Plastic waste forms floating landfills in the seas and oceans. Animals get trapped in unnatural stuff; injuries sometimes lead to death. They swallow pieces of plastic, die of suffocation or poisoning by toxic substances that release plastic into their bodies. Toxins cause massive loss of coral reefs.
Dutch scientists celebrate success – the huge floating cleaning device, they designed for the nonprofit Ocean Cleanup, were successful in their actions. It fulfilled the function expected of it. The device has successfully collected and removed plastics from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – the largest ocean waste plastic accumulation zone.
Giant Arm
The device, called System 001 / B, works on the principle of a giant U-shaped arm. The system caught and retained large and small fragments of cartons, crates; fishing nets and other fishing gear, and even small 1 mm plastic particles.
The Ocean Cleanup team worked hard on the project for 7 years before the first results arrived.
Founder and CEO at The Ocean Cleanup Boyan Slat, according to a press release, said:
“After beginning this journey seven years ago, this first year of testing in the unforgivable environment of the high seas strongly indicates that our vision is attainable and that the beginning of our mission to rid the ocean of plastic garbage, which has accumulated for decades, is within our sights.”
“Our team has remained steadfast in its determination to solve immense technical challenges to arrive at this point. Though we still have much more work to do, I am eternally grateful for the team’s commitment and dedication to the mission and look forward to continuing to the next phase of development.”
The mission is to create a more sophisticated 002 system that can capture and retain waste for a long time and then hand over the waste for recycling.
The Trash Isles
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a site of increased concentration of marine waste that has accumulated in the North Pacific cycle. Its total area is about 1.6 million square kilometers. This is more than four times the area of Germany or twice the area of Texas. The patch consists mainly of small fragments of various plastics and chemical sludge. It is not visible from satellite images, as plastic and sludge take on the color of the ocean.
In September 2017, a group of activists proposed a declaration of the polluted area for the territory of the new state called The Trash Isles. They also prepared passports or banknotes of the new state in Debris (garbage), which display animals among garbage. Activists have already applied for recognition of a new UN state. If a new state were created, member countries would have to start participating in the solution of tons of floating waste.
Source and credit: https://www.ecowatch.com/ocean-cleaning-device-plastic-2640832397.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1, https://www.facebook.com/boyanslat/photos?lst=1666172351%3A1429219587%3A1571653661
