Plastics ruining our oceans.

So, this is actually something that I study...The oceans and waterways...A good friend is doing her doctorate in micro-plastics in our waterways...It is an overwhelming problem. Yet, I don't see it as a plastic problem. I see it as a human-behavior / greed problem...The problem isn't the plastic, it's what we humans do with it. We need all countries (esp. SE Asia) to have complete recycling plans...Most people would be surprised that a lot of the plastic that you put in your recycling containers never gets recycled...

Basically, what I'm saying....In layman's terms....is....humans suck.... -- Haha -- But it's true

I'm down on the west coast of FL studying the algae blooms. One of the biggest takeaways for me is how humans won't even take care of their own back yard...Good luck getting them to care about something out-of-sight..
 
"SeaBin Project" is the name of the bin here in Norfolk. I'm still hunting the names of the two in Annapolis area.

Mr Trash Bin is the name of one of the collectors in Baltimore
 
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Boat Guy said:
Most people would be surprised that a lot of the plastic that you put in your recycling containers never gets recycled...
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This is true because often if one plastic bottle is put in the recycle of another type of plastic the whole batch is ruined creating more waste.

Many plastics have no recycle value, but to dumb things down for users they just throw them in the recycle bin with the others and the recycler separates them out.

Since the recycler must sort them anyway there is little efficiency in having a recycling bin, the financial and environmental cost cost of another truck picking up recycling compared to just letting the recycler separate the plastics from the garbage once it is picked up.

Residential recycling is just feel good theater...

MM
 
Carpediem44DB said:
That would be the land of fruits and nuts! I guess every little bit helps but it is definitely a global problem that needs global solutions that there is no way in hell are going to happen.
Just recently a group towed a huge trash collection contraption out into the pacific from SF Bay in an attempt to put a dent in a huge debris field some claim is as big as Texas. What the hell are they planning on doing with all of that plastic? Bring it to California land fills? These guys would do better to just breed unicorns.
Carpe Diem
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The best laid plans.....

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/18/us/ocean-cleanup-system-pacific-garbage-patch-trnd/index.html
 
57250901-693E-43C6-A9BA-4DC63BDA91F2.jpeg
Aruba is a beautiful place. I just returned home from a week vacation there. It was sad to see the plastic garbage that washed up on the beaches on the windward side of the island. I was shocked, so I took a picture of it...
 
MonacoMike said:
This is true because often if one plastic bottle is put in the recycle of another type of plastic the whole batch is ruined creating more waste.

Many plastics have no recycle value, but to dumb things down for users they just throw them in the recycle bin with the others and the recycler separates them out.

Since the recycler must sort them anyway there is little efficiency in having a recycling bin, the financial and environmental cost cost of another truck picking up recycling compared to just letting the recycler separate the plastics from the garbage once it is picked up.

Residential recycling is just feel good theater...

MM
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So very true Mike... PC Police once more out of control
 
Stingrayaxe said:
Went to Curaçao a few years ago. Took a day trip to Little Curacao island for some beach time and snorkeling. Absolutely beautiful on the Leeward side of the island. Hiked to the windward side and I wanted to puke. Not a square foot that didn't have a piece of plastic garbage in it for as far as I could see.
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Wow, that's terrible....
 
Saw something online recently where they're using recycled plastic to make lego style wall blocks for cheap housing.
 
Third Edition said:
Sad to hear about Curacao. Was there 21 years ago (in the olden days) and those beaches were clean.
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The pictures are from a small mostly deserted island called Little Curacao. It's a couple of hours by boat from the actual island of Curacao. I found most of Curacao to be a beautiful and clean place. Especially the beaches we visited. Little Curacao was also beautiful on the Leeward side. The windward side left me in shock. Such a waste in many ways. The pictures of Midway in the 60 minutes segment reminded me of what I saw. On the lakes that we frequent I don't pass a piece of floating trash that I don't stop to pick up. Drove my family a little nuts at first but now they are more than willing to stop and help.
 
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