If you've already read our introduction to marine debris, you'll know that the issue of marine debris has grown increasingly severe alongside human economic development. According to statistics, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are currently dumped into the ocean, with nearly one truckload of plastic entering the sea every minute. If the current situation doesn't change, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
The Hazards of Marine Plastic Debris
The truly terrifying aspect of marine plastic debris isn't the visible rubbish — it's the microplastic particles that break apart under the pounding of waves and sunlight. These particles absorb various carcinogens present in the ocean and, through bioaccumulation in the food chain, ultimately find their way back into the human body. Many common modern ailments — such as infertility and developmental delays in children — are believed to be caused by exactly this process.
Fortunately, ocean issues have drawn enormous public attention in recent years. According to unofficial and informal statistics, beach cleanup activities surged between 2016 and 2017, with approximately 20,000 participants joining beach cleanups in 2016 alone — a clear sign that the public is taking ocean issues far more seriously.
The joy felt after every beach cleanup. Photo Credit: 動手愛台灣
Brought together by a shared love of the ocean. Photo Credit: 動手愛台灣
Underwater ocean cleanups during deep diving have also become a growing trend. Photo Credit: 揪潛水同學會
Beach cleanups are not expected to solve the marine debris problem outright. Rather, the hope is that organising these events will inspire people to reduce plastic use in their daily lives. The rate at which humans produce plastic is growing exponentially, and if we don't cut back at the source, no number of beach cleanups or new incinerators will be able to truly resolve the marine plastic debris issue. What humans can realistically do at this stage is collect waste along the shoreline — but a far greater volume of plastic is floating out at sea, forming vast garbage patches. In the future, humanity will spend many times more than it cost to produce that plastic just to collect and dispose of it.
Further reading: Dutch Youth Builds Ocean Garbage Collector
So what becomes of all the coastal waste that people spend so much time and effort collecting? Unfortunately, at present these plastics can only be sent to incinerators to be burned — a process that consumes energy and causes secondary pollution (burning one tonne of plastic produces 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide).
Incineration is currently the only option for processing marine debris. Photo Credit: 動手愛台灣
Beyond the secondary pollution incinerators generate, they also give rise to a host of other problems: many of Taiwan's incinerators are nearing the end of their operational lifespan, making them increasingly energy-intensive; building new facilities faces fierce public opposition. These are all factors that will need to be considered as environmental initiatives move forward.
A New Eco-Friendly Diesel Technology
Last year, we took part in the 社企流iLab incubation programme, hoping to address the marine debris problem through a social enterprise model. In the process, we visited around 20 plastic recycling and processing companies across Taiwan, and finally discovered a remarkable technology that may one day become the best option for treating marine plastic debris.
EVP Group's R-ONE technology uses molecular decomposition to convert mixed, unwashed plastics back into diesel fuel and the by-product carbon black. The process produces only 30 grams of carbon dioxide per tonne of plastic — and generates absolutely no secondary pollution.
How the R-ONE technology works
This technology is perfectly suited to overcome the bottlenecks that currently cause recyclers to turn away marine plastic debris:
- Sorting required => Too many plastic types exist, but R-ONE can process mixed plastics together.
- Water washing required => Marine debris often retains salt, seaweed, sand, and other impurities, but R-ONE can convert these into the by-product carbon black.
- No economies of scale => Because of the two issues above, the range of recyclable plastics is too narrow — but R-ONE sidesteps this problem entirely.
R-ONE production equipment — clean, tidy, and centrally computer-controlled
Can simultaneously process fishing nets, styrofoam, and other fishery waste
Common plastic fragments found in marine debris can all be processed together in mixed batches
This technology is 100% Taiwanese in origin. If it can be applied to marine plastic debris treatment, it could well be another shining example of Taiwanese innovation on the world stage. That said, any business must be profitable to survive. At present, the company primarily processes industrial waste with consistent feedstocks — such as plastic injection moulding scraps and waste cable insulation — because the supply is stable and tipping fees can sometimes be charged. Providing free processing of marine debris still requires a business model to be worked out. Fortunately, the company is currently planning a dedicated marine debris project, and we look forward to the day when a Made-in-Taiwan marine debris processing technology can make its name known to the world!
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