Anja Brandon, PhD

🌊California is wrapping up 2025 on a high note for the ocean! 🌊

On Jan. 1 of this year, California’s foam foodware (or expanded polystyrene) ban officially went into effect. Plastic foam contaminates recycling systems, harms wildlife and ultimately spells disaster for our ocean.

Plastic pollution in a changing climate A synthesis of cross-ecosystem research demonstrating the impact of climate change on plastic’s environmental fate

Full article hub: www.frontiersin.org/journals/sci...

My new policy outlook in @frontiersin.bsky.social argues that tackling plastic pollution is essential to advancing global climate goals.

Link below for my outlook, the comprehensive review that spurred it, and thoughts from other experts.

@oceanconservancy.org

Science, from Portland

🚨 BREAKING: 🚨

Today, the draft global plastics treaty text was released and we are alarmed and disappointed. ⚠️

INC global plastics treaty social graphic

We’re in Geneva for the final round of plastics treaty negotiations—it could be our last chance to meet the plastics crisis with the urgency & ambition it demands.

We can't delay any further. We're calling for the strongest treaty possible to combat plastic pollution: bit.ly/451rlcZ #PlasticsTreaty

Almost at full black-out! How’s everyone else doing this #PlasticFreeJuly?

Malaysia stops accepting plastic waste from the U.S. and other rich nations The U.S. produces more plastic waste than any other country in the world. Last year, more than 35,000 tons of it was shipped to Malaysia, which received more discarded plastic from rich nations than a...

“We absolutely need to make less waste, which really starts with making less plastic in the first place.”

Our Director of Plastics Policy Dr. @anjabrandon.bsky.social spoke with @pbsnews.org about Malaysia no longer accepting waste from the U.S.

Watch the full interview. ⤵️ #PlasticFreeJuly

The U.S. leads the world in plastic waste.
Our new United States of Plastics report shows how all 50 states + D.C. are tackling plastic pollution. Every state matters. Every policy counts.

Is your state stepping up?
OceanConservancy.org/UnitedStatesOfPlastics
@oceanconservancy.org #PlasticFreeJuly

NOAA contracts are being reviewed one by one. It's throwing the agency into chaos NOAA relies on hundreds of contracts to keep the agency running. The new commerce secretary is reviewing many of them individually, causing disruptions to many normal operations within the agency.

. @noaa.gov's vital work impacts virtually everyone across the country every single day. 

🪸 Conserving ocean life 
⛈️ Keeping us safe from severe weather
🐟 Sustainably managing the fisheries that feed us 
🌎 and so much more

www.npr.org/2025/04/09/n...

Huge trash fee hike looms for L.A. residents The L.A. City Council is weighing a plan to increase trash fees by 56% for single-family homes and duplexes, while doubling the fee for apartments with three or four units.

In addition to protecting our ocean from #plasticpollution, #SB54 will protect Californians from the rising costs of waste management by requiring the folks responsible for all this packaging (producers) to pay for their waste.

@oceanconservancy.bsky.social @latimes.com
@benallenca.bsky.social

If you want to see the strongest plastics reduction policy in the nation stay on track, call @gavinnewsom.bsky.social today and make your voice heard!
@oceanconservancy.bsky.social

Must read to start off your morning ⤵️
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social
@oceanconservancy.bsky.social
#SB54 #EndPlasticPollution #CAMustLead

Call script below if you want to add your voice to ensure that California continues to be a global leader on tackling plastic pollution with #SB54!

@oceanconservancy.bsky.social @montereyaq.bsky.social
@oceana.bsky.social

🚨California’s landmark #SB54 is at a turning point, but industry is trying to delay. Decisions made THIS WEEK will shape the future of plastic pollution.

SB54 will:
✅ Prevent 23M tons of single-use plastic
✅ Lower costs & hold industry accountable
✅ Invest in reuse & recycling

📞 @governor.ca.gov!

Make sure SB54 stays on track: call Governor @gavinnewsom.bsky.social at 916.445.2841 and select option 6, tell them “we want the SB 54 regulations to move forward without delay so California can continue to be a global leader in addressing plastic pollution.“
@oceanconservancy.bsky.social

Big things are happening in California!
The decisions made THIS WEEK will shape the future of plastic pollution in CA and beyond. We need
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social to stay the course & ensure #SB54, the nation’s strongest plastic pollution law, stays on track.
#EndPlasticPollution #CAMustLead

Plastics Policy 101 - Ocean Conservancy Ocean Conservancy’s Plastics Policy 101 report offers a primer on the plastic pollution crisis, and key policy solutions that can be implemented at the state and federal and state level in the United ...

