I don't agree with some of their concerns - for example, I wouldn't think that having something to clean up ocean plastic would derail any attempts to reduce disposable plastics (single use plastics drive me crazy and I wish there was a greater emphasis on using biodegrable options, but I don't see much progress being made there right now regardless). I wish there was - single use plastic lined shipping envelopes, styrofoam cups, etc. seem so wasteful to me. Why do we use materials that last such a long time to make something that's going to be almost immediately thrown away?
The argument that the plastic makes its own ecosystem now and shouldn't be disrupted is...interesting. Not sure that would be a big consideration to me.
The arguments about hurting regular marine life and the sea floor make sense - I thought their website mentioned going through an environmental review, but I don't know how strict that would be.
The issue of not getting 98% of the (tiny) plastics and what to do with the plastic afterwards are definitely large technological obstacles, for sure.
I guess my biggest concern with the article is that at some point, the big problems can feel so big that it leads to helplessness and hopelessness - it's at least nice to see people trying.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-01-02 07:49 pm (UTC)I don't agree with some of their concerns - for example, I wouldn't think that having something to clean up ocean plastic would derail any attempts to reduce disposable plastics (single use plastics drive me crazy and I wish there was a greater emphasis on using biodegrable options, but I don't see much progress being made there right now regardless). I wish there was - single use plastic lined shipping envelopes, styrofoam cups, etc. seem so wasteful to me. Why do we use materials that last such a long time to make something that's going to be almost immediately thrown away?
The argument that the plastic makes its own ecosystem now and shouldn't be disrupted is...interesting. Not sure that would be a big consideration to me.
The arguments about hurting regular marine life and the sea floor make sense - I thought their website mentioned going through an environmental review, but I don't know how strict that would be.
The issue of not getting 98% of the (tiny) plastics and what to do with the plastic afterwards are definitely large technological obstacles, for sure.
I guess my biggest concern with the article is that at some point, the big problems can feel so big that it leads to helplessness and hopelessness - it's at least nice to see people trying.