The World Has a Plastic Problem, and a Parachute Might Help Solve It

Hundreds of miles between the coasts California and Hawaii is what’s known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — an accumulation of plastic expanding nearly a million square miles or roughly twice the size of Texas. 
The plastic, which ranges from massive fishing nets weighing more than a ton to tiny fragments often just millimeters in size, collected for decades due to a gyre, or whirlpool of currents, that focused ocean pollution from disparate areas into one localized spot (it’s not like a floating landfill, instead the plastic is suspended throughout the water column). The patch, which was discovered in 1997, has since grown to be the largest aggregation of plastic across the world’s oceans. 
In 2013, Boyan Slat, an 18-year-old entrepreneur, set out to eliminate that patch. He founded The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit with the goal of eliminating ocean plastic, and crowdfunded nearly $2.2 million

Slat’s team built an enormous curved device with the purpose of passively gathering trash inside the garbage patch. The 2,000-foot C-shape plastic pipe is connected to a screen that spans 10 feet below the water’s surface. 
On Wednesday, following multiple setbacks, the Ocean Cleanup announced a major breakthrough: The most recent iteration of the device successfully collected and stored plastic. 
This version incorporates a parachute, which serves as an anchor. The parachute slows down the vessel so that it moves just slightly slower than the ocean’s current. That allows for faster-moving plastic to accumulate in the screen. A floatline keeps the system buoyant, and due to its slow speed, sea life are able to swim below the barrier. Large fishing nets, plastic objects, like car tires and plastic bins, along with microplastics all accumulated in the device, which is called the System 001/B.

A bird’s-eye view of The Ocean Cleanup’s device.

But creating a successful device wasn’t easy, and early versions had critical flaws. At one point, a 60-foot section broke off, and the entire device had to be brought back to shore. In another version, the collected trash would spill back into the ocean.  
“After beginning this journey seven years ago, this first year of testing in the unforgivable environment of the high seas strongly indicates that our vision is attainable and that the beginning of our mission to rid the ocean of plastic garbage, which has accumulated for decades, is within our sights,” Boyan Slat said in a press release
As the device catches plastic, The Ocean Cleanup’s team uses handheld nets to gather the trash, which takes a significant amount of effort. The long-term goal is for a ship to visit the patch regularly to capture the collected plastic, which will be brought to shore to be recycled.
As The Ocean Cleanup plans to create a System 002 of the device, a few key challenges remain: How will the current device hold up during a harsh winter? Can the device hold plastic for months between pickups? 
“Our team has remained steadfast in its determination to solve immense technical challenges to arrive at this point. Though we still have much more work to do, I am eternally grateful for the team’s commitment and dedication to the mission and look forward to continuing to the next phase of development,” Slate said. 
But Slat said he remains positive. Once the challenges are assessed and fixed, The Ocean Cleanup plans to design a fleet of devices designed to rid oceans of their plastic. With the success of a fleet, the nonprofit predicts to remove 90% of the ocean’s plastic by 2040.
More: 37 Ways to Shrink Your Use of Plastic 

Straws That Don’t Suck: The Alternatives to Plastic Don’t Stop at Paper

Our world has a plastic problem, and America’s relationship with single-use plastics is one part of it. Walk down any city or suburban street in the summer and you’re likely to see someone drinking an iced coffee through a straw. Go to any movie theater and you’ll see folks headed to their seats with giant sodas and slushies — and odds are they won’t be drinking them straight from the cup. 
Straws have become shorthand for the deleterious impact single-use plastics have on our planet’s ecosystems, and for good reason. In the United States alone, between 170 million and 390 million straws are used each and discarded each day, adding to the 8 million tons of plastic that end up in our oceans every year. These straws are then consumed by marine life and can end up in the bellies of fish, nostrils of sea turtles and jammed in the throats of birds, causing them extreme pain and in many cases killing them. 
Rising to the call to make our planet a better place for everything living in it, communities and countries are banning straws along with other single-use plastic, like plastic bags and utensils. Conservationists hope that straws will be a “gateway plastic” that leads to important conversations about our country’s reliance on single-use plastic. So while you’re ditching the straw, try to ditch the single-use coffee cups and plastic water bottles while you’re at it. 
But as we have a conversation about straws, It’s important to note that they’re not only a preferred way of enjoying a beverage — for some, they can be essential to participation in public life. Many people with disabilities rely on straws to drink and eat outside of their homes, and banning straws without providing alternatives that actually work would push them further into the margins of society.  

