As it is World Recycling Day on the 18th of March, it is worth taking a look, once again, at the issue of plastic pollution and some of the things that need to happen to address it.
It’s no secret that the world is in the midst of a plastic crisis. We’ve all seen the images of sea turtles dying from ingesting plastics that they have mistaken for food –a point that was brought heartbreakingly close to home in Hong Kong when two green turtles here were found to have died from eating plastics (1)– and every year or so there seems to be some new report about how much more plastic is due to wind up in our oceans without drastic global action (2).
Recycling is often touted as a means of solving this crisis and in many respects, it can help. Processing and manufacturing waste products into new ones reduces the need to produce new plastic as well as the accumulation of waste in landfills. It also helps to reduce carbon emissions from manufacturing and as well as fossil fuel extraction for plastic production.
However, simply throwing our plastics into the nearest recycling bin is not enough, particularly when, as is the case in Sulawesi and Hong Kong, facilities for adequately processing recyclable waste are either too few in number or non-existent. In this scenario, little plastic waste is likely to actually be recycled. In fact, according to a recent study, much of the plastics put in recycling bins in Hong Kong actually ends up in landfills (3).
It’s clear that more innovative approaches to recycling are needed, ones which actually put recycled plastics to use. One recent innovation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) involves converting discarded plastics (e.g. bags) into polythene fabrics which can be used to make clothing with (4).
Recycling for Orangutans at SOC
At Masarang Foundation, we may not be able to take such a hi-tech approach. But we nevertheless do our part to give plastics a new purpose and keep them out of the environment. For instance, we use old tyres as swings, hammocks and beds for the orang-utans in our care at the Sintang Orang-utan Centre and for construction. Plastic bottles are also used to store the seedlings we grow for our reforestation projects.
Below a combination of rubber strips from old tyres was used to make hammocks for the orangutans, in combination with recycled fire hoses and old towels. Beneath that, old motorcycle tyres are used to make enrichment ‘tools’ for the orangutans.
Some of the furniture in our projects is made from recycled tyres. This furniture is very long-lasting. We also frequently collect plastic waste from beaches and recycle it as much as possible. The collection is an activity that is regularly carried out by long-term volunteers as well as the school/University groups from Hong Kong and other countries that join our conservation programs. We plan to use the collected finer waste material that cannot be put to other uses to fill plastic bottles. These bottles will then be used in construction projects as building material. Additionally, at one of the projects, Salimburung island, we use the washed up ‘waste’ and wood to build (as much as possible) facilities in an environmentally- friendly way. Beneath shows images of waste collection from Salimburung island beach involving Masarang staff working together with residents from the local community.
Recycling at Masarang Foundation
Some of the furniture in our projects is made from recycled tyres. This furniture is then very long-lasting. We also frequently collect plastic waste from beaches and recycle it as much as possible. The collection is an activity that is regularly carried out by long-term volunteers as well as the School/University groups from Hong Kong etc. We plan to use the collected material that cannot be used elsewhere to fill plastic bottles. These bottles will then be used in the construction projects. Additionally, at one of the projects, Salimburung island, we use the washed up ‘waste’ and wood to build (as much as possible) facilities in an environmentally- friendly way. Beneath shows images of waste collection from Salimburung island beach involving Masarang staff and residents from the local community.
As for Hong Kong, in 2020 the government adopted two new subsidy schemes to cover the rent and operational costs for recycling facilities in Hong Kong, which could help to mitigate the limitations imposed by the low value of recyclable waste. The Environmental Protection Department also released a new community recycling network called Green@Community, which includes over 30 recycling stations and stores providing bins for 8 types of recyclable waste, information on what can and cannot be recycled and even means to make waste more eligible for recycling, such as stations to wash dirty bottles.
References:
- Knott, K., ‘Sea turtles that died from eating plastic marine debris highlight pollution problem in Hong Kong’. South China Morning Post, 20 November 2020, https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3110658/sea-turtles-died-eating-plastic-marine-debris-highlight-pollution-problem
- Gill, V., ‘Plastic pollution to weight 1.3 billion tonnes by 2040’. BBC News, 23 July 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-53521001
- Earth.org., ‘Investigation reveals plastic in Hong Kong recycling bins sent to landfills’. Earth.org, 26 June 2020, https://earth.org/plastic-in-hong-kong-recycling-bins-sent-to-landfills/
- Briggs, H., ‘Plastic bags recycled into fabric to fight pollution’. BBC News, 16 March 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56404803
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