The purpose of this question is to bring researchers together to discuss and network the issue of plastic waste in the sea. Both large waste items and plastic particle waste the likes ingested by fish and subsequently transferred through the food chain.
What research are you working or on or what suggestions do you have for scientifically removing the plastic both large and particle from our Oceans. Please share your thoughts.
Obviously, there is a large political movement on this subject at the moment and suggestions like, could we all own 1 bottle and have drinks dispensed rather than distributed in bottles. But what are peoples scientific thoughts / projects around the removal of plastic from the sea, rather than root cause.
Segun Michael Abegunde agreed. I see lots of misuse of plastic. For instance in supermarkets they wrap apples and other fruit and vegetables in plastic. Why it is unnecessary.
Very important issue.
There are three different aspects to this.
First, the problem of the (probably mechanical) removal of plastic from
the ocean (perhaps not too realistic)
Second, to find what eats plastic in real time, maybe some form of bacteria that can survive say in ocean water.
Third avoid using plastic waste altogether, or its replacement by degradable plastic, or some form of resilient paper.
Dr. Juan Weisz, thanks for your insight.
Hopefully, there will be some more answers to generate further discussion on this topic, off the back of this question. I am personal open to helping or assisting anyone looking into this topic.
Mechanical removal can work in limited areas, like the Trash Wheel in Baltimore Harbor. There has also recently been found an enzyme that can digest PET (one type of plastic) but this will take many years to become commercially available. In the meantime we need to stop generating plastic wastes - stop using single-use plastics. No more straws, plastic bags etc etc. We need brave politicians to get legislation banning these items. And people need to change their habits - they've done it before and they can do it again.
Companies sign up to pledge to cut plastic pollution:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43901328
This is very important for us in teamwork together with the government to overcome the waste problem in the sea. First, It is only and can only be done by arrangement through political policy.
TheSeaCleaners are developing the MANTA ship to collect floating plastic wastes at sea, in priority in the areas where the more polluted rivers bring their plastic wastes.
We are willing to develop a scientific network around the subject and to give to scientists access to the ship during the collect campaign so that they can analyse the collected wastes and organic products and map and characterize the oceanic plastic pollution.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with us at : [email protected]
This is all very well and good, but we need to focus mostly on reducing inputs. If your bathtub was overflowing, would you focus on mopping up the floor or first turning off the faucet?
You are right Judith and this is the reason why, in addition to the operations at sea, the ship will receive guests and make educational communications in every harbour where it will go. This will aim at sensibilizing people about what become their plastic wastes once thrown away in the rivers, the impacts of the sea life and indirectly on their own life and health.
Furthermore, scientific teams will be welcomed onboard so that they can get access the collected wastes and debris: our target is to better characterize the plastic pollution and the evolution/degradation of plastics in the sea water, to better localize them and then to share the data in open source so that everyone can use it to stop plastic pollution.
So hopefully, we will be mopping up the floor and turning off the faucet at the same time !
Good question. The problem can better be engaged right from the source. This can be achieved by reducing the application of plastic as package.
Segun Michael Abegunde agreed. I see lots of misuse of plastic. For instance in supermarkets they wrap apples and other fruit and vegetables in plastic. Why it is unnecessary.
The Ocean Cleanup projects that the full fleet can remove half of the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch within five years' time. This is in line with The Ocean Cleanup's ultimate goal: reducing the amount of plastic in the world's oceans by at least 90% by 2040
Sadly the production of plastic worldwide is skyrocketting, recylcling on the low and waste management not so encouraging. Supporting cleanup projects and organisations will go a long way to help.
Some countries are trapping plastics from storm water drainage systems (see attachment). The solutions are very simple but a collective effort is the ultimate solution.
Disperse technology should concentrate and awerness about ocean resources richness
Cebolenkosi Philani Ntuli that’s a great solution. Nagalakshmi Radhakrishnan thanks for your contribution.
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