Pacific Garbage Screening: All information about the environmental project against plastic waste

In this article we present all information about Pacific Garbage Screening. We will explain what this project is about, how the plastic waste filter works and how it could save our oceans.

Pacific garbage screening - how it works

With the Pacific Garbage Screening, the architecture student Marcella Hansch has developed a concept that could not only free the ocean from plastic waste, but also protect the environment. Because it does not need any nets and uses the natural current of the sea.

• Without the ocean current, plastic waste would always float on the surface of the water. However, this current pushes the garbage down, the majority of the plastic, especially microplastics, floats around for the first 30 meters.
• With the concept of Pacific Garbage Screening you can calm the current, the plastic waste would drive upwards. It can then simply be collected there.
• The 400 by 400 meter platform is reminiscent of a huge ridge with about 40 meter long "teeth" protruding into the water. In the spaces in between, the current should calm down.
• The great advantage of this invention: No nets are needed in which fish and other sea creatures could get caught.

Fight sea plastic with PGS

Another peculiarity that shows why this idea stands out from others is that it can also fish microplastics.

• Around 5 to 10 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year.
• It takes up to twenty years for a plastic bag to completely decompose. With a plastic bottle it has been 450 to 500 years.
• So lots of plastic float around in the ocean until sunlight or salt water decompose it - and turn it into microplastics. This is absorbed by fish and ultimately by humans who eat these fish. This damages the ecosystem enormously.

Where to put the plastic? Hansch has an idea!

In addition, the team around Hansch also dealt with the disposal or reprocessing of the plastic. Since plastic damaged by salt water cannot be recycled, the researchers want to use it as fuel.

• With the help of so-called plasma gasification, carbon dioxide and hydrogen can be obtained from the plastic.
• The plant can be supplied with energy using hydrogen.
• The scientists want to use the carbon dioxide as fertilizer for an algal culture on the water in the plant. So you could make a natural plastic - naturally biodegradable.

On our next page we will explain how you can do something good for the environment by switching to green electricity.