END PLASTIC SOUP
The Sea-Hamster and its crew are ready to go
Only a few months after Mare Nostrum commissioned the construction of a waste collection boat from One Earth – One Ocean, it was launched during a festive ceremony. At the same time, the associated recycling center was inaugurated, where the collected waste is sorted and compressed into bales.
Sea-hamster and crew
Inauguration ceremony of the recycling center
Rotarian Reto Stump, along with representatives of the district and local authorities
First clean-up along the banks of the Mekong with the participation of local authorities
While awareness-raising efforts are being initiated in various locations to ensure that as many people as possible support the efforts to keep water bodies clean, the employees of the "Lower Cleaning Center Mare Nostrum" take action. In a coordinated effort with local authorities, they collect washed-up waste along the riverbank. Equally important is retrieving plastic waste on land to prevent it from being carried into the water by wind and rain.
Collection day with government representatives
Plastic waste also along the roads
Shoreline cleanup by hand
No recycling without proper separation and processing
Under the guidance of One Earth - One Ocean, the employees of the recycling center are trained in identifying and separating plastic waste. A bale press is delivered and put into operation. Training is also required for handling such heavy machinery.
Sorting the waste is mostly done by hand.
Delivery of the waste press
Commissioning of the waste press
The result is impressive
Bales of sorted, pure plastic raw material are proof that, through the collaboration of many, it is possible to take steps against the overwhelming issue of plastic waste, little by little. Thanks to your help as well!
Collection result of the day
Separation and sorting hall
Purely sorted plastic bales
Only when the whole package comes together can the project be successful
A key factor for the acceptance of Mare Nostrum's activities and all other organizations worldwide addressing the plastic waste problem is that the local population not only understands the purpose and importance of the effort but also economically benefits from it. Therefore, from the very beginning, infrastructure for processing plastic waste had to be established alongside the waste collection boat. We will keep you updated on this aspect of the project, the economic impact for the local population, in our newsletters.
Why a SeaHamster from One Earth – One Ocean?
One way to address the plastic pollution problem is through collection and recycling. The environmental organization One Earth – One Ocean, based in Munich, tackles this issue on a large scale. With their specially designed collection boats in various sizes, they achieve noticeable results in removing the large floating trash islands from the water’s surface. These not only mar the landscape but also suffocate the life beneath them.
The collection vessels are individually adapted to the local water landscape. For smaller boats operating on lakes and rivers, different tools such as nets, ramps, or conveyor belts are used depending on the need, allowing the crew to work efficiently and effectively.
Mare Nostrum's goal was to donate such a collection boat. The so-called SeaHamster has a collection capacity of up to 500 kg per trip. On average, around 1.5 tons of plastic and other waste can be recovered from the waters each day.
