Environment & Energy

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)

57. The problem is less the salt water than the barnacles and other sea life.

Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:12 PM

Apr 2013

The sustainable-energy fix is easy and doesn't require a bunch of arbitrary technology.

Sailing craft using floating booms can actively capture far more material than the techno-manta-thingee can capture passively... even if it were possible to anchor in 4000' of water.

The problem is paying people to sail the boat to collect plastic having zero value. It's a money problem.

Setting aside other problems, how would an unmanned craft, powered by solar panels deal with this?

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19-Year-Old Develops Ocean Cleanup Array That Could Remove 7,250,000 Tons Of Plastic From Oceans [View all] babylonsister Apr 2013 OP

Let's get it moving and deployed. This planet wants help, and this is a start. PDJane Apr 2013 #1

Wow, that looks awesome! Nobel Prize alert! shenmue Apr 2013 #2

Not going to be deployed Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #3

I agree, but... rwsanders Apr 2013 #20

Hopefully enough money to actually implement his idea Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #44

There's money in recycling, dude. truebluegreen Apr 2013 #21

Recycling stuff covered with salt water. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #39

Well, I agree we need to produce less trash, truebluegreen Apr 2013 #42

I understand. I compost. I recycle. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #65

The problem is less the salt water than the barnacles and other sea life. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2013 #57

Yeah, but the cost of deploying and retrieving Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #45

You know how much this will cost, and what the profit margin is? truebluegreen Apr 2013 #46

If we can't sell alternate energy sources Kelvin Mace Apr 2013 #55

I agree. TPTB do NOT care, and won't, until they do. truebluegreen Apr 2013 #56

"TPTB?" Don't kid yourself, PEOPLE don't care Scootaloo Apr 2013 #61

Whatever. truebluegreen Apr 2013 #63

P.S. "seven billion completely apathetic....bubbled...." truebluegreen Apr 2013 #64

Oh spare me. Scootaloo Apr 2013 #66

Wasn't talking about the Power of Positive Thinking. Or religion (WTF?). truebluegreen Apr 2013 #67

Hater grahamhgreen Apr 2013 #35

The company, Method, should team up with him Autumn Colors Apr 2013 #47

Cool libodem Apr 2013 #4

Wicked Cool! nt Xipe Totec Apr 2013 #5

See one is blowing up people and another is saving our oceans malaise Apr 2013 #6

my same thought - two 19-year-olds, different outcomes Voice for Peace Apr 2013 #31

News coming just in time to renew my faith in humanity. Demoiselle Apr 2013 #7

OK, picture this. silverweb Apr 2013 #8

I was intrigued by the quote on your signature line and had to look up Wendell Berry... rwsanders Apr 2013 #23

He IS an amazing person! silverweb Apr 2013 #25

Thanks. I'll check on some of the books. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #40

Wendell Berry is an American treasure! I have several of his books - among them is a signed kestrel91316 Apr 2013 #26

Mr Slat..... TinkerTot55 Apr 2013 #9

This is what happens when all the best minds go to Wall Street... Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2013 #10

Very cool. Thanks for the post. nt SunSeeker Apr 2013 #11

That's the kind of stuff 19-year-olds ought to be doing Triana Apr 2013 #12

YES! (nt) Amonester Apr 2013 #70

Wow. The kid figures this could save hundreds of thousands of marine animals/year. toby jo Apr 2013 #13

But can rich people get richer off it? That's all that matters no matter how cool or clever the valerief Apr 2013 #14

Sure, if they get government to fund it and then "wire" the contract awarding process. SharonAnn Apr 2013 #30

Great news, babylonsister... ReRe Apr 2013 #15

Not cool! caballojm Apr 2013 #16

This could be a profitable business panader0 Apr 2013 #17

That's awesome! NealK Apr 2013 #18

So impressive on so many levels! Sekhmets Daughter Apr 2013 #19

Nice computer rendering n2doc Apr 2013 #22

No chance the Apollo spacecraft would work, either. Aristus Apr 2013 #51

LOL! Politicalboi Apr 2013 #53

Except people have been sailing the oceans for thousands of years lumberjack_jeff Apr 2013 #58

And it's that kind of experience, coupled with vision and tenacity, Aristus Apr 2013 #59

Sometimes pipe dreams are just pipe dreams. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2013 #60

Great idea -- but then what? What do we do with all the old plastic? n/t pnwmom Apr 2013 #24

Recycle, reuse Champion Jack Apr 2013 #27

This concept has been discussed at length by boat designers lumberjack_jeff Apr 2013 #28

Thanks for the link. Interesting fact: The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #36

Slight technical fallacy zipplewrath Apr 2013 #41

Although this is an interesting view. I do agree that this will not do it all. Even (if) this The Wielding Truth Apr 2013 #50

Best point made zipplewrath Apr 2013 #54

INDIEGOGO project FUNDRAISING LINK in reply: Amonester Apr 2013 #29

Goal reached! :) (nt) Autumn Colors Apr 2013 #68

Awesome news, thanks!!!! (nt) Amonester Apr 2013 #69

something ive always pondered iamthebandfanman Apr 2013 #32

Awesome. Thank You! There IS hope. joanbarnes Apr 2013 #33

favorite tom lehrer quote--when beetoven was my age he had been dead for 5 years dembotoz Apr 2013 #34

It appears the Great Lakes could use this technology too. usafvet65 Apr 2013 #37

And where does he plan to put the trash once he has scooped it up? JDPriestly Apr 2013 #38

In my neck of the woods, we put most plastics in our green recycle bin Amonester Apr 2013 #43

Wow! Thank You gussmith Apr 2013 #48

It's amazing how stupid the human race is, especially the "white" man ConcernedCanuk Apr 2013 #49

Most of the plastic eaten by albatrosses on Midway XemaSab Apr 2013 #52

recommended!! Bill USA Apr 2013 #62