Cracking Down on Plastics - By Executive Director Julie Packard

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Cracking Down on Plastics - By Executive Director Julie Packard

The solution to ocean plastic pollution is #InOurHands. Executive Director Julie Packard shares her thoughts in today's New York Times,  Visit the article.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/opinion/plastics.html

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7 Comments

  1. The solutions to this problem are as complex as the plastics which cause the problem and have to involve both carrot and stick. Recycling has advanced rapidly over the last decade but hardly keeps up with the increased use of plastic packaging. Some items such as microbeads and straws will be banned.

    My solution is to make the suppliers of the plastics responsible for their recovery using ISO9000, ISO14000 or even a new standard to set up a formal system requiring producers/users of plastics to report their recovery rates. Then levy VAT on the product (including foodstuffs) according to their audited rate of recovery. A sliding scale could be based on 0% VAT for 100% recovery and 100% VAT for only 50% recovery with a punitive rate for anything less.

    Food for thought?

  3. Hello Trudi; You are quite brilliant. There is no doubt about that. We most certainly have very similar if not exact same goals. I have lived in Thailand and do understand their plight. More importantly the people. Ours is not one of difference but observational skills.  Allow me to explain.  I see everything from the point of view of nature and then create a plan using the parameters of nature to allow nature to fulfil her genetic potential/responsibilities.  Not a fault of your making but you were raised in a world of government over reaching resulting in THEIR goal of control of everything. When you forget rule #1 it is easier to conquer/control all else. In all things: " you control machines, you lead people".  So fining anyone is not an opinion. It is a disaster waiting to happen.  Since I do this work as a citizen of this planet allow me to address the mistakes made in your examples.  Homeless as a whole are just homeless. If you attempt to hire them as slaves to clean up mans waste they feel this. Entrepreneurs set up recycle centers and pay by the pound will head things in the right direction. This is even more true for the people of Thailand. So much government interference they have lost their desire of trying to get ahead. Again recycle by the pound. When you remove artificial restraints nature takes over. Every single time. In case some have not figured out yet. I do not live in a world of opinions.  Facts only! This is why I have a 100% success rate. Those who are tops in their field have a responsibility to assist those that are not.

  4.  For every problem there is a cause, effect, solution.  I am still waiting for someone to recognize "the cause". #1 is Proper Disposal! #2 is misinformation and fear tactics.  Here are some tools to fix this problem (no bans or regulations required). Make multi use plastics to replace disposal. Have community groups conduct "PLASTIC DRIVES".  Then have at county level a local entrepreneur recycle center. Plastic by the pound recycle dollars. Sub stations as needed. Homeless could easily use the extra cash.  Last and most important. Call a duck a duck. Not a rabbit a Tyrannosaurs Rex. All plastics are organic material. All can be recycled. Just need proper disposal system to make this happen.
     

  5. The following two links express the manifestation of the plastic problem.

     

    PLASTIC POLLUTION AWARENESS 2018

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLx4fVsYdTI

     

    PLASTIC OCEAN

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_2NuK5O-E

     

    And the following link is one proven solution...Plastic Bank

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT4Qbp89nIQ 

    https://www.plasticbank.org/ 

     

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  6. @ plastic waste, we should educate people to use bins and not beach and road for plastic waste, also waste in general.and not only by non permitting. I'm afraid of eco (ecologic) dictator ship. Eco economic dictator ship we have.

    2 Comment replies

    1. Guy McGowen when the cause and effect are separated and the scale is large the work goes on those whose are not the ones causing the problem. Kind of like sending local taxes to a central authority but no way to claw them back. I just got back from a meeting in Thailand, the plastic trash problem is montrous, the company i visited made it a requirement to do each week as you suggest, local pick up- it is not working, each week more and more trash, and the people who are throwing it away just get away. The locals suffer, but are not able to keep up with the volume. In vacation locations this approach is not working. If homeless wanted a job or to get money from collecting pet or recyclables they can do now, but they do not want to seem to do this job. 

      fyi-

      China announced in July that it will not buy certain types of paper and plastic scrap after this year because the material coming into their country is just too contaminated. This news has unnerved many in the recycling industry as well as environmentalists who want to stop plastic pollution. Last year, China imported half of the world’s plastic scrap, including $5.6 billion worth of scrap commodities from the United States. Losing our biggest customer is bringing changes and uncertainty.

      PET and HDPE plastic bottles (#1 and #2) are easily recycled and retain more value after use than other plastics. Much PET and HDPE stays in this country. Manufacturers here buy used PET bottles and turn them into new bottles, carpet and clothing. Recycled HDPE that stays in the U.S. turns into new containers, plastic decking and outdoor furniture.

      I hear you re no more "dictatorship" but without serious fines or bans does not seem to be working.

    2. Excellent point Sir. For every problem there is a cause, effect, solution.  I am still waiting for someone to recognize "the cause". #1 is Proper Disposal! #2 is misinformation and fear tactics.  Here are some tools to fix this problem (no bans or regulations required). Make multi use plastics to replace disposal. Have community groups conduct "PLASTIC DRIVES".  Then have at county level a local entrepreneur recycle center. Plastic by the pound recycle dollars. Sub stations as needed. Homeless could easily use the extra cash.  Last and most important. Call a duck a duck. Not a rabbit a Tyrannosaurs Rex. All plastics are organic material. All can be recycled. Just need proper disposal system to make this happen.

  7. Great article.  With everyone heading out on spring break download a great tool to help report coastal pollution called Trubeach from the iPhone app store for free.  Start helping and become part of the movement to stop trash getting into our waterways.  #trubeachapp #trubeach @trubeachapp @trubeach 

    1 Comment reply

    1. better yet is to educate them to pick it up, and report how much they picked up. taking pics of what was done. there is a great program for beach plastic pick up called bluetube http://www.bluetubebeach.org/tag/plastic-pollution/