Latest news with #MarinePollutionBulletin
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian container return schemes are a booming good news story
For the first time since South Australia introduced Australia's first modern container return scheme in 1977 every state and territory in the nation is now paying cash for containers, with billions of bottles and cans being recycled and a marked reduction in coastal plastic litter. By close of business on Tuesday the NSW scheme had collected 13,742,879 bottles and cans and paid out $1.374 billion in refunds, with 1.1 million tonnes of product being recycled. In Victoria, an estimated 1.8 billion containers have been recycled through the container deposit scheme since its launch in November 2023. A government spokesman said Victorians had collected $186 million from the scheme, including more than $1.9 million donated to charities and community groups. The last state to introduce its own scheme was Tasmania, which began operations at the start of May and collected more than 1.2 million bottles and cans in its first four days of operations. According to a study published earlier this month in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, the density of plastic pollution had fallen 39 per cent over a decade in coastal areas around Australia's cities, in part due to container deposit schemes. Loading It found containers were not the main form of debris found around Australian cities, except Hobart, according to a survey conducted shortly before the Tasmanian container deposit scheme began operations. 'Hobart, which did not have container deposit options at the time of the survey, was found to have the highest occurrence of fragment and whole beverage bottles compared to all other cities,' says the report. 'This provides additional evidence that effective policies, such as container deposit legislation, can help to reduce plastic in the environment.' The schemes, which see consumers charged a 10¢ deposit which is refunded upon container returns, are successful because they provide the packaging industry with a clean and reliable stream of material for recycling, said James Dorney, chief executive of Tomra Cleanaway, the joint venture which runs the NSW scheme.
The Age
3 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Australian container return schemes are a booming good news story
For the first time since South Australia introduced Australia's first modern container return scheme in 1977 every state and territory in the nation is now paying cash for containers, with billions of bottles and cans being recycled and a marked reduction in coastal plastic litter. By close of business on Tuesday the NSW scheme had collected 13,742,879 bottles and cans and paid out $1.374 billion in refunds, with 1.1 million tonnes of product being recycled. In Victoria, an estimated 1.8 billion containers have been recycled through the container deposit scheme since its launch in November 2023. A government spokesman said Victorians had collected $186 million from the scheme, including more than $1.9 million donated to charities and community groups. The last state to introduce its own scheme was Tasmania, which began operations at the start of May and collected more than 1.2 million bottles and cans in its first four days of operations. According to a study published earlier this month in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, the density of plastic pollution had fallen 39 per cent over a decade in coastal areas around Australia's cities, in part due to container deposit schemes. Loading It found containers were not the main form of debris found around Australian cities, except Hobart, according to a survey conducted shortly before the Tasmanian container deposit scheme began operations. 'Hobart, which did not have container deposit options at the time of the survey, was found to have the highest occurrence of fragment and whole beverage bottles compared to all other cities,' says the report. 'This provides additional evidence that effective policies, such as container deposit legislation, can help to reduce plastic in the environment.' The schemes, which see consumers charged a 10¢ deposit which is refunded upon container returns, are successful because they provide the packaging industry with a clean and reliable stream of material for recycling, said James Dorney, chief executive of Tomra Cleanaway, the joint venture which runs the NSW scheme.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Plastic, crude oil, laundry microfibers top causes of seabird deaths, study finds
Nearly 13 per cent of seabirds found along the country's shores had ingested marine pollutants, including plastic debris, crude oil, tar balls, and even microfibers from laundry waste, a new study revealed. A recent study by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (Epaa) in Sharjah has shed light on the alarming impact of marine pollution on the UAE's coastal wildlife. The study found that over 11 per cent of the examined seabirds had ingested marine debris, while nearly 2 per cent were found with traces of crude oil or tar balls in their digestive systems. The most commonly consumed ingested materials were plastic polymers, especially polyethylene, followed by glass, fishing hooks, and oil residues, all of which pose serious health risks to marine birds. One surprising source of pollution uncovered in the study was laundry wastewater. Researchers found that microfibers — released from synthetic fabrics during washing — accounted for nearly 78 per cent of all detected microplastics in a sub-analysis of 20 birds. This study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, is the first of its kind in the Middle East to systematically examine seabird ingestion of marine debris. Analysing the digestive tracts of 478 dead seabirds from 17 species collected across the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, the findings reveal the severe consequences of marine pollution on coastal wildlife, highlighting the urgent need for action to safeguard these vulnerable ecosystems. 