Helping to solve Lake Tahoe’s microplastics problem
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Lake Tahoe has big problems that are in small plastic pieces. To support efforts to reduce plastic waste, students from environmental clubs at four high schools in the region partnered with staff from local nonprofits to learn about plastic reduction programs and how they can help Take Care of Lake Tahoe. On Earth Day 2021 their efforts, which began in the fall of 2019, came to fruition when the CEO of Raley’s agreed to create lasting, sustainable changes at their stores.
When the initiative began in 2019, students from North Tahoe High School, Truckee High School, Incline High School, and South Tahoe High School learned about the prolific microplastics problem impacting Lake Tahoe from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) AmeriCorps member Elise Matera and staff members at Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (SWEP) and the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association