ON THE WATER -- Caring for the environment

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Stephanie Barger’s drive to clean the trash off

beaches stretches back a long way, all the way back to her childhood.

Barger’s mother still tells her about trips to the beach when she was

a curious 5-year-old.

“I picked up trash to help save the animals,” Barger said during a

recent interview in her Costa Mesa office.

Barger, who founded Costa Mesa-based Earth Resource Foundation in

1998, has appeared on the environmental landscape to deliver a simple

message: care for the environment.

“If we learn to love nature, we learn to take care of ourselves,”

Barger said. “Then that love and caring spreads through everything else

in our life.”

Barger’s concern for the Newport Beach coastline has come to the

forefront in recent months as the activist has taken public stances on a

number of topical issues, including the future of the historic district

at Crystal Cove State Park and the toxic effects of urban runoff on the

marine environment.

On Tuesday, Barger publicly unveiled her crusade to rid Newport Beach

of Styrofoam and other non-biodegradable forms of trash.

Armed with a petition signed by more than 200 Newport Harbor High

School students, Barger has begun visiting local restaurants with a line

of alternative products.

Barger is shopping cups, silverware and plates that are made from

cornstarch instead of bleach, plastic or petroleum extracts. She has put

400 eateries on her list.

The activist also showed up at an April 26 meeting scheduled by

California State Parks to take input on the future of the historic

district. At the meeting, Barger urged state parks to prioritize

protecting the natural environment over restoring the 46 cottages.

Barger, 38, leads tide pool tours at the cove for children.

“We should refurbish the cottages in the most environmentally friendly

way,” Barger said. “When I take kids down there, they couldn’t care less

about the buildings.”

Barger, who lives in Newport Beach, co-founded Earth Resource Group

with Bjorn Weisser, also a Newport Beach resident.