Title
The Resource-Smart Solution to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Author
Lauren Christensen
Communications Major
Introduction
(Figure 1)
At this point in our current state of affairs, I feel it’s safe to say (at least in the United States and most of Europe) we are all well aware that there is a huge problem with plastic debris pollution in our oceans.
The largest accumulations across the North Pacific Ocean are referred to generically as “garbage patches” (1). These are areas that have such considerate amounts of trash that it is estimated it would take numerous years and over a billion dollars to eradicate (2). If this pollution is not dealt with, it will most likely impact our health, our global economies and global ecosystems as well (2). Why is this happening and where is the debris coming from?
It’s estimated that the debris is many non biodegradable plastics, meaning that they don’t eventually wear down like glass would when tossed in sea water; it simply will rip and tear into smaller and smaller pieces (3) that will be harder to find and see, which also makes filtering and removing the debris difficult. In fact, the majority of the plastic debris in the Great Garbage Patch isn’t even visible to the naked eye (1) which also makes it difficult to 1: persuade general public that there is indeed a very real risk because it’s not a huge eyesore and 2: convince multi-billion-dollar companies that a complex system must be put in place in order for there to be an effect worth investment. It’s a known fact that if the general populace can’t actually see the issue, the issue (ironically) goes ignored. The other factor in why this is such a huge problem is due to non biodegradable shipping and fishing supplies cost next to nothing. So, add up the fact that we have an ecological disaster that isn’t visible to the general global population (thus meaning it’s pushed aside in the hierarchy of time-crisis) and the costs for current basic and archaic methods of using generic nets to gather debris being astronomical, it’s understandable why there hasn’t been a better solution presented- understandable but not admissible.
Trying to clean up debris in the ocean using nets would take thousands of years and billions of dollars to accomplish (1). How did this become a problem in the first place? Personally, I feel that it’s a combination of carelessness and ignorance- 60 years of continuous non biodegradable plastic distribution and waste (4) has resulted in the equivalent of 50 billion elephants since the 1950’s. There’s the waste that’s careless: people that go to public beaches or state parks for example and leave their plastic water bottles or food containers because they forget about them or simply don’t feel like carrying them back to their campsite/car. There’s also plastic litter that’s generated from people mindlessly setting down to-go cups with plastic straws, which are one of the worst culprits affecting our oceanic life currently. The worst part of this problem is that no matter where in the world the plastic debris is originally discarded, due to oceanic currents, the plastic will end up in oceanic ecosystems across the entire globe.
(2)
I suppose the most logical solution would be to send ships out with nets to manually collect, sift and sort through the debris, then transport it to a recycle site. The problem with this is that it would cost multiple billions of dollars not only in man power, but supplies, gas and ships. It’s unfeasible that any corporation would take on this type of project without some sort of financial gain- which is why a solution that is grounded on donation funding and support is a better option. Also, the importance to better hone-in on a clear-cut, simple solution that hits directly on the problem: closing the source of the plastic into the garbage patch, and then filtering and cleaning what is within the isolated waters.
The OceanCleanup
The OceanCleanup (TOC) is a project created by Boyan Slat, then 18-years-old, in 2013(2). It involves a system of passive nets and 600-meter-long floaters (2) that works with the oceans’ currents to collect and trap plastic.
The concept is that a u-shaped floater would be placed around the garbage patch and the opening would be aimed at ocean currents flowing into it, thus trapping the plastic and preventing it to continue through the ocean on the waters current (2). By utilizing the oceans currents, the cost of employing manpower to operate the nets is completely cut out, saving a lot of money. Also, these nets are designed to catch plastics ranging in size from millimeters to large-scale items such as discarded fishing nets (2) which creates high-efficiency operation. Once the amount of plastic accumulated has reached a certain amount, then a ship will come in to retrieve the system (2). Algorithms are used to find the best location to place the nets as well as help the system to work autonomously (2). Also, telemetry allows the real-time monitoring as the systems work (2).
Then there is the question of how much energy it will take to fuel these systems of nets and what the cost would be. TOC fixes this problem by having everything running on solar power (2). Also, since the nets work with the ocean currents, they require no additional energy to operate. So far, the problem of manpower is solved as well as the cost of energy to actually use the systems once in place.
