from land-based activities from reaching the ocean, which is a core concern of SDG 14.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The Tijuana River is described as the “second most endangered river in the U.S.,” and the pollution affects “diverse wildlife.” The efforts to clean the river by capturing debris are aimed at protecting and restoring this freshwater ecosystem, which aligns with SDG 15.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article points to “longstanding health and environmental concerns” and “beach closures” in U.S. communities due to the contamination. This connects the pollution issue directly to human health and well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The problem originates from waste management issues in cities upstream. The article notes that “100 percent of it, comes from Mexico,” indicating a challenge in municipal waste management, which is a key aspect of creating sustainable communities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The solution described involves Alter Terra, a “binational ecosystem conservation nonprofit.” This highlights a cross-border, multi-stakeholder partnership working to solve a transboundary environmental problem.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…” The entire article focuses on the problem of pollution from sewage and trash in the Tijuana River and the efforts to mitigate it.
• Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris…” The trash boom is a specific mechanism designed to intercept land-based debris before it flows from the river into the Pacific Ocean.
• Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems…” The effort to remove tons of trash from the Tijuana River is a direct action aimed at restoring the health of this endangered inland freshwater ecosystem.
• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article links the river’s pollution to “health concerns” and actions that impact communities, such as beach closures, which are implemented to protect public health.
• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.” The massive amount of trash flowing down the river points to a significant challenge in waste management in the urban areas it flows through. The boom is a response to this challenge.
• Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The work of Alter Terra, a binational nonprofit, on a transboundary issue between the U.S. and Mexico is a clear example of such a partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Volume of waste collected: The article provides specific quantitative data that can be used as a direct indicator. It mentions the boom stopped “approximately 20 tons of debris” in just over an hour and “intercepted 500 tons of trash” over the last rainy season. This metric directly measures the reduction of pollution entering the river and ocean ecosystems (relevant to Targets 6.3, 14.1, and 11.6).
• Frequency of beach closures: The article implies an indicator by stating that U.S. communities have “repeatedly faced beach closures.” A reduction in the number and duration of these closures would serve as an indicator of improved water quality and reduced health risks for the population (relevant to Target 3.9).
• Effectiveness of the pollution barrier: The article mentions that a “drone monitored the site to confirm that debris did not circumvent the boom” and that “there was no trash beyond the boom.” This observational data serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of the intervention technology and the partnership managing it (relevant to Targets 14.1 and 17.16).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newsweek.com