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Showing posts with the label plastic

Boat dismantling and disposal at the end of life

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When boats were built of wood, they naturally deteriorated and eventually decomposed when their useful lives were over. But with the advent of glass reinforced plastic (GRP), aka fibre reinforced plastic (FRP), when boats reach the end of their useful lives and maintenance becomes too arduous, it becomes difficult to find a solution for disposal of the GRP which does not break down. At some point, boats are of such little utility or monetary value that they are not worth the cost of upkeep and storage. Boats are often dumped once the cost of disposal exceeds the resale value.  So what can you do? In many places, there are salvage operations that will dismantle and recycle vessels. Used boat part dealers may accept your old vessel for its parts, which they resell. Each dealer has its specific requirements for the length and type of vessel they will accept. Some dealers compensate the boat owner for the value of the useable parts minus the cost of dismantling the vessel and recycling

Plastics in the ocean

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A new study has calculated far higher concentrations of microplastics in the oceans than previously thought. Hopefully, data from samples collected by sailors reaching remote regions of the earth, like Jon Sanders and Matt Rutherford, will shed more light on the extent of the pollution. What we see on the beach and on the surface of the water is just a fraction of the plastic dissolved into minute particles that the sea creatures consume. Does man realise he is destroying his own food chain? No, man does not think beyond himself.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17932-9.pdf

Plastics thrown back from the sea - the gods must be crazy!

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Nature has her way of getting things done that really need doing. We, the people, have polluted the oceans for generations, and now the oceans are giving back. With the invention of plastics, things got seriously worse out there. Who can forget that line from The Graduate: Mr. McGuire : I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Benjamin : Yes, sir. Mr. McGuire : Are you listening? Benjamin : Yes, I am. Mr. McGuire : Plastics. Benjamin : Exactly how do you mean?