Another problem is interaction with sea life. Since this is a project aimed at protecting our oceans, its obvious sea life is a huge part of that mission. Using regular standard nets can be hazardous to fish as well as having large amounts of ships moving through the waters. The less interaction and disruption to our sea life, the better. TOC has created a sea-life-friendly solution, in that all marine life can easily swim below the bottom of the floater nets (2). Since most plastic sits at the surface level or just below (5), the TOC net extends only a portion under the water and is propelled by the wind and current only- there is no mechanism that will disrupt vibrations in water to impact sea life (2). Also, because there are rarely any vessels that take a route through the garbage patch (2), there is no risk of injury to either the systems and/or other ships/people.
Problems with The OceanCleanup
Thus far, only the benefits and optimistic goals of TOC have been discussed. As with any project in its first run, there was, of course, problems. It wouldn’t be an accurate depiction of a solution to microplastic debris in the ocean if the downfalls were not discussed as well. To be fair, there are improvements that have been years in the making to the first prototypes and these will be discussed in more detail, as will the downfalls of the first prototype.
Currently, it is unknown exactly what the extent of plastic and microplastic damage has been done to the oceans (6). Due to this, it is hard to assess what the best and most effective solution is. TOC offers a grand prototype: solar powered, non-invasive to sea life, minimal manpower and resources. However, some argue that ‘cleanup’ measures are distracting from the real issue: prevention (7). The idea is this: if we put all of our efforts, attention and media onto ‘cleanup’ instead of prevention, we are essentially wasting what limited time and resources we have left. Yes, cleanup is an important issue that needs to be addressed, but some say (7) that wasting attention on that is like beating a dead horse so to speak; too little too late.
The first attempt in action, so to speak, TOC discovered that not only did the floater have a structural failure, but the entire system failed to enclose all of the plastic; instead, the majority of it spilled over and into the ocean, proving the system useless (8). However, the u-shape configuration proved successful (8), as did the wind-based propellant portion (8). While some microplastic was not contained, there was a substantial portion that was (8). Like any first-run prototype, mistakes and downfalls are expected. Currently, the first run of the prototype was removed from the ocean after its first launch and is predicted to be re-introduced in June of 2019. There have been no additional updates on the TOC website, although several articles say that Boyan Slat has multiple probable solutions planned (9). Some include adding sails to the floaters or a parachute-like sea anchor (9).
Solution Conclusion
Overall, it is fair to say that our planet, and specifically our oceans are doing and creating patterns we have never seen before. It is understandable that with such a huge problem of plastics and microplastics in our oceans, probable solutions will have to go through a series of tests and re-tests until a solid solution is established and put into place. TOC has the most optimistic solution thus far.
Opinion
We are in a time of a crisis of resources that are falling through our fingers like sand- to try to grab granules that have fallen is less important than efforts to replace hands with buckets, so to speak. A rather messy analogy, but essentially, humans only have so much time left to stop using energy and resources in such a wasteful way. However, that is not to say that TOC doesn’t present a very optimistic and probable solution. Honestly, in my personal opinion, Boyan Slat has been successful in that he has created a conversation and dialogue about the crisis of plastics present in our oceans. To quote an old saying, any press is good press, right? At least someone is giving a valiant effort to begin finding a solution to a problem that is going to become a huge issue in the near future. It has created dialogue about the use of reusable plastics, replacing plastic straws within businesses, replacing toxic drink cup tops, BPA education and overall creating general attention across a mass audience. While there are issues with TOC’s first run, I think that this is probable and expected with any new technology and filtering process. No one else is addressing this problem on such a large scale, so I think TOC is already successful in that they are taking on the challenge and, even after ‘bad press’, continue to persevere and test, test, test until something clicks. This prototype is more effective than any other option that has been offered up- at least TOC is reducing manpower, the number of vessels needed as well as gas consumed and using solar-powered energy. I believe TOC is a step in the right direction.
References
(1) https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/garbagepatch.html
(2) https://theoceancleanup.com/technology/
(3) https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
(4) https://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/story/how-does-plastic-end-up-in-the-ocean/
(5) https://www.nature.com/articles/srep33882
(6) https://fagarkivet-hioa.archive.knowledgearc.net/bitstream/handle/20.500.12199/219/Samseth_Plastic%20debris%20in%20the%20ocean.pdf?sequence=2
(7) https://www.outsideonline.com/2380621/was-ocean-cleanup-just-dream-some-us-had
(8) https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/system-001-learnings-root-causes-summarized/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=toc_system001update&utm_term=web&utm_content=button_homepage_29-03-2019
(9) https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/the-ocean-cleanup-is-ready-to-try-again
Image Sources
(Figure 1) www.theoceancleaup.com
(Figure 2) https://www.darrinqualman.com/global-plastics-production/
