Alexei Volkov
Plastic waste in the oceans is a global crisis. There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, with marine plastic pollution costing the world economy trillions of dollars annually. While organizations are attempting to clean up the oceans, solving the problem will require big changes on land. To reduce plastic waste in oceans, individuals can make lifestyle changes such as recycling, reducing plastic consumption, using reusable containers, and supporting legislation that addresses plastic waste. Additionally, companies can improve packaging and source raw materials more sustainably, while governments can pass laws to improve waste management and hold plastic producers accountable. Scientists are also working on innovative solutions, including turning plastic waste into energy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Individual behaviour changes | Recycling, reducing plastic consumption, refusing single-use plastics, using reusable shopping bags, bottles, and cups, avoiding products with plastic microbeads |
| Government and legislation | Passing legislation around waste disposal and recycling rules, implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR), banning plastic bags and straws |
| Corporate responsibility | Reducing plastic packaging, using sustainable raw materials, implementing waste reduction commitments |
| Scientific research | Identifying sources of plastic pollution using satellite imagery and GPS tracking, developing methods to turn plastic waste into energy, creating a global alliance to reduce plastic pollution |
| Non-profit organizations | Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, Algalita, Plastic Soup Foundation, Ocean Cleanup |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce plastic consumption
Reducing plastic consumption is key to tackling the global crisis of plastic waste in our oceans. While individual behaviour changes are important, they are insufficient on their own. Therefore, it is crucial to address the systemic issues that contribute to plastic pollution.
One way to reduce plastic consumption is to advocate for legislation that discourages the use of plastic bags and promotes alternatives. For example, over 500 cities, counties, and states have introduced or supported legislation to reduce the desirability of plastic bags. As consumers, we can support this legislation and also make conscious choices to minimise our plastic footprint. This includes buying products with less or no packaging, carrying our own reusable water bottles and shopping bags, and refusing plastic straws and disposable cups.
Another way to reduce plastic consumption is to be mindful of the products we use and choose alternatives that do not contain plastic microbeads. These tiny plastic particles, found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, are a significant source of ocean plastic pollution. By avoiding products with "polyethylene" and "polypropylene" listed as ingredients, we can reduce the amount of microplastic pollution entering our oceans.
Additionally, we can reduce plastic consumption by supporting organisations dedicated to combating ocean plastic pollution. Non-profit organisations, such as Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, and others, rely on donations to continue their important work. By contributing financially or volunteering our time, we can help address the growing problem of plastic pollution in our oceans.
Finally, it is important to stay informed about plastic pollution issues and educate others. By spreading awareness, we can collectively urge companies and governments to take action. We can also support scientific research and innovations focused on developing solutions to reduce, recycle, or convert plastic waste into valuable resources. This includes exploring ways to turn plastic waste into energy and fuel, as well as creating global alliances to address plastic pollution through international collaborations.
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Ban single-use plastics
Single-use plastics are a major contributor to the plastic waste crisis in our oceans. A ban on these plastics is an effective strategy to protect the environment and reduce plastic waste in oceans.
Single-use plastics are used for a short period, often just minutes, before being discarded. They include items such as plastic bags, straws, stirrers, food wrappers, bottles, and takeaway containers. These items are commonly found in the environment, with plastic bags, for example, being a leading cause of marine animal entanglement.
Governments and organisations around the world are taking action to ban single-use plastics. The European Union (EU) is working to reduce plastic waste exports to countries with inadequate waste management, which often leads to plastic ending up in the ocean. The EU is also considering imposing a premium price on single-use items to reduce consumption. Additionally, the United States has introduced the 2021 Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, a comprehensive federal bill addressing the plastic pollution crisis.
The benefits of banning single-use plastics are significant. It prevents millions of tons of plastic from entering the waste stream annually and forces companies to innovate and adopt sustainable practices. A study on the impact of a single-use plastics ban in the EU estimated a 5.5% reduction in plastic marine pollution within the region, which equates to a 0.06% decrease globally.
However, it is important to note that simply banning single-use plastics may not be enough. The ban must be accompanied by a push for sustainable alternatives. For example, while wooden or PLA cutlery and stirrers are biodegradable, they often end up in landfills or are incinerated rather than being composted. Therefore, a comprehensive approach that promotes responsible waste management and recycling is crucial to effectively reducing plastic waste in our oceans.
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Improve recycling infrastructure
Improving recycling infrastructure is key to reducing plastic waste in our oceans. Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide, with 40% ending up in landfills and over 30% in the environment. This is due in part to a lack of adequate waste management infrastructure, particularly in developing nations.
To improve recycling infrastructure, governments can play a crucial role by implementing and supporting legislation that encourages recycling and reduces plastic waste. This includes passing laws that discourage the use of single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, and promoting the use of reusable alternatives. For example, the city of San Francisco has introduced legislation that makes plastic bags less desirable, which has been supported by other cities and states.
