A controversial scheme to clean up plastic in the Pacific Ocean could harm wildlife and release unnecessary greenhouse gases into the air, conservationists have warned. On September 9th, The Ocean Cleanup foundation will launch a device to sweep up plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and remove it from the water. The system uses a 2000ft long u-shaped floating cylinder with a 10ft skirt beneath which moves along with the current capturing plastic as it goes. The refuse is corralled into a small area and then picked up by boat every few months and taken to land for processing and recycling. A section of the floating system which will move with the water currents collecting plastic Credit: The Ocean Cleanup The Ocean Cleanup claims that full-scale deployment of their system could clean up 50 per cent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just 5 years. However marine experts claim the project could do more harm than good. Dr Sue Kinsey, Senior Pollution Policy Officer a...
