How we can stop the flow of plastic pollution into our oceans? | Tim Niemier | TEDxMeritAcademy
Summary
TLDRThis presentation explores the challenges of plastic waste, emphasizing that most plastics, particularly dirty and mixed types, are not recycled and often end up in landfills or oceans. The speaker highlights the dependency on plastic and its environmental impact, while introducing a solution called thermal kinetic compounding (TKC), which allows for recycling dissimilar and dirty plastics. The process could create sustainable business opportunities and reduce plastic pollution. The speaker urges the audience to support innovative recycling methods to stop the flow of plastic into oceans and promote a more sustainable planet.
Takeaways
- ๐ Most plastics do not get recycled and often end up in landfills or oceans, contributing to environmental issues.
- ๐ข The recycling codes on plastic items are not as effective as one might think in ensuring plastic gets recycled.
- ๐ฏ Creating a sustainable business model that values waste plastic could reduce its flow into oceans, as it would be too costly to dispose of.
- ๐ซ Plastic is problematic because it's cheap, durable, and often ends up as pollution due to its low cost and widespread use.
- ๐๏ธ Plastic is incredibly cheap to produce, mainly from fossil fuels like natural gas, making it hard to compete with in terms of recycling.
- ๐ฎ Only about 10% of plastics are recycled, with the majority being dirty and mixed with other types, making the recycling process difficult and expensive.
- ๐ Approximately 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans, breaking down into microscopic pieces that enter the food chain and affect human health.
- ๐ฟ The speaker confesses to contributing to ocean pollution through his former company's production of kayaks but has since sought to rectify this.
- ๐ A process called 'Thermal Kinetic Compounding' (TKC) can recycle dissimilar and dirty plastics into new products, turning waste into valuable materials.
- ๐ญ The TKC process could lead to a significant industry, creating jobs and reducing the need for shipping by allowing local production of plastic products.
- โป๏ธ The potential applications for recycled plastic are vast, including solar roof tiles and sidewalks, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.
Q & A
What do the numbers on the bottom of plastic items signify?
-The numbers on the bottom of plastic items represent the type of plastic they are made from, which is part of the 'resin identification code' system. However, these numbers do not guarantee that the plastic will be recycled.
Why doesn't most plastic get recycled?
-Most plastic does not get recycled because it is often dirty and commingled with other types of plastics, making it too expensive and difficult to clean and separate for recycling purposes.
What is the impact of plastic waste on the environment, particularly the oceans?
-Plastic waste that ends up in the oceans can be unsustainable for marine life and ecosystems, leading to pollution and potential harm to the food chain, including humans, as microplastics can enter our bodies.
How did plastic become so ubiquitous and inexpensive?
-Plastic became ubiquitous and inexpensive because it is made from fossil fuels like natural gas, which are relatively cheap, leading to its widespread use in various products and packaging.
What is the significance of the 10% of plastic that is recycled?
-The 10% of plastic that is recycled, such as milk bottles and water bottles, is significant because these types of plastic are easily cleaned and can be combined for recycling, giving them value and contributing to a circular economy.
How much plastic waste enters the ocean annually, and what form does it take?
-Approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean annually, breaking down into tiny, almost microscopic bits that are pervasive throughout the world's oceans.
What is the 'thermal kinetic compounding' process mentioned in the script?
-The 'thermal kinetic compounding' (TKC) process is a method of recycling plastic by grinding it into bits, heating it, and then molding it into new products. It can use dirty, dissimilar plastics, making it a versatile and potentially cost-effective recycling solution.
How does the TKC process compare to traditional plastic recycling methods?
-The TKC process is more versatile than traditional methods as it can use dirty and dissimilar plastics, does not require cleaning, and can incorporate additional fillers like ground-up tires or tumbleweeds, potentially making it more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
What is the potential economic impact of utilizing the TKC process on a global scale?
-Utilizing the TKC process on a global scale could create a new industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars, providing jobs and economic opportunities while reducing plastic waste.
How does the speaker propose to stop the flow of plastic into the oceans profitably?
-The speaker suggests creating a sustainable business model that values recycled plastic, making it too expensive to throw away, especially into the oceans. This would incentivize the collection and recycling of plastic waste, turning it into valuable products.
What is the potential of using recycled plastic in construction materials like solar roof tiles and sidewalks?
-Recycled plastic has the potential to be used in construction materials like solar roof tiles and sidewalks due to its durability and flexibility. This not only reduces plastic waste but also offers environmental benefits by reducing the need for materials like cement, which has a high carbon footprint.
