How to clean up our universal plastic tragedy

[beecee]

https://phys.org/news/2018-07-universal-plastic-tragedy.html

Twenty five years ago, I spent a summer removing plastic packing bands and plastic nets from 135 entangled Antarctic fur seals on Bird Island, South Georgia in the sub-Antarctic. Plastic marine waste discarded by the fishing industry were the primary source of entanglements.

A quarter of a century later, plastic is still a huge problem. In the past month alone, we have seen dead whales wash ashore with their stomachs full of plastic bags.

This ought to be a strong enough signal to trigger collective action to clean up and improve governance of the plastics that have become this century's Tragedy of the Commons.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-07-universal-plastic-tragedy.html#jCp

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Just over the last week or so two whales have been thankfully, successfully released from lengths of buoy rope and lines, on their annual migration north of Australia's East coast. Many more birds, Dolphins, and whales are sometimes washed up along the coast line and all invariably with a gut full of plastic bags and other discarded debris.

In recent times, the two main giant grocery outlets in Australia, have now banned the use of one off use plastic bags, and discussions about taking this further is ongoing....

Nice to see it being undertaken elsewhere also.....https://phys.org/news/2018-07-plastic-straws-resistance.html

It's to me at least, plain as day, that at least as far as my country is concerned, much more action/s need to be undertaken...One must look at take-away food containers, single use coffee cups/mugs, general food packaging etc.

I was lucky enough to sail across the Pacific from Panama to Sydney in 1974 on a square rigged barquentine, and even then, limited pollution was obvious, particularly as one approached landfall.               Obviously things are much worse today. 

I'm sure we could do without many plastic containers. It's more difficult actually to change one's shopping habits. Twice now I've walked into Coles and/or Woolworths, and have forgotten my carry bag which substitutes for the old plastic bags. 

What is the general feeling with our over reliance on plastic?

 

[dimreepr]

11 hours ago, beecee said:

What is the general feeling with our over reliance on plastic?

Let's hope bacteria can learn to eat plastic.

[Sensei]

7 minutes ago, dimreepr said:

Let's hope bacteria can learn to eat plastic.

Do you mean like this one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideonella_sakaiensis

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/plastic-eating-bacteria-chemist-science-pollution-pet-recycling-a8311811.html

" In 2016, scientists from Japan tested different bacteria from a bottle recycling plant and found that Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 could digest the plastic used to make single-use drinks bottles, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). "

 

[dimreepr]

2 minutes ago, Sensei said:

Do you mean like this one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideonella_sakaiensis

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/plastic-eating-bacteria-chemist-science-pollution-pet-recycling-a8311811.html

" In 2016, scientists from Japan tested different bacteria from a bottle recycling plant and found that Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 could digest the plastic used to make single-use drinks bottles, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). "

1

Indeed, I should have added, copiously.

[zapatos]

In many ways plastics are a real boon. Inexpensive, smaller, lighter, cheaper to transport with less fossil fuel burned. I'm sure we could use less but it is also important to weigh the many benefits of plastic containers when looking for changes.

[Sensei]

It could be disaster for e.g. industry.. imagine what would happen if such bacteria would appear in your house, apartment, offices, factories, and start eating, indestructible now, equipment..

Quite like moles eating clothes, or termites eating wood house.