Plastics: Thinking Outside the Box
The issue of plastic pollution is not one that can be solved
in a short time span. It will most likely require generations of scientists
dedicated to addressing this issue. The general public is becoming more aware of
plastic use in day to day life and more people are choosing to recycle or
repurpose their plastics, but this is not a complete solution. In many cases,
the damage has already been done, mountains of plastic waste in landfills or garbage
patches in the oceans.
Luckily, there is a new wave of young, science driven
individuals who are stepping up and proving ingenuity and hard work can really pay
off. Projects such as Ocean Cleanup Project, led by 20 year old Boyan Slat,
started off as a home project which quickly gained traction when he was
featured on a TEDx talk. His idea consisted of using natural oceanic currents
together with a self-sufficient netting array to divert and capture plastic debris
in predefined areas. His success is in large part due to his understanding of
how to best leverage the publicity gained from his TEDx talk, together with crowdfunding
opportunities.
Boyan’s story is unique, but such stories do not have to be
rare in today’s society. The culture surrounding plastic use should be that of limiting
use, recycling, re-purposing but also rewarding those who dedicate their lives
to finding a solution to this ever-growing problem.
We can all make an impact
and contribute to the next Ocean Cleanup Project by browsing the links below:
Sources:
https://www.theoceancleanup.com/
https://www.betterworldsolutions.eu/clean-up-plastic-soup-in-the-oceans/
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