Outlines
๐ The Challenge of Plastic Recycling
The speaker begins by addressing the audience's recycling habits and the significance of the numbers on plastic items. They explain that most plastics do not get recycled due to their low value and the difficulty of cleaning and sorting them. The environmental impact of plastic waste, especially when it ends up in oceans, is highlighted, emphasizing the need for a sustainable business model that could give value to waste plastic and prevent it from entering the oceans. The speaker points out that plastic is deeply ingrained in our lives due to its low cost and utility, but this comes at a cost to the environment. The recycling rate for plastics is dismally low, with only about 10% being recycled, and the speaker calls for innovative solutions to tackle the plastic crisis.
๐ The Microscopic Menace of Plastic in Our Oceans
The speaker delves into the microscopic scale of plastic pollution in the oceans, which has entered the food chain and consequently our bodies. They discuss the health implications of plastic, which can mimic hormones even at trace levels. The analogy of cleaning up plastic in the ocean to cleaning smog from the air is used to illustrate the enormity of the task. The speaker confesses to contributing to ocean pollution through their business and shares their experience with recycling and the development of a new process called 'Thermal Kinetic Compounding' (TKC), which can recycle dissimilar and dirty plastics into useful products. The process is described as a potential game-changer for plastic waste management.
๐ญ Revolutionizing Plastic Waste Management with TKC
The speaker outlines the capabilities of the TKC process, which can use a wide variety of plastic waste, including dirty and dissimilar types, to create new products. They discuss the economic advantages of this process, which can produce items more cheaply than traditional manufacturing, especially when factoring in the cost of shipping. The potential for job creation and the reduction of CO2 emissions through the use of this process are also highlighted. The speaker envisions a future where this technology could be applied globally, turning waste into valuable products and significantly reducing plastic pollution.
๐ฑ The Vision for a Sustainable Plastic Future
In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes with a call to action, urging the audience to consider the potential of stopping plastic pollution profitably. They suggest that with the right business models and technologies like TKC, we can create a sustainable future where plastic is reused endlessly and does not end up in our oceans. The speaker uses a metaphor of being sent by Saint Peter to solve the plastic crisis, emphasizing the urgency and the potential for humanity to be the solution to the problem it created. The presentation ends on a hopeful note, encouraging the audience to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กRecycling
๐กPlastic Resin Codes
๐กLandfill
๐กSustainable Business Model
๐กVirgin Plastic
๐กPolyethylene
๐กComposting
๐กGyre
๐กMicroplastics
๐กThermal Kinetic Compounding (TKC)
๐กUpcycling
Highlights
The majority of plastic does not get recycled and often ends up in landfills or oceans.
Plastic recycling is complicated by the variety of plastic types and the contamination of used plastic.
Plastic is inexpensive due to its production from fossil fuels, making it hard to compete with in recycling.
Only about 10% of plastics are recycled, primarily because they are clean and can be recombined.
8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean, breaking down into microscopic pieces that enter the food chain.
Plastic pollution is akin to smog, as it consists of tiny particles that are almost microscopic.
Some plastics can disrupt hormones even at parts per trillion, affecting human health.
Preventing plastic from entering the ocean is more effective than cleaning it up after it's there.
The speaker confesses to contributing to ocean plastic pollution through his former kayak business.
A sustainable business model could prevent plastic waste by creating value from unwanted plastic.
The Thermal Kinetic Compounding (TKC) process can recycle dissimilar and dirty plastics into new products.
The TKC process is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and can utilize a wide range of plastic waste.
The potential exists for a new industry worth hundreds of billions, creating jobs and reducing plastic pollution.
Localized manufacturing using the TKC process could eliminate shipping and associated carbon emissions.
The TKC technology could be used to create a variety of products, from solar roof tiles to sidewalks.
The speaker envisions a future where plastic is continuously recycled, preventing it from entering the oceans.
The audience is encouraged to consider the economic and environmental benefits of stopping plastic pollution.
Transcripts
[Applause]
how many of you recycle your plastic
have you ever noticed those little
numbers on the bottom and wondered what
they're all about and you probably most
people think that those little numbers
will make it so all your plastic gets
recycled well it doesn't and that's what
we're going to talk about tonight most
plastic does not get recycled and it
ends up getting thrown away land filled
and sometimes ends up in our oceans if
we throw plastic into our oceans they
could be unsustainable and that could
lead to an unsustainable planet if we
create a sustainable sustainable
business model that would create a value
for this unwanted junk plastic and that
would stop the flow of plastic into the
oceans because it would be too expensive
what's the problem with plastic anyway
can there anybody remember this anybody
old enough to remember the 60s plastic
seemed like an easy cheap answer to all
of our dreams it was a is almost like a
genie gave us a of a durable inexpensive
plastic that we could throw away but
that wasn't sustainable what if we get
to get that genie right now to get rid
of all the plastic in the ocean and on
earth and you'd say yeah let's do it
that'd be so simple we could just get
rid of it but that mean your phone
wouldn't work the internet wouldn't work
and pretty soon after a few hours a lot
of people would be getting hungry and
they'd be probably begging that dreamy
to give them their plastic back so they
could have something to eat screw the
ocean I want something to eat we are
dependent on plastic a single plastic
bag is about the thickness of a human
hair it only costs a penny and it seals
in
freshness and seals out bacteria and it
greatly increases the shelf-life of our
food plastic is really really cheap
because it's made from fossil fuels
actually polyethylene is mainly made
from natural gas and since it's so cheap
it's really difficult to compete with or
recycle it because the virgin plastic
feedstock is so inexpensive 90% of plant
use plastic is dirty plastic and this
dirty plastic is worthless and usually
too expensive to recycle it would just
cost too much more than it's worth it's
usually full of all kinds of dirt and
grime and if you could get it clean the
the other problem with it is that it's
commingled with millions of other kinds
of thousands of other kinds of plastics
that can't nowadays be combined they
have to be separated out and with
plastics there's so many different kinds
only about 10% of the plastic is
recycled and that's mainly like two
examples are milk bottles milk jugs and
milk jugs and water bottles because
these are two distinct types of plastic
and they're easily cleaned and they can
be combined together so they have value
aluminum cans also have value because
there are all the same stuff they aren't
plastic but they're all the same stuff
and you don't see any aluminum cans
around because it has a value the other
90% of the junk plastic gets thrown away
and that can be a problem 8 million tons
of plastic of this thrown away plastic
in the world finds its way into the
ocean 8 million tons one ton is like a
small car plastic breaks down into very
small tiny
little bits it's almost on a microscopic
level now you can see the different
areas there's concentrations of them of
the of the plastic there but it's
everywhere it's in the Antarctic in the
tropics everywhere and this is really
like a smog because the pieces are so
small most people think of a gyre is
like a Garbage Patch but it's really a a
more like a smog and it's made up of
these tiny little bits and they're much
smaller than the ones you see here
they're on a microscopic level and it's
in the food chain which means it's in
our cells so it's not out in the ocean
it's in our bodies with certain plastics
even parts per trillion can get into our
bodies and have the same effects as
female hormones fun huh
cleaning up this plastic is a bet in our
oceans is about as profitable and
difficult as trying to clean up all the
particles of smog in the air once it's
out LA cleaned up its smog problem by
going after and cutting off the source
of the smog and cars and other polluters
it's a thousand times easier to stop the
flow of plastic or plastic or smog
before it goes into the atmosphere or
the ocean than to deal with it once it's
in the ocean the plastic in the ocean
unlike the smog doesn't get washed out
with the rain first I have a confession
to make
personally I have put millions of pounds
of plastic into the ocean I've been
responsible for that and worse yet it's
been along most of the some of the most
pristine coastlines in the world it was
in the form of sit-on-top kayaks
I started the company ocean kayak and we
used to sell 200 to 300 of these a day
my motto was a billion butts in boats in
clean water and I sold the company about
20 years ago this made a lot of people
really intimate with this watery
environment and they started doing beach
cleanups and about this time plastic was
discovered in large quantities in our
oceans if somebody could possibly break
one of my kayaks I would pay for the
shipping of the pieces back and then I'd
recycle it because it was one type of
plastic that I could do that although
they were really tough they came off on
freeways and and without getting damaged
at all but I found that was really good
for business
Yvon Chouinard said you should protect
people in the into outdoor industry
should protect the outdoors otherwise
they won't have a place to sell their
goods when I started out I really didn't
know what I was doing I guess I had a
little grit because I mean so many
mistakes but I had a lot of help from
friends like Elmer good here and he was
my mentor and he had a plastic that was
really really incredibly tough but it
was unrecyclable so he being heavy
having a little bit of grit himself he
came up with a really elegant solution
he grounded up into bits and then put it
into this Cuisinart or food blender type
machine that made the pieces all hot and
then he put it into an aluminum mold and
molded it and the molded parts out of it
I called this process thermal kinetic
compounding I kind of coined that that
word what Elmer also found out was this
process could use dissimilar plastics so
you could commingle plastics for the end
this was the first time this ever
happened it was it was really amazing
you can see all the little bits of
different stuff in there what really
made this awesome was that he could use
dirty plastic he could pour oil in there
he could have because he didn't want to
clean the past he said let's just start
with a dirty stuff and then that works
so well he put he ground up other types
of trash like ground-up tires and
somebody dared him to put tumbleweeds
into the into the plastic and that
actually improved it made it a little
bit stiffer so it was it was they could
build that they could add up to 50
percent of this stuff in there of this
extra filler and it worked just fine
with no problems this would ruin most
conventional plastic recycling machines
because they'd have to use really really
clean stuff a little bit of sand or
something which is ruin them
the tkc process is like a giant 300
horsepower food blender that uses
friction to kinetically heat up all
these little pieces and in about 10
seconds it whips up a 10-pound blob it's
like a loaf of bread dough and this is a
hot plastic thing it stays warm for
quite a while and then that's put into a
low cost aluminum mold and then that's
put in with a lot of pressure and then
they are stamped out and then in a few
minutes the part comes out and it's a
beautiful part and these parts can be
anywhere from the size of your fist to
4x8 which is a big piece so you can
actually make a house with this stuff
and it can have like a waffle pattern
for strength and that's actually really
big for even there's no there's no
comfort there's very few processes that
will make that even with virgin plastic
today virgin plastic like polyethylene
even in China cost about the feedstock
cost about a dollar a pound well with
this process since the feedstock cost
nothing it almost has negative value
because
cost to throw it away we can make things
cheaper than we can in China and the big
bonus is that there's no shipping and
shipping is a terribly awful it takes a
lot of time and it's a very very dirty
dirty business to be in and this would
create jobs right here in the US or or
anywhere in the world but here's the key
if there's suddenly a demand for this
this feed stock that had negative value
and that could get up to like even 20
cents all of a sudden there would be
that would be like not picking this
stuff up would be like throwing money
away so all the rivers where a lot of a
lot of plastic goes out rivers in
different countries and other places
that would all get cleaned up because it
would have value especially in
developing nations
now I come from Bellingham emergently
from California but I I come from
Bellingham Washington which is about the
exact same size as Santa Cruz a lot of
similarities and this community in
Bellingham both create about a million
pounds of of this dirty dissimilar
plastic and that could turn into
millions of dollars worth of plastic
molded products made right here without
any shipping and the nice thing about it
is that the factory would only cost
about a million dollars or under a
million dollars to put together so it's
a high return on investment now the
other thing about this on a world level
if you put this out to a world level
this could be a hundred billion dollar
industry and the interesting thing about
it is we would probably have more trash
over here than we do in China so if we
actually have more feedstock than they
do over there so it's a perfect thing
for for all our thing somebody actually
said that they it would be possible to
mine someday mined landfills
designs for these upcycle products while
the manufacturer could be local very
localized eliminating shipping the
design could be a crowd-sourced global
endeavor where if somebody wants
something done and made in Australia the
design could come from somewhere like
Switzerland and all the CAD files could
be just shipped via email instead of by
shipping products by ship so you get
exactly what you want in that area and
having great design adds more value and
you get more money for the products
because it does more the tkc technology
is proven safe environmentally friendly
and available but we aren't using it yet
what about making solar roof tiles out
of this stuff it'd be perfect because it
doesn't matter that they don't have to
be completely white lightweight
sidewalks would be an excellent thing
they're already they have made them out
of feed bags its agricultural feed bags
because they have you can get the white
colour but these sidewalks are great
because they don't break when the trees
roots grow under them and what's really
amazing about this is that cement is
really cheap but a ton of cement creates
a ton of co2 now you can just imagine
just in one city block like out in front
of the theatre here
it's that how many tonnes that one city
block of sidewalk would be and that's
how many tons of co2 would produced
making that I have no affiliation with
any of the companies produced in any of
these products but I do know still no
elm are good unfortunately he had a
stroke a few years ago and he can't talk
but it's always been his wish to make
this have the tkc process make the earth
a better place I also have a story about
a guy that died and went to heaven and
when he went he was talking to Saint
Peter up there and
he was telling st. Peter you know it's
this is a terrible thing that's that's
that going on down there there's all
this plastic in the ocean and can't she
didn't haven't you sent somebody down or
can't she send somebody down there to
figure this stuff out and st. Peter says
yeah we did it was you
the genie first gave us the gift of
plastic the second gift could be to
reuse this plastic over and over again
and never throw it into the ocean and
that's the nice thing about tkc process
is that you can re recycle this product
that's what the ocean should look like
re recycle everything over and over
again and the third gift could be to
come up with a solution once we stop the
flow of plastic to get the plastic out
of the oceans face it we keep won't and
can't stop using plastic but if we
create molded products we can make this
junk plastic or something so we can't
afford to throw it away and especially
into our oceans we could create a
sustainable business model which would
result in a sustainable ocean and earth
is anybody interested in stopping the
flow of plastic into our oceans and
doing that profitably thank you very
much
you
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