California is increasingly committed to addressing microplastic pollution in all forms. That’s why, in coordination with the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), Ocean Science Trust convened the “Exploring Solutions for Tire Wear Pollution” workshop. This event is one of five sector-specific workshops called for in the Statewide Microplastic Strategy, which aim to convene experts and stakeholders to discuss potential opportunities for addressing specific types of microplastic pollution (e.g., plastic microfibers from textiles, or plastic pollution from fisheries and aquaculture activities).
With over 31 million registered motor vehicles, California generates an estimated 100 to 120 million kilograms of tire wear particles annually across the state, with 15 to 19 million kilograms produced in the Bay Area alone.1 This collaborative gathering brought together nearly 50 diverse experts from science, industry, advocacy, and government sectors. The participants discussed challenges, opportunities, and research needs underpinning the many strategies for remediating, reducing, and preventing tire wear pollution.
The workshop, summarized in this report, highlights promising solutions and prioritizes among the many knowledge gaps on the extent and impact of tire wear pollution. The conversation was high-level and broad, covering many different strategies for addressing tire wear pollution, such as stormwater management, the complexities of tire reformulation, and potential opportunities for installing tire wear collection devices. The event confirmed that tire wear pollution, among microplastic pollution sources, in particular, spans numerous sectors and management authorities, from transportation and manufacturing to environmental protection and water management. The discussion revealed interesting potential alignments between sectors, such as reducing tire abrasion and improving fuel economy. Moving these solutions forward will require sustained, cross-sector collaborations.
California Ocean Science Trust understands the value of collaborative, science-grounded discussion for moving beyond problem articulation and towards solutions. The insights gained lay the groundwork for future policy, research, and collaborative initiatives, ensuring California’s approach remains evidence-based and effective.
Read the full workshop summary
1 Kelly D. Moran et al., Tire Wear: Emissions Estimates and Market Insights to Inform Monitoring Design, SFEI Contribution No. 1109 (Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute, 2023), https://www.sfei.org/documents/tire-wear-emissions-estimates-and-market-insights-informmonitoring-design.
