A floating device created to clean up plastic from the ocean is working

[IronLionZion]

A floating device created to clean up plastic from the ocean is finally doing its job, organizers say

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/02/tech/ocean-cleanup-catching-plastic-scn-trnd/index.html

(CNN)A huge trash-collecting system designed to clean up plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean is finally picking up plastic, its inventor announced Wednesday.

The Netherlands-based nonprofit the Ocean Cleanup says its latest prototype was able to capture and hold debris ranging in size from huge, abandoned fishing gear, known as "ghost nets," to tiny microplastics as small as 1 millimeter.
"Today, I am very proud to share with you that we are now catching plastics," Ocean Cleanup founder and CEO Boyan Slat said at a news conference in Rotterdam.

The Ocean Cleanup system is a U-shaped barrier with a net-like skirt that hangs below the surface of the water. It moves with the current and collects faster moving plastics as they float by. Fish and other animals will be able to swim beneath it.
The new prototype added a parachute anchor to slow the system and increased the size of a cork line on top of the skirt to keep the plastic from washing over it.



It's been deployed in "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch" -- a concentration of trash located between Hawaii and California that's about double the size of Texas, or three times the size of France.

Ocean Cleanup plans to build a fleet of these devices, and predicts it will be able to reduce the size of the patch by half every five years.

Finally, some good news for this planet! It will take some time since there are decades of garbage out there, but it looks like there is progress.
Video at link.

[dlk]

1. Outstanding news!

[Yavin4]

2. See what people can accomplish when they're not stressed out about healthcare

and student loans!

[IronLionZion]

6. When you see the benefits Europe has for vacation, medical leave, parental leave, etc.

it makes you wonder what are we Americans doing to ourselves?

[Blue_playwright]

14. Working ourselves to death.

[Yavin4]

17. All for the profit of the1%

But hey, at least some White people can feel good about being White.

[OMGWTF]

22. Check out Michael Moore's "Where to Invade Next" if you want to get pissed at how little we get

compared to other countries. It's shocking and sad.

[lunatica]

3. If they can find businesses or create some that recycle plastic

they can build an entire fleet of these and clean it all up a lot faster and create an industry with far reaching benefits, including creating jobs.

It’s something I’ve known could happen for a long time. Some enterprising people can start an entire cottage industry doing this.

[IronLionZion]

5. 11 Companies making stuff from ocean plastic

https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-use-recycled-ocean-plastic-in-products

shoes, clothes, containers, etc.

[lunatica]

9. Thanks for the link!

I know plastic recycling businesses exist, but I was too busy to find any links for them.

It’s an industry just ready to explode into worldwide use. An industry that can be quite beneficial even to very poor countries.

[IronLionZion]

11. I've been wearing dress pants made from recycled plastic for 10 years or so

You can also get jeans and fleece made from recycled plastic. They are good quality products.

It's totally doable.

[lunatica]

13. That's good to know

I’ll have to look it up online.

[Backseat Driver]

4. The least one can do...

https://www.freetheocean.com/

[malaise]

7. Rec

Great news

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Will it pick up straws?

I've reduced my plastic consumption. As few plastic bottles as possible. I gave up cooking oil in plastic. I buy it in metal cans. Slightly more expensive. I have up tubs of margarine. I buy butter or margarine by the paper stick package. I gave up shaving cream. A high quality bar soap is smooth as can be. Food trays are also a problem, as are veggie containers - kiwis, berries. Sometimes they are loose packages, sometimes paper.

But it is a losing battle. So much food comes in plastic. And reducing plastic bags is hard too. But we now have plastic paint cans, #5.

Some enterpreneur in Scotland was grinding plastic and making roads. Never heard more about it. They, GE, were testing plastic studs for framing houses. But so far all I see are wood and steel.

I did find a waterproofer, RainGuard, that is ditching plastic gallons. They sell a concentrate about 6 ounces, that you add water to make a gallon. And mail them the 6 ounce container and get paid for it! So companies are innovating.

[IronLionZion]

10. One Lakh Kilometres Of Roads In India Are Being Made From Plastic Waste

https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/plastic-waste-roads-one-lakh-kilometre-india-20274/

Lakh = 100,000

You might like shaving soap. You can buy round pucks or even kilo bricks of soft soap and put it in a reusable container like a shaving mug.

Some yuppie coffee shops and takeout restaurants offer discounts if you bring your own container.

Reusable grocery bags are sold everywhere. I've used it for the last 13 years or so.

[defacto7]

12. I really needed some good news. This is great.

Between this and the stainless steel spork on my keychain, we're gonna make some progress as well as make a statement respectively.

[c_junk]

15. Grows my hope in the future

and it's not just the fact that this is working, I expected that. I read a preliminary feasibility study that came out a while back. My hope springs from who came up with the collection idea. Boyun Slat, came up with idea when he was 18, and created the foundation at 19. A harbinger of the future it would seem. It's people like him, focusing on solutions. People like Greta, inspiring millions world-wide. The kids in Oregon who are suing the government for damaging their futures through environmental negligence, they all make me feel better for our species' future in general and my grandkids in particular.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

16. Meanwhile, Mel Brooks has taken on air pollution.

[RainCaster]

18. Bravo!

We have a new generation coming that offers great hope for our future. This is but one example.

[SergeStorms]

19. The "parachute anchor" is called....

a 'drogue' or 'sea anchor' and sailors have been using them for as long as I can remember, and I'm pushing 70. They slow you down in heavy winds or seas. They keep the boat from drifting sideways, and if it's one thing you don't want in high seas it's wind and waves hitting you broadside. That's a quick route to the bottom of the sea.

Not much to do with the article, but you can never have too much information.

[Baked Potato]

27. That's interesting, thanks

[SergeStorms]

28. Thanks.

I have a boundless capacity for remembering useless knowledge, but can't remember important things that I positively should remember. That's my lot in life I guess.

[AllaN01Bear]

20. Eggscllent .

[iluvtennis]

21. Awesome for the future of this world.

[ElementaryPenguin]

23. Awesome!!

Thanks for posting!

[IronLionZion]

24. The massive plastic-cleaning device invented by a 25-year-old is finally catching trash in the Great

The massive plastic-cleaning device invented by a 25-year-old is finally catching trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
https://www.businessinsider.com/ocean-cleanup-catches-plastic-great-pacific-garbage-patch-2019-10

Another article on this with more pictures and links to the groups involved if DUers want to get in on it.

[dweller]

25. what a beautiful pic !!

✌🏼

[gulliver]

26. Imgine how great you would feel to work in a job like that.

Republicans stand in the way of that kind of job. It's one of many reasons I'm proud to be a Dem.

[NCLefty]

29. I hope it works but it's a sad indictment of how much we've trashed the planet that we now need this

We're going to need a lot more of those to even keep up with current dumping.