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Giant 'sausages' to swallow ocean plastic
3 Aug
Summary
- Floating barriers test to collect plastic debris from the sea's surface.
- System concentrates plastic towards a V-shaped apex for collection.
- Successful deployment could clear half of Great Pacific Garbage Patch by 2020.
Eight million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, posing a significant threat to marine life. In a promising development, the Dutch company Ocean Cleanup is currently testing a unique system of floating barriers in the North Sea. This system, designed to collect plastic debris from the ocean's surface, is being evaluated for one year under harsh conditions.
The prototype features long, V-shaped floating barriers that guide plastic waste towards a collection point. Founder Boyan Slat contrasts this approach with older methods, emphasizing its efficiency and reduced harm to marine life. If successful, this technology could be deployed by 2020.
Experts emphasize that this technology addresses only a fraction of the problem, as eighty percent of marine waste stems from land-based sources. Therefore, tackling plastic pollution requires comprehensive strategies that include addressing waste at its origin.
If proven effective, the Ocean Cleanup system could potentially remove nearly half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch within a decade, offering significant hope for ocean conservation efforts.
