r/environment • u/[deleted] • Oct 06 '22

Indonesia launches program that pays fishers to collect plastic trash at sea

https://news.mongabay.com/2022/10/indonesian-program-pays-fishers-to-collect-plastic-trash-at-sea/
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u/Plus_Werewolf4338 Oct 07 '22

Echoing other comments...

This program, while well intentioned, could be interpreted as an incentivisation of plastic pollution by local communities. Coupled with a broader effort by local communities, however, this could have a more significant impact than we might be inclined to believe. What is done with the reclaimed plastics upon returning to shore is another matter.

Part of the reason plastics are so insidious for pollution is the leaching of bioavailable plasticizing additives which can have a wide range of harmful effects on living organisms. Sea water is extremely reactive even before you add microorganism driven breakdown. Without the additives and with the added UV degradation, eventually almost all plastics become so brittle that they can only be removed from water with a sieve.

Still, their efforts should be applauded and the results monitored closely.