Ocean array could clean up plastic debris in Pacific Ocean…
19-year-old Boyan Slat has unveiled plans to create an Ocean Cleanup Array that could remove 7,250,000 tons of plastic waste from the world’s oceans. The device consists of an anchored network of floating booms and processing platforms that could be dispatched to garbage patches around the world. Instead of moving through the ocean, the array would span the radius of a garbage patch, acting as a giant funnel. The angle of the booms would force plastic in the direction of the platforms, where it would be separated from plankton, filtered and stored for recycling.
At school, Boyan Slat launched a project that analyzed the size and amount of plastic particles in the ocean’s garbage patches. His final paper went on to win several prizes, including Best Technical Design 2012 at the Delft University of Technology. Boyan continued to develop his concept during the summer of 2012, and he revealed it several months later at TEDxDelft 2012.
Slat went on to found The Ocean Cleanup Foundation, a non-profit organization which is responsible for the development of his proposed technologies. His ingenious solution could potentially save hundreds of thousands of aquatic animals annually, and reduce pollutants (including PCB and DDT) from building up in the food chain. It could also save millions per year, both in clean-up costs, lost tourism and damage to marine vessels.
It is estimated that the clean-up process would take about five years, and it could greatly increase awareness about the world’s plastic garbage patches. On his site Slat says, “One of the problems with preventive work is that there isn’t any imagery of these ‘garbage patches’, because the debris is dispersed over millions of square kilometres. By placing our arrays however, it will accumulate along the booms, making it suddenly possible to actually visualize the oceanic garbage patches. We need to stress the importance of recycling, and reducing our consumption of plastic packaging.” To find out more about the project and to contribute, click here.
It doesn't matter that it won't work. Or that it has no economic value. Or that it solves a problem that no one has. It uses the word "recycle". Here's your prize.
ReplyDeleteThe solution here may not work, but the vast amounts of floating plastic trash in the oceans are a problem. The question is how to deal with it.
DeleteThe bulk origin of the flotsam should be traced if it hasn't already -- marine traffic jetsam? Then tax the source accordingly -- shippers -- even it it means adding $5 onto the cost of every flatscreen TV.
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, PROVE that the solution and tax method works by retiring it after the problem is solved, instead of letting it lapse into another sinecure.
Like the over fishing problem, it is mostly foreign boats not subject to any coast guard regulations throwing trash overboard (although a big bulk of it now is washout from the tsunami in Japan).
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