A boy drinks from a glass with a paper straw, one of the most popular eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws.

As we continue to innovate for the perfect solution that both minimizes our impact on the planet and meets the needs of people with disabilities who rely on them, here are some sustainable options for the sustainability-minded to consider:

1. Glass

Glass might be your best option when it comes to eco-friendly sipping devices. A glass straw is reusable and recyclable. A majority of glass straws are made of shatter-resistant borosilicate, so if you’re clumsy, you can drop away. Unlike paper and metal straws, glass straws don’t change the taste of your drink. So try one out from here or here.

2. Agave 

Agave, a plant typically harvested for its sweet nectar, is becoming a staple in bioplastics, which are plastic-like materials made from organic compounds. The result? A straw that closely resembles our society’s beloved plastic straw, but is, thankfully, both biodegradable and affordable. And since many of these bioplastic companies are using waste to create the bioplastics, it’s a win-win for the eco-conscious consumer on a budget. Stores looking to buy in bulk can get straws from Bio Agave or individuals can find agave straws on Etsy here.

pasta straw
Noodle straws have become a fun, affordable option to sip coffee or slurp boba from.

3. Dry Noodles

This might seem silly, but noodles are no longer just a vessel for marinara or soy sauce. Instead, companies are using dry noodles to transport liquids from your glass to your mouth. And there are a few reasons to be excited about it. First, noodles are biodegradable. They’re also affordable and surprisingly sturdy if you can get past how … uncanny it might be. Check it out here

4. Paper

Paper straws are the most common replacement for single-use plastic straws. You’ll find them at coffee shops and restaurants touting a more environmentally-friendly option. Paper staws are a cheap, biodegradable solution. However, they quickly break down in a liquid, which can be frustrating for a slow drinker. You can also find paper straws at a variety of places, and even stores like Target and Walmart carry paper straws.

Seaweed straws
People are now growing seaweed for straws. Seaweed straws have a plastic-y texture and biodegrade quickly.

5. Seaweed

Seaweed is an easy, carbon-sucking plant when grown, so it makes sense to grow it for straws. The seaweed straws have a similar texture to plastic, but due to its compostable nature, it won’t survive in the ocean for centuries. Instead, they quickly biodegrade into food for marine animals. You can find seaweed straws here.

6. Bamboo

Bamboo straws are another popular replacement. It serves as the middleman between a single-use and a forever-use item. Bamboo straws are durable, but they probably won’t last you a lifetime, unlike a metal or glass straw. When it’s run its lifetime, the straws will decompose. Find a single bamboo straw here for only $2 or a set of six for $10.50 here.
Embed: Two children drink smoothies from a reusable metal straw, one of the most popular replacements for plastic straws. Photo by Viara Mileva/Getty Images

metal straws
Two children drink smoothies from reusable metal straws, which is one of the most popular replacements for plastic straws.

7. Metal

Metal might be the most common reusable straw you see. That’s because it’s easy to clean and compact enough to carry in a purse or backpack. However, keep in mind metal straws transfer heat easily, so beware of drinking your hot coffee out of one. Give them a shot and purchase four straws for $4.50 here.

8. Straw

Pun intended. Some companies have turned back to the straw’s origins. In the 1800s people used grain stalks, like straw or hay, to function as straws. So why not go back? Straw straws are cheap and biodegradable. You can find a pack of 100 straws for $7 here

silicone straw
A family drinks smoothies from their reusable silicone straws.

9. Silicone

If you don’t want to give up the plastic-y feel, a silicone straw is your best bet. They’re perfect for your favorite boba or smoothie drink, and most are dishwasher safe. They’ll last you years, preventing hundreds of single-use straws ending up in the ocean or landfill. Silicone straws can be bought from many chain stores or online here.

10. Skip the Straw

The cheapest and most sustainable option on this list is to skip the straw altogether. Although some folks rely on straws due to disabilities, a majority of us don’t need a straw. So the next time you’re out at happy hour or sitting down for dinner, simply ask for no straw.
More: 37 Ways to Shrink Your Use of Plastic

Five Things That Should Never, Ever Be Flushed Down The Toilet

When it comes to polluting our oceans, single-use plastics might take the most heat from environmentalists. But there are plenty of other things we should keep out of our toilets — and oceans.
Condoms, tampons and dental floss easily clog up toilets and pipes. Instead, toss those items in the trash. Or consider purchasing a brand of floss that’s biodegradable. For an eco-friendly alternative to tampons, try a menstrual cup. The average woman uses around 11,000 tampons over the course of her lifetime, but a single reusable cup can last up to 10 years.
When you’re cooking, avoid pouring used grease and oil down your pipes. These congeal and can cause fatbergs, which are a nightmare to remove (and cost taxpayers millions). The best solution? The garbage bin.
Your medicine should never be disposed of in the toilet. Wastewater treatment plants aren’t equipped to filter out medicine, so they end up contaminating lakes and other sources of water. Stockpile unused medicine and turn it all in on Oct. 27 for National Prescription Drug Takeback Day.
Finally, those tiny contact lenses quickly add up. Especially when you consider that 45 million Americans wear them every day, which amounts to 14 billion lenses annually. So give extended wear lenses or glasses a shot. You can also participate in a recycling program for lenses and their packaging. 
Watch the video above for more information on how to reduce your environmental footprint and help save the planet.
 
More: Can’t Flush This

Can’t Flush This

Safe sex can be bad for the environment — if you don’t dispose of your condoms correctly.
It’s one of the larger problems for sewage plants around the world: lovers who toss their used condoms in a toilet instead of the trash. Condoms cause problems by clogging sewage drains around the world.
From London’s infamous “Johnnyberg” to an Austin, Texas, clog that led to a prostitution bust, the latex that protects you from STDs and unwanted pregnancies is costing taxpayers millions a year to unclog from pipes and sewers.
But condoms aren’t solely to blame for sewage backups and overflows. Many things clog sewers, which can lead not only to pricey repairs, but the resulting gunk can also overwhelm treatment plants and get washed out to our waterways and oceans.
Here’s a list of just a few things that experts say not to put in the toilet, along with some alternatives to just flushing it all away.

Grease

If you really want to be terrified of the sewer, don’t just look for Pennywise. Look up “fatberg” on Google.
This is your trigger warning.
“Fatbergs” are fairly common. A 2014 study found that 47 percent of the 36,000 sewage overflows in the U.S. occurred because of fat clogs in sewers. And it happens because the fat you pour down the drain mixes with calcium in the drain pipes and it all globs together like…a big sewer-clogging glob. Ultimately, that buildup can cost thousands of dollars to repair, not to mention that oil and grease from our sewer systems damages our beaches and oceans.
As an alternative: Throw that bacon grease in the waste bin. Or, if you use a lot of vegetable oil when you cook, you can turn your beater into a greaser.

Dental Floss

Typically, what goes in your mouth will end up in your toilet. But there’s a caveat to this rule: dental floss.
Dental floss is made of nylon or teflon and doesn’t biodegrade easily. Eventually, what it turns into is a big ol’ ball of yuck.
“When [floss gets] into the wastewater system [it ends] up balling up into these big clumps and getting the workings of our system stuck or broken,” Andrea Pook, spokeswoman for the East Bay Municipal Utility District, tells the Huffington Post.
As an alternative: Try biodegradable silk floss or a water flosser.

Toilet 2
Small household items that we flush down the toilet add thousands of tons of waste to our oceans.

Tampons

Despite their small size, tampons don’t do well in sewage systems. Their absorbent qualities and the string attached to them makes it difficult to break down in sewage systems.
The best way to dispose of them is just to toss them in the garbage.
“It’s best to simply wrap a used tampon in toilet paper and toss it in the garbage, or, if you’re in a public washroom, place it in the waste receptacle for feminine hygiene products,” Playtex, a company that makes tampons, says on its website.
As an alternative: Try using a menstrual cup like the silicone Diva Cup, which can last up to 10 years.

Medicine

Wastewater treatment plants aren’t designed to filter out medicines. As a result, only half of the drugs people throw down the toilet are actually filtered out by sewage treatment.
In 2002, the US Geological Survey found that 80 percent of stream waters studied were contaminated to some degree with pharmaceuticals or hormones. In a more recent survey, 118 pharmaceuticals were found in 25 treatment plants across the states.
In the Great Lakes, six chemicals were detected frequently and had a low rate of removal in treated water, including an anti-seizure drug and an herbicide.
As an alternative: Stockpile your medicines and then turn them in on Oct. 27 during the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (the website also has a handy collection site locator tool).

Contact lenses

Contacts might just be little bitty things, but when you figure that more than 45 million people wear them in the U.S. alone, and collectively throw away around 14 billion lenses annually, that adds up to a lot of plastic getting flushed down the john. Making matters worse, contact lenses — like most plastics — don’t biodegrade easily, and tend to break down into microparticles that float into the ocean and add to the 93,000 to 236,000 metric tons of microplastic current in our oceans.
As an alternative: Extended wear lenses…or just get glasses. If you do go disposable, TerraCycle and Bausch + Lomb have partnered to create a free recycling program for some lenses and packaging.

Pulling Plastic From the Sea (and Recycling It Into Skateboards)

Growing up near Cape Cod, Ben Kneppers felt an affinity with the ocean. “I lived right beside a cove, where my friends and I spent all our time catching blue crabs, clamming and exploring,” he says.
It’s no surprise that Kneppers grew up to become an environmental consultant — and avid surfer. His career took him to Australia, where he befriended David Stover and Kevin Ahearn, who shared his passion for catching waves. During late-night talks, the guys always seemed to return to the topic of plastic garbage in the ocean. They were constantly surfing over, around or through it.
“We’d find ourselves asking, ‘What if we could do something about that?” remembers Kneppers.
There didn’t seem to be an answer.
In 2012, Kneppers relocated to Chile for work. When he heard a program funded by the Chilean government was looking for sustainable start-ups to fund, he remembered those conversations with his friends. “For as much doom and gloom as we cast on ocean pollution, I figured it was probably actually solvable,” Kneppers says.
He reached out to Stover and Ahearn and suggested they figure out how. Stover has financial skills and Ahearn, engineering expertise. Kneppers, for his part, “researched the heck out of” ocean plastic. He interviewed local fishermen, scrutinized coastal infrastructure, and studied behavior and design. His conclusion? “Waste is a design flaw,” Kneppers explains. “If we designed something using a circular model, we could solve the problem that we created.”
In other words, what if local fishermen could be paid to harvest plastic waste? What if it was not only fished out of the water but transformed into something of value?
Kneppers thought back to his childhood and how his prized possession was a skateboard. It would take two pounds of plastic to produce one – but it could be sold for around a hundred bucks. That volume of plastic could easily be sourced from discarded fishing nets, which make up more than 10 percent of the world’s ocean pollution.
The guys had their idea.
They named their company Bureo, which means “the waves” in the language of the Mapuche, a group of native Chileans.
Once they received funds from the start-up accelerator, Stover and Ahearn moved to Chile to get Bureo’s fishnet collection and recycling program, “Net Positiva,” up and running. Within six months, more than 6,600 pounds of abandoned fishing nets were collected.
The first (fish-shaped) skate deck, dubbed “The Minnow,” was manufactured from the upcycled debris.
Today, Net Positiva operates in dozens of villages throughout Chile. In 2017 alone, it salvaged more than 185,000 pounds of nets from the ocean.
Sidewalk cruiser skateboards were just the start. Bureo now makes sunglasses, surf fins and Frisbees. A partnership with Pokenobe Enterprises, the creator and owner of Jenga, led to the world’s first board game made from 100 percent recycled fishing nets.
Singer and environmentalist Jack Johnson’s a fan, selling Bureo products at his concerts. So is outdoor retailer Patagonia. Its corporate venture capital fund, Tin Shed Ventures, is now an investor. And Net Positiva enjoys widespread support in the Chilean villages where it operates. Although some large fishing operations now donate their nets, Bureo takes the money it would have paid fishermen to retrieve them and invests it into local community projects like improved waste management systems.
Kneppers and his wife, Gabriella, still call Chile home, while Stover and Ahearn work out of Bureo’s Ventura, Calif. headquarters. Pilot programs to capture fishing nets off the Pacific Coast are underway. Ten years from now, Kneppers hopes Bureo will be a global entity.
“I’m the dreamer guy,” he says, “always thinking of the next crazy idea.”