robwat
21.04.2021 2:45:00
By 2050, it's estimated the oceans will contain more plastic than fish, by weight. One entrepreneur says he's developing a tool to remove much of that plastic.
See full version: How To Clean Up All That Plastic In The Oceans
By 2050, it's estimated the oceans will contain more plastic than fish, by weight. One entrepreneur says he's developing a tool to remove much of that plastic.
BOYAN SLAT: The first test that will actually happen on the ocean will be deployed in June this year. I envisioned an extremely long network of floating barriers - they're like curtains floating in the ocean which are attached to the seabed. So what happens is that the current comes around and plastic gets pushed towards these barriers. And because it's in a V-shape, the plastic gets push towards the center. And once right there in the center, the plastic will be so dense, you can hardly see the water. And that's the spot where we can efficiently extract it from the seawater and store it before shipping it to land for recycling.
MARTIN: So as the world looks for ways to solve the ocean's plastic problem, Dutch entrepreneur Boyan Slat is moving forward with a tool he says could remove about half the plastic floating in the Pacific in 10 years. Slat joins me from Delft in the Netherlands by Skype, and I asked him to tell us how it works.
Plastic has gone from the greatest invention of the modern era to one of the most challenging materials to manage. Each year, up to 13 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean, the equivalent of one garbage truck of waste every minute. The world has responded with countless initiatives, campaigns and agreements to ban plastic straws and bags; 127 countries have introduced legislation to regulate plastic bags.
The sundry pollutants making their way into the ocean often share common pathways and root causes, such as a lack of access to sanitation and wastewater processing or inefficient use of natural resources. Tackling these root causes can have a compounding effect.
Protecting human and marine health and harnessing the full benefits of a sustainable ocean economy will require not only reducing plastic waste, but also all ocean pollutants.
Pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers—three things that are ubiquitous on lawns and gardens around the world, but each can be very harmful for our oceans. Pesticides and weed killers work by using dangerous chemicals, and though your plants and yard may benefit, those chemicals can easily get into our water systems. And if you live close enough to an ocean, they’ll likely end up there. more
Taking care of oceans and waterways requires vigilance, and staying informed is vital to that cause. Read up on the latest products that have been deemed harmful to the ocean or environment (like this recent study on why black plastic can't be recycled the same way as other plastics); keep an eye out for any environmental tragedy, like an oil spill or a tropical storm in your area that requires a cleanup; and be sure you're in the know about any organized rallies or fundraisers you can take part in.
And if your issue is with a larger chain, get in touch with them on social media or write an email. Then you can start digging deeper. Harmful microbeads are banned in the U.S. [PDF] for their impact on oceans, but what about in other countries? And are the products you're using actually free of them? Find out, because while you may practice clean ocean habits, the companies you buy from may not. more
Medicines have been detected in groundwater and in marine life in the past, likely from being flushed and lingering in water systems afterwards. And 4500 wet wipes were found in a 154 square-meter portion of the Thames river in 2017—a byproduct of a bathroom staple that doesn't break down in the flushing process like people think. These are just two examples of products that are often flushed or poured down a drain without a second thought but could build up over time and pollute local waterways, soil, and oceans. Cotton balls, floss, cat litter, insecticides, vegetable oil, paint—this is a snapshot of things that are harmful for oceans and marine life if flushed. So next time you open that toilet lid to discard a harsh cleaning agent, find out if it's safe. here
The Eco mobile robot, designed by Ejiuson Ueda, is an advanced system. It is created to clear up the garbage from all the oceans of the world. These floating platforms aim to acquire an international group action to be performed. It would be required in case of aquaculture as well as to minimize the temperature increase of the oceans. In fact, this would further render to an increase in the water level. These floating buoys might look similar to oil rigs but work in quite a dissimilar way.
The Eco Mobile Robot is connected to the satellites all around the world and the site that needs to be treated immediately is monitored. The innovative system will help the marine life to get a cleaner environment for survival, making the oceans non toxic.
The Sea Dragon is a steel hull sailing vessel that is 72-foot long. It was built in the year 2000 in UK for a competition, but then it was redesigned. Today, the Sea Dragon is fully equipped sailing vessel including a laboratory, dissecting microscopes, and a surface net trawling capacity. The ship goes on regular expeditions to explore plastic garbage in sea, and this October, the designers of the Sea Chair have a chance to the North Atlantic Gyre on the Sea Dragon.