Standardizing and streamlining recycling rules can also make it easier for people to recycle properly. This includes providing clear guidelines on what types of plastic can be recycled and ensuring that recycling centers are accessible to the public. Additionally, governments can provide incentives for companies to reduce their plastic waste and improve their recycling practices. For example, the WWF's ReSource program helps companies turn their plastic waste reduction commitments into meaningful actions by providing expert advice and tools.
Improving recycling infrastructure also involves investing in technologies and processes that can turn plastic waste into valuable resources. For instance, pyrolysis is a process that can convert plastic waste into fuel or formic acid for electricity generation. By supporting and funding such innovations, governments and organizations can help create a more sustainable future while also reducing plastic waste in our oceans.
Furthermore, education and awareness play a vital role in improving recycling infrastructure. Consumers need to be informed about the importance of recycling and how to properly dispose of plastic waste. This includes understanding the negative impact of plastic pollution on the environment and marine life. By working together and making small changes in our daily lives, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans.
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Support legislation to reduce plastic waste
While individual actions are important, they are not enough to solve the ocean plastic pollution crisis. To effectively address this issue, we need to support legislation that targets the root causes of plastic waste and promotes sustainable alternatives. Here are some ways to advocate for and support legislation to reduce plastic waste:
Firstly, we can urge our local and national governments to implement laws that ban or restrict the use of single-use plastics. Single-use plastic bags, straws, bottles, and packaging are significant contributors to marine debris, as they are often not properly disposed of or recycled. By banning or limiting these items, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans. Some countries and cities have already taken steps in this direction, and we should encourage our leaders to follow their example.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation is another crucial aspect. We should advocate for laws that hold plastic manufacturers and distributors accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, including proper waste management and recycling. This can be achieved through economic incentives, such as tax breaks for companies that reduce plastic use or implement sustainable packaging alternatives. Additionally, fines or penalties for non-compliance can be imposed, with the funds generated being allocated to plastic pollution mitigation funds.
We can also support legislation that promotes innovative recycling methods, such as "advanced recycling," which breaks down plastics to their chemical form for reuse. This process has been recognised in states like Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, where advanced plastics recyclers can produce crude oil, diesel, gasoline, and home heating oil. By reclassifying advanced recycling facilities as manufacturing plants, governments can provide economic incentives and encourage the development of this technology.
Standardising and streamlining recycling rules is another important legislative step. Clear and consistent guidelines for recycling will increase the rate of plastic recycling, ensuring that more plastic is recycled effectively rather than ending up in landfills or the ocean. Additionally, providing funding for federal marine cleanup efforts and waste-prevention initiatives is essential to address the existing plastic pollution in our oceans.
Finally, we can encourage international cooperation and the implementation of global treaties, such as the global plastics treaty enacted by the United Nations member states. Through global collaboration, we can share best practices, exchange innovative ideas, and work together to address this crisis on a larger scale. By supporting and advocating for these legislative changes, we can make significant progress in reducing plastic waste and protecting our oceans.
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Clean up technologies
Clean-up technologies are an essential part of the fight against plastic waste in our oceans. While individual behaviour changes are important, they are insufficient on their own. Clean-up technologies can be deployed to tackle the vast amount of plastic waste already in our oceans and rivers.
One such technology is the Bubble Barrier, which has been implemented in Katwijk, Netherlands, to prevent plastics from reaching the North Sea. The Bubble Barrier uses a river current and a bubble curtain to push plastic waste into a catchment system. This technology allows ships and fish to pass through the bubbles safely.
Another clean-up technology is the Interceptor, developed by The Ocean Cleanup. The Interceptor is a solar-powered vessel that is placed at the mouth of polluted rivers. As the water flows, trash is guided by a barrier onto a conveyor belt, which dumps it into a shuttle. The shuttle then carries the trash to dumpsters on a barge, which are emptied at a waste management facility. The Interceptor has been deployed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, removing over 2.2 million pounds of trash from rivers.
In addition to these technologies, there are also beach-cleaning robots, such as the BeBot, developed by 4Ocean. The BeBot mechanically sifts sand to remove plastic waste and other debris without harming the environment. It operates on two 12-volt batteries and a solar panel, making it 100% electric and capable of cleaning 3,000 square meters of beach per hour.
These clean-up technologies are making significant strides in removing plastic waste from our oceans and rivers, and with further innovation and development, we can continue to reduce the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife and ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to reduce plastic waste at home, such as avoiding single-use plastics, carrying your own water bottle, refusing straws, and using your own reusable shopping bags.
Governments can introduce legislation that reduces plastic production and improves waste management. They can also support legislation that makes plastic producers responsible for the waste they generate.
Companies can reduce plastic waste in oceans by changing the way they package products and source raw materials. They can also shift consumer behaviour by encouraging the use of reusable items.
You can support non-profit organisations like Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, and Plastic Soup Foundation, by donating to their cause or volunteering for beach clean-up activities.
