An Australian city is netting praise from around the world for their innovative litter trap.
Although not without problems, the new system highlights the growing global drive to find a way to counter the potentially catastrophic plastic pollution crisis.
The city of Kwinana, which is part of the Perth metro on the Western Australian coast, has attached drainage nets to the outlet pipes of several of its stormwater drains, registering significant results.
Even more significant was the amount of interest the initiative received. Kwinana mayor Carol Adams said on the city’s website that their online post on the project had gone viral.
“It reached over 2.5 million people all over the world in 48 hours.
“The success of the post with over 27000 shares, 92000 likes and 13000 loves just goes to show how important it is for government at all levels to really start to focus on environmental initiatives such as these and realise that small actions can have big impacts.”
The nets were initially placed on the outlet of two drainage pipes, which were located between residential areas and Kwinana’s Henley Reserve, and over the next four months they harvested 370kg of waste, she said.
“The nets capture the gross pollutants carried by storm water from the local road network before they contaminate the natural environment. If it was not for the drainage nets, all that rubbish would have ended up in our reserve.”
The method was more cost effective than other methods like underground litter baskets or screening traps which could be up to four times the cost per unit of the nets, she said.
“The nets cost the city just under A$20000 [R201000], which included the cost of design, manufacture, installation and associated civil works for the two units.
“Their efficiency means the return on capital investment will be realised in the short term together with cleaner reserves and improved safety.”
A crane was used to lift and empty the nets into a truck once they were full, she said.
“The waste is then transported to a sorting facility which processes it, separating out the recyclables and converting the organic material to mulch.”
Asked for his comment on the drainage nets, University of Strathclyde scientist Steve Allen, who has been deployed by the Association of Commonwealth Universities to work with the Sustainable Seas Trust in Port Elizabeth on the issue of plastic pollution, said on Monday the best solution was still prevention.
“Yes, these gross pollutant traps are very effective.
“However, they require expensive and regular maintenance. Once full, they can exacerbate flooding and health risks related to mosquito problems, for instance.
“Currently the best solution is prevention. That means effective municipal services for all household waste at source to prevent waste mismanagement, which allows it to enter the environment.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said the metro was always looking for innovative ways to deal with pollution.
“This is an interesting initiative that will have to be investigated,” he said.