The Ocean Cleanup project has revealed that it has removed 63,182 pounds of plastic from the ocean in just 3 months, giving hope that we may be able to clear the oceans of much of the plastic pollution that is currently circulating.
The extraction was carried out in the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' an area that lies in the Pacific Ocean and where plastic debris accumulates due to the tides of the ocean. The work was carried out using newly developed technologies that allow the plastic to be extracted while posing minimal danger to wildlife and the natural ocean. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an area twice the size of Texas, though it is believed that with more vessels the area could be cleared, along with other highly polluted areas, in as little as 20 years.
The beginning of the end of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. pic.twitter.com/JNWIbpYJHa
— The Ocean Cleanup (@TheOceanCleanup) October 21, 2021
Plastic pollution causes huge damage to the environment as it does not biodegrade. The plastic traps animals and kills animals who eat it, as well as seabirds who then eat the fish who have previously consumed the plastic.
Boyan gives a 'trash tour' of the strangest objects we recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. pic.twitter.com/8VdslbCsmg
— The Ocean Cleanup (@TheOceanCleanup) October 26, 2021
Boyan Slat, who founded The Ocean Cleanup in 2013, said of the great achievement:
"The goal wasn't to maximize catch, otherwise the operation would've looked a lot different. The primary goal was to collect data, not plastic. While it's just the tip of the iceberg, these kilograms are the most important ones we will ever collect, because they are proof that cleanup is possible. We still have a lot of things to iron out, but one thing we know now is that, with a small fleet of these systems, we can clean this up."
Slat however stated that the biggest issue Ocean Cleanup has is acquiring enough funds to launch more vessels and funding time at sea. He added:
"Honestly, we can go faster if the resources are available. It's really just a question of money. Last week, seeing the plastic on the ship, seeing all these containers being offloaded, I know it's still a long journey ahead, but... it was quite a relief. It's within the realm of possibility for the first time since the invention of plastic that we can clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch."
What is also great about Ocean Cleanup is that all the plastic that is collected is then used in recycling projects that create plastic objects for consumption that will not find their way back into the ocean. This also provides some revenue for the amazing project.
[Based on reporting by: Upworthy]
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