The Ocean Cleanup Project Practices Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

November 1, 2018

Now more then ever plastic pollution is a huge problem. There are approximately five trillion pieces of plastic litter in the ocean currently. However, while plastic pollution is more of a hidden issue, the ocean cleanup project has set sail to abolish the islands of plastic in the ocean.

On September 8, 2018, the ocean clean up project started its two-week journey from San Francisco to the Netherlands to eliminate garbage patches in the ocean.

The ocean cleanup crew has developed a solution called the passive system. The system uses natural forces (wind and waves) to propel itself. This invention sits above the plastic and moves faster than the plastic itself allowing the pollutants to be captured.

After they retrieve the plastic from the ocean, research shows ways to turn plastic into high-quality products such as cell phones, chairs, sunglasses etc. They hope after selling the plastic-made material, the cleanup project will become self- sustainable.

The Ocean Cleanup project is a huge step in the right direction because plastic pollution in the ocean is an enormous and increasing problem. If the Cleanup project works, there will be 50% less plastic in the largest garbage patch in the world every five years.

However, if the students of Sartell High School start with trying to eliminate plastic waste, we can help to abolish the problem of plastic pollution. Take the time to properly recycle plastic instead of throwing it on the ground or in the garbage. If you don’t, those plastic bottles still find their way to the ocean. If you are worried about not recycling them correctly buy a reusable water bottle or straw, so you aren’t participating in the pollution.

Click here and scroll down for more information on what you can do to protect our oceans.