How to save the ocean from plastic: a floating fleet of waste was created in Rotterdam

Environmentalists and activists from the city of Rotterdam decided to contribute to the cleaning of the ocean, not by developing another project, but by collecting plastic on the Nieuwe-Maas River, thus “intercepting” the plastic halfway to the ocean trash spots. Nieuwe Maas is one of the branches of the vast delta of the Rhine and Meuse rivers and flows through Rotterdam.

The Recycled Island Foundation has set up three special traps on the river that collect plastic debris that floats downstream and ends up in the North Sea. In addition, volunteers joined the river cleaning work and collected plastic waste on the shore. Plastic waste was sent for processing, and containers were made from the plastic obtained, which served as the basis for an unusual floating fleet.

The floating park on the Nieuwe Maas River was opened in the summer of 2018. At the time of opening, it consisted of 28 hexagonal blocks. This form was chosen specifically so that the blocks can be placed in different combinations and, if necessary, attach new ones to them. The blocks of this unusual floating park have different purposes. Most of them are planted with a variety of herbaceous plants, and the rest are turned into cozy recreation areas for citizens. The floating park immediately became a local attraction and attracted the attention of tourists and citizens.

Perhaps the plastic blocks floating on the river with plants are not as magnificent as the works of prominent landscape designers. But the main goal of this project is to attract public attention to the problem of recycling plastic waste. Such a project clearly demonstrates that it is possible and necessary to deal with plastic in the World Ocean, only it is more expedient to do this on land by catching this dangerous waste from large rivers.

Watch the video: Boyan Slat: How we will rid the oceans of plastic May 2017 (May 2024).