Finally, Boyan Slat’s ocean plastic gadget proved it is working. After months of testing and the failed attempt in December last year, Mr. Slat and his Ocean Cleanup announced Wednesday that the plastic collecting system works.
“After one year of testing, we succeeded in developing a system in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch using the ocean currents. It proves the principle behind the idea”, they write on their web pages.
See the press conference here:
Using the ocean currents
Slat came up with the idea that in stead of going after the plastic, catching it on a fixed spot would be more efficient. With the use of a giant U shaped barrier, Ocean Cleanup is using the ocean currents to lead the plastic from The Great Pacific Garbage Patch into it, pick it up and bring to land. The plastic gadget was first deployed December 8 last year, 350 nautical miles off the coast of San Francisco to The Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Northern Pacific Ocean.
It was a huge disappointment when they had to abort the attempts with the 600 meter long barrier. An 18 meter long part broke and they had to tow the construction back to shore. Also, the construction didn’t collect plastic as they anticipated. So, they worked for several months to find out what went wrong.
Here you can see how the system is supposed work.
Is it really a good idea?
Experts critizise the project. They claim it may be harmful for the environment and question to what extent it is cost efficient. Some also say it diverts the attention from the real problem: The world produces too much plastic and lots of it ends up in the natural environment.
I don’t think the project stands in the way for getting the problem on the agenda and other solutions. The EU has decided it will band single use plastic from 2021, and similar bans are on its way elsewhere.
Big companies have big plans to replace and manage their plastic use.
In addition, the plastic already in the ocean are doing and will continue to do great harm. It is a point in itself to collect this. When the Ocean Cleanup went out to sea for the first assessments they found plastic from the 1950s.
From 1995 they found Gameboy cover; from 1989 a safety helmet from Japan; a soda case from 1977 and from the 50’s and 60’s small plastic bits. These bits (filling the size of a dinner plate) were found in the turtle’s stomach in Uruguay in 2016.
There are two problems: The big plastic items floating around entangle birds and fish. When it is broken down to micro plastic sea animals consume it. Based on Ocean Cleanup’s data material only 3 per cent of all plastic is micro plastic. This means that the remaining 97 per cent will be broken down if it is not collected.
Cover photo: The Ocean Cleanup.
04/10/2019