🚨 New from @oceanconservancy.bsky.social: Plastics Policy 101—your go-to guide for tackling plastic pollution!
✅ Key stats & science
✅ Policy solutions
✅ Clear breakdown of acronyms & jargon

Bookmark this must-read resource today: oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-s...

#EndPlasticPollution

California banned polystyrene. Has the plastic industry spooked the governor into silence? SB54 put an end to polystyrene — which had low recycling rates and high levels of pollution — in California. But the plastic industry may have spooked the governor into silence.

#SB54 will eliminate 23 million tons of single-use plastics and will reduce costs to CA communities. This is a critical moment for CA’s leadership and we must not back down. @governor.ca.gov #CAMustLead
@oceanconservancy.bsky.social @susrust.bsky.social @latimes.com
www.latimes.com/environment/...

The solution to the plastic straw debate is hiding in plain sight Trump signed an executive order this week in favor of plastic straws over paper ones. As the debate rages on, here’s why you really don’t need straws.

In ~40 years of Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup events, volunteers across the U.S. picked up 5.5 MILLION straws—including 45,119 in the last 6 months.

Our Plastics Policy Director @anjabrandon.bsky.social on protecting our ocean & planet. ⤵️
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

Ocean on earth. Image by Beth Watson.

America relies on the team of world-class professionals and scientists at @noaa.gov to do essential work from the bottom of the ocean all the way up to the far reaches of space.

#TheMoreYouNOAA 🧵⤵️

As we head into a new congress and federal administration, there’s lots of uncertainty around what’s next for plastics policies. One thing is certain: we’re not backing down.

Join me and @oceanconservancy.bsky.social as we gear up for critical work at every level of government.
#plasticpollution

Plastic Foam is a Disaster for Our Ocean There’s one kind of trash that always seems to show up wherever we go: plastic foam. Join us and tell Congress to pass the Farewell to Foam Act and protect our ocean and beaches for generations to ...

These two laws were some of the first wins I helped with at @oceanconservancy.bsky.social, so I'm feeling extra excited today!
This is real progress and a reminder that strong policy can deliver meaningful change. But we're not done. takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/page/157626/...

The world's fifth-largest economy is about to ban most polystyrene foam Rules taking effect in California ban cups, clamshells and other food ware made from expanded polystyrene foam unless companies meet a high recycling target.

And California is not alone: my home state of Oregon's new single-use plastic foam ban also goes into effect today! The entire west coast is now plastic foam foodware free!

Read more from @newsweek.com www.newsweek.com/worlds-fifth...

a group of men are dancing with the words bye bye bye ALT: a group of men are dancing with the words bye bye bye

The New Year celebrations continue! California’s plastic foam foodware ban goes into effect today thanks to #SB54!

In 2022, we at @oceanconservancy.bsky.social worked tirelessly with our partners to get #SB54 passed. Now, the first key piece of this bill is being put into action!

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana Applaud Milestone in Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Implementation - Ocean Conservancy Leading ocean protection organizations strongly support adoption of regulations to solidify the United States’ boldest plastic …

Read more about this important step in #SB54 from @oceanconservancy.bsky.social and our partners @montereyaq.bsky.social @oceana.bsky.social ⤵️

oceanconservancy.org/news/montere...

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Ocean Conservancy, and Oceana Applaud Milestone in Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act Implementation - Ocean Conservancy Leading ocean protection organizations strongly support adoption of regulations to solidify the United States’ boldest plastic …

CA leadership in tackling the plastic pollution crisis is more important now than ever & we can’t think of a better way to celebrate that leadership than adopting regulations to implement SB 54 - the strongest plastics policy in the world! @oceanconservancy.bsky.social
@cagovernornewsom.bsky.social

As I wrote today in @thehill.com, no one country can solve this crisis alone. That’s why we @oceanconservancy.bsky.social are not done fighting for a treaty that meets this crisis with the urgency it demands. Read more ⤵️

At a time when our ocean and the science we depend on to protect it are under threat, your gifts matter more than ever. And this #GivingTuesday your support will be DOUBLED! Join me in supporting @oceanconservancy.bsky.social