Ocean plastic: How tech is being used to clean up waste problem

The waste problem thus is a significant challenge faced by the world today, and technology is playing an increasingly important role in addressing it. Some of the ways that technology is being used to clean up  ocean plastic waste include:

• Drones: Autonomous drones equipped with cameras and sensors are being used to monitor and map the location and concentration of plastic waste in oceans. This information can then be used to direct cleanup efforts more efficiently.

• Ocean Cleanup Array: This system involves a large floating structure with a V-shaped barrier that uses ocean currents to capture plastic waste. The system then funnels the waste to a central point where it can be collected and removed from the ocean.

• Biodegradable plastics: Scientists are developing new types of plastics that can biodegrade in the ocean without harming marine life. These plastics are designed to break down into non-toxic materials that can be safely absorbed into the ecosystem.

• Trash-eating robots: These robots are designed to autonomously cruise the ocean surface, using sensors to identify and collect floating plastic waste. Some models are even capable of sorting and recycling the collected waste.

• Microplastics removal: Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are too small to be collected by traditional cleanup methods. However, new technologies are being developed to capture and remove these particles from the ocean. For example, some researchers are exploring the use of magnetic fields to attract and remove microplastics from seawater.

• Waste-to-energy technologies: These are technologies that convert waste materials into usable energy, such as electricity or fuel. This not only helps to reduce the amount of waste in landfills but also provides an alternative source of energy.

• Recycling technologies: There are a variety of recycling technologies being used to convert waste materials into new products. These include processes such as mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and biorefining.

• Smart waste management systems: These are technologies that use sensors, data analytics, and other advanced tools to optimise waste collection, sorting, and disposal. They can help reduce waste generation and improve efficiency in the waste management process.

• Ocean cleanup technologies: Plastic waste is a major problem in our oceans, and technology is being used to address this issue. For example, there are large-scale cleanup initiatives that use specialised vessels to collect plastic waste from the ocean.

• Biodegradable materials: Researchers are working on developing biodegradable materials that can replace traditional plastics and other materials that take a long time to break down. This could help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or in the ocean.

Overall, technology is playing an increasingly important role in the fight against ocean plastic pollution. As new solutions are developed and refined, we can hope to make significant progress in cleaning up our oceans and protecting marine life.

The Ocean Cleanup employs a long, u-shaped barrier, like a net, that is drawn across spots of trash by boats. It travels gently in order to prevent causing harm to marine life.Artificial intelligence (AI) cameras are utilised to continually monitor the ocean’s surface for plastic and calibrate the team’s computer models, assisting them in determining which areas of the Pacific to target.

When you look at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, we will observe that certain regions have a very high density of plastic and other parts are completely empty.Of course, if we are constantly cleaning up inside those hotspots, we can be a lot more effective in our clean-up operation.

The team expects that with its present approach, it will have gathered 1% of the patch by the end of the year, but they are ramping up their activities to try to clean up patches faster.The Ocean Cleanup thinks that by deploying ten of these bigger systems in the near future, it will be possible to clean up to 80% of the ocean.

While tackling the world’s marine pollution problem is obviously difficult, it is predicated on reduced plastic manufacture and use in the first place. It is thus believed that we will be able to put ourselves out of business in the not-too-distant future by using these technologies to clean up legacy contamination in the ocean and catch plastic in rivers before it reaches the seas.