Quantifying the Financial Costs to Communities of Handling/Preventing Trash in Waterways - Spring

This capstone quantified the financial burden that municipalities incur in managing marine debris within the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. The team surveyed 121 municipalities and received responses representing over 71% of the estuary’s population. Cost data were analyzed across six categories: beach and waterway cleanup, street sweeping, storm drain maintenance, runoff capture devices, manual debris removal, and public education. The study found that municipalities collectively spend approximately $59 million annually—equivalent to $6.16 per capita—on debris management.

By translating environmental externalities into fiscal metrics, the report demonstrated that marine debris is not only an ecological issue but also a significant economic cost to local governments. The team evaluated policy tools such as extended producer responsibility, single-use product bans, litter fees, and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) as preventative strategies. The findings provided policymakers with an economic rationale for upstream waste reduction measures and strengthened the case for regulatory interventions that reduce trash before it enters waterways.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.