In the article, “Boy Genius Boyan Slat’s Giant Ocean Cleanup Machine Is Real”, Schiller (2017) reported that the oceanographer Charles Moore observed an increased in the amount of plastic trash found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Over time, the accumulation of plastic trash created a walkable platform. In 2011, the Ocean Cleanup machine was first introduced through a TED Talk by Slat and the major cleanup project began in 2018. Although the project was funded by individuals and companies, it received many criticisms for wasteful resources and setting an unattainable goal. However, Slat anticipates that through technological advancement, the project will be cost effective and efficient. The machine is a scalable and reliable modular system and would be launched in 2018 after the testing of the prototype. Slat has done thorough research to better understand the project. With the help of the Pacific’s currents, the floating device would gather tons of trash. The long-term goal is to fully utilize the Ocean Cleanup machine and reformed the collected rubbish into new items.
While the Ocean Cleanup project has a promising outcome to clean the ocean from plastic items that are floating, it fails to point out some of the solutions that are more feasible, cheaper and friendlier to the marine life. Slat’s claim to recycle the rubbish collected is not a very brilliant idea.
Firstly, the Ocean Cleanup project was introduced as an initiative to clean up the ocean efficiently and will be cost effective. However, based on an article by REDEFINE “6 Reasons That Floating Ocean Plastic Cleanup Gizmo is a Horrible Idea”, it clearly states that there are more efficient and cheaper way to clean the ocean. One of the points states that clearing the plastic waste that are washed in the shores is one of the on-going initiatives that helps clear the plastic waste. Another initiative that was suggested was to stop the use of single use plastic items. With this small daily effort, it is definitely cheaper and efficient than the idea of Slat.
Secondly, Slat had a vision for a massive machine (booms) to clear big plastic objects in the ocean, however, this massive machine might endanger marine lives. Based on one of the points from REDEFINE’s article, the massive booms that are floating pose as a threat to the marine life. As the plastic items are trapped within the boom, some of the marine lives such as planktons, seals, dolphins might be trapped within the plastic items and the “ghost nets”. These marine lives might end up eating the plastic items, eventually dying due to starvation and suffocation. These massive booms were designed to trapped big plastic items, however, smaller items that were broken down by waves and wind could not be trapped easily.
Thirdly, Slat claims that the rubbish collected can be recycled to produce items like car bumpers, chairs, and eyewear however this might not be the case as single use items are not recommended by the recycled companies to be recycled. These companies are not willing to reuse these recycled materials because the strength of plastic will be reduced after it is melted and becomes a low-grade plastic. Meanwhile, Slat’s machine is designed to collect plastic that have been floating and exposed to ultraviolet ray, with this condition of the collected materials, these materials are far worse than the items that are “recycled” on land.
Although it is our responsibility to clean the ocean, it is also our responsibility to fully utilise the resources that were allocated.
Nicole Vale 