Plastic Pollution Solutions: Discovering Effective Collection Methods
The escalating crisis of plastic pollution demands urgent and effective interventions to safeguard our planet’s ecosystems. Elastec is dedicated to exploring critical plastic pollution solutions, with a particular emphasis on methods designed for the direct removal of plastic waste from water. Addressing this complex challenge necessitates a comprehensive strategy, encompassing not only preventing plastic from entering the environment but also actively cleaning up existing pollution. Within this framework, two primary approaches to direct intervention stand out: passive and active collection methods.
Passive collection methods involve the deployment of barriers and devices that operate without requiring active movement or continuous human intervention. These solutions harness natural forces to capture and contain floating plastic debris. Examples of such innovative barriers include Bottle Booms, often constructed by community groups using readily available materials like empty plastic bottles, which can be strategically placed in small creeks and waterways to intercept floating trash. More robust, long-term solutions like PermaFence can be deployed in larger waterways to contain plastic over extended periods. For rivers with stronger currents and significant debris loads, the Brute Boom offers a steel-reinforced structure capable of holding back substantial amounts of floating garbage. Additionally, the Brute Bin represents a proactive approach to capturing floatable debris from stormwater systems before it reaches larger bodies of water, often implemented by municipal authorities. These passive methods provide crucial first lines of defense in preventing the further spread of plastic pollution.
Complementing passive approaches are active collection methods, which involve the direct removal of plastic pollution through the use of boats and other equipment. An example is the Omni Catamaran, a smaller, user-friendly trash-collecting boat designed for single-person operation.
Passive Plastic Pollution Collection Methods
Bottle Boom – DIY Containment Barrier
ELASTEC Bottle Boom is a debris collection barrier that anyone can use at home. The boom is supplied as an empty sleeve that the owner can stuff using sealed plastic bottles. The boom is then installed in a local small creek or waterway to collect floating trash and debris. The Bottle Boom is ideal for groups looking to complete a community service project, such as Scouting groups, 4-H clubs, schools, or any group concerned with environmental cleanup. We also offer it for sale in our online shop.
PermaFence
You can use a variety of floating barriers for containing floating plastic. These booms may be homemade, ideally from the trash itself, or commercial types. Booms used for oil containment can be employed however they typically have deep skirts which are not always necessary. An example of an oil boom being used for trash is the PermaFence. This kind of “permanent” oil boom is made from heavy-duty belting with hard floats attached. These are preferable over lightweight response booms as they need to stay in the water for long periods of time, but any booming is good!
If you’ve got a small waterway, why not make your own boom! We’ve found a few on the internet, tie some plastic jugs together. Send us pictures of your efforts, we will be happy to share.
Brute Boom
The Brute Boom is an example of a booming solution for a river with high currents and debris, its steel reinforced structure can hold back big loads, which can possibly be diverted to the bank or collection units. The Brute Bins that we have installed have collected hundreds of pounds of floating garbage but we want to do better. These systems present real opportunities for improvement.
Brute Bin
The purpose of the Elastec Brute Bin is to capture floatables from stormwater conveyances and outfalls before they reach our waterways. In the United States, many Municipal Separate Stormwater Systems (MS4) are installing open water trash capture technologies, such as the Brute Bin, to reduce litter loadings into water. An evaluation of the installation site must first be conducted based upon the local hydrology, current flow speed, trash load levels, easy access for trash removal and maintenance as well as of the surrounding habitat environment.
Active Plastic Pollution Collection Methods
Omni Catamaran
Trash collecting boats have been around for years and there are many examples from water wheel driven units, to large and sophisticated boats with conveyor systems. Our own Omni Catamaran is on a the smaller scale, its simpler design allows for one man operation. Its interchangeable “pods” are easily exchanged to facilitate various marine tasks such as: collecting floating debris, transporting cargo, pumping out boat sewage, cutting invasive aquatic weeds, supporting diving operations, lifting buoys and responding to oil spills. The Omni Catamaran’s unique drop-in pod system allows for a range of duties to be performed efficiently while offering a large, flat working platform and excellent stability.