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Utopia Talk / Politics / The great garbage patch
Habebe
Member
Mon Sep 28 17:36:33
Or rather patches.

So there are 5 of these big tickets 2 in the Pacific, 2 in the Atlantic and 1 in the Indian.

Now I realize that micro plastics in general pose a bigger threat, and I get that, we shoupd definitley be working towards reducing that waste.

But how hard would it to clean these things up? We have nets, tug boats and barges, how expensive couls it be?

Now where to take it I guess would be the tougher question.
Rugian
Member
Mon Sep 28 17:38:26
Why not just nuke them?
jergul
large member
Mon Sep 28 17:40:43
Assuming the same fuel efficiency for catch as for deep sea trawling, then a kg of plastic will cost you a kg of fuel oil.

The environmental math does not add up using conventional fuels.
habebe
Member
Mon Sep 28 18:11:12
jergul, Switch to whale oil, catch them innthe same nets.
Habebe
Member
Mon Sep 28 18:16:26
http://www...rbage-patch-by-90-by-2040/amp/

Jergul, I guess that would also depend at what distance its being raken too.
Habebe
Member
Mon Sep 28 18:20:58
http://www...-patch-is-growing/40612/%3famp

2012 estimates.

Also, who cares how much fuel it takes by weight? This isnt about climate change.
Pillz
Member
Mon Sep 28 18:28:41
Literally nobody cares
habebe
Member
Mon Sep 28 18:50:21
nobody cares about you cause ypur Canadian. lost cause.

We're talking about cleaning up the oceans now though.
swordtail
Anarchist Prime
Mon Sep 28 18:59:16
grab a broom and hop to it
jergul
large member
Tue Sep 29 02:23:38
If its only about clearing up plastic, then go with Ruggy's nukes.

If its about cleaning up the seas, then work for international agreements that stop dumping plastics into rivers.

No point changing sheets while you are shitting in the bed.
Seb
Member
Tue Sep 29 03:27:18
In terms of cleaning up the patch, you'd be better off with passive measures like booms etc for the reasons jergul mentioned.

Even nuclear powered dredgers etc. you'd probably be better off using the power elsewhere.
Hrothgar
Member
Tue Sep 29 03:53:22
imo the first thing to do to address pollution issues is to stop polluting. The entire world's industry needs to take a look at their products and figure out plastics use. Anything involving plastics needs to be re-evaluated.

Can we do this with stuff that is not plastic? wood, metal, glass, etc...

Can we do this with plant based biodegradable plastic replacements?

Ban outright single use plastics for convenience/entertainment based plastics.

Once industry is working in a healthier manner, then the cleanup can begin in earnest.
Dukhat
Member
Tue Sep 29 04:46:54
Subsidies for plastic alternatives. Tax plastics according to their negative externality.

Throw a little bit of extra tax to fund universal basic income to sway enough knee-trigger anti-government imbeciles into supporting.
patom
Member
Tue Sep 29 07:45:07
I believe that this young guy has invented a method. It failed the first time out but he redesigned it the second time. Haven't heard much lately as the election and Covid-19 are eating up the news.
http://www...Tpc&ab_channel=TheOceanCleanup
Sam Adams
Member
Tue Sep 29 12:37:00
Using plastics that decay after a few years in salt water would be wise for most applications...
Sam Adams
Member
Tue Sep 29 12:39:08
How retarded is cuckhat. Why do you possibly think UBI support is associated with small-government?

Dunce.
habebe
Member
Tue Sep 29 13:37:35
I like the idea of taxing certain kinds of plastics, especially mixed plastics that are difficult to recycle.

But shouldnt the money we get from taxing them go to cleaning up the mess we have.
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