unconsumption: Could recycled plastic bottles...

5th October 2011

Video reblogged from Unconsumption with 60 notes

Could recycled plastic bottles help stop coastal erosion?

On the coast of Louisiana, volunteers have assembled and planted floating islands made from recycled plastic water bottles.

The islands are several inches thick and feel like brillo pads. They contain a series of holes, evenly spaced out, where marsh grasses can be planted. Each one holds between 50 to 60 plants a piece. The idea is, once the islands are anchored, the plants will grow and the roots will eventually collect sediment— helping build new land within six months to a year.

“We’ll put the islands next to those existing marshes and they will act as a buffer to protect the current existing marshes,” said Buddy Boe of America’s Wetland Foundation. “What we’re doing is a restoration and an experiment all at the same time.”

Over the next year, Martin Ecosystems [a Baton Rouge-based company that developed the floating islands] and America’s Wetland Foundation will monitor the islands to see if they are successful in creating new land.

(via Recycled plastic water bottles getting new use in coastal restoration project | wwltv.com New Orleans)

[Thanks, Susan C.!]

This is relevant to my thesis!

Tagged: environment environmental coastal erosion recycled plastic bottles Louisiana news

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