'This study lays the scientific foundation for long-term monitoring of marine waste impacts,' said Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, chairperson of Epaa. 'It also highlights the need for urgent, collective action to protect our fragile marine ecosystems.' Among the seabirds most affected by debris ingestion were juvenile large white-headed gulls, which were found to be more susceptible than adults. This highlights the added vulnerability of younger birds and the importance of targeting conservation efforts at all stages of seabird life. The study, conducted under the Sharjah Strandings Response Program, is not only a major scientific milestone but also a catalyst for long-term monitoring of marine pollution. Researchers say the data will help inform evidence-based conservation strategies and support environmental policy development not just in the UAE, but across the Gulf. In 2023, the Epaa successfully released 158 rehabilitated seabirds back into the wild at Al Heera Beach in Sharjah. These birds, rescued from various coastal areas, were thoroughly examined, treated, and rehabilitated by qualified veterinarians. Their successful return to the sea underscores the critical importance of rescue and rehabilitation efforts, working hand-in-hand with scientific research, to protect marine wildlife. 'This is more than a scientific milestone,' Al Suwaidi added. 'It reaffirms Sharjah's position as a regional leader in environmental and biodiversity research, and shows our deep commitment to sustainability and marine life protection.' The timing of the findings could not be more urgent. As the UAE continues to develop its coastline and expand its tourism and shipping sectors, the study serves as a stark reminder of the invisible waste accumulating in our oceans and its deadly consequences for wildlife. In the UAE, there are existing marine protection laws. Under Federal Law No. 24 of 1999, discharging pollutants, such as oil waste, plastic, or hazardous materials, into UAE waters is a criminal offence. Violators face fines of up to Dh1 million, possible imprisonment, and are financially responsible for clean-up operations. The law empowers authorities to take direct action against ships, companies, or individuals whose activities harm marine ecosystems. Coinciding with World Environment Day, the Epaa hopes the study will not only raise awareness about the dangers of marine pollution but also inspire action from the public. Everyday behaviours, such as improperly discarding plastic or neglecting to use laundry filters, can have devastating long-term effects that stretch far beyond the shoreline. 'Each piece of plastic that reaches the ocean could end up in the belly of a bird,' said one marine biologist involved in the study. 'This is about more than seabirds. It's about the health of the entire marine ecosystem — and ultimately, our own.'
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scale of damage depends on spill size
Kochi: The sinking of the container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kochi coast in the Arabian Sea is likely to have significant ecological consequences, raising concerns among marine experts over potential damage to coastal ecosystems and fishing livelihoods. The ship went down with 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. It was also loaded with 84.44 MT diesel and 367.1 MT furnace oil—substances that can impact marine environments if leaked. According to Dr Grinson George, director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the full scale of the environmental damage depends on the extent of the leakage and the ability to contain its spread. "Oil smothering could threaten sensitive marine species and disrupt fishing activities, especially for artisanal fishers in coastal areas," George said. "If the spill spreads, it could affect marine productivity during the monsoon—a critical breeding and growth season for pelagic fish. This could have long-lasting repercussions for the region's fisheries." He added that the monsoon period typically supports high marine productivity, and the spill may derail what was expected to be a promising fishing season. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo CMFRI has initiated plans to assess the ecological impact through field surveys, sample collection and tracking the movement of the spill to determine its effects on marine systems. Drawing a comparison, George cited a recent study on the long-term impact of a very low sulfur fuel oil spill from a ship, which ran aground off the coast of Mauritius in July 2020. Published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, the study revealed ongoing contamination in sediment samples collected as recently as March 2023. The study found that VLSFO had weathered over time through natural processes like biodegradation but continued to persist in the mangrove ecosystem. It noted that some mangrove species are more tolerant of oil, allowing them to recolonize affected areas, but once has entered the mangrove system, it would almost certainly cause more harmful effects to attempt to remove it.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Kerala oil spill: Marine, coastal ecosystems likely to be hit, warn experts
The sinking of the MSC ELSA 3 container ship off Kochi poses a significant threat to marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly fisheries KOCHI: The sinking of MSC ELSA 3 container ship in the Arabian Sea off Kochi's coast on Saturday will have serious ecological impact on marine and coastal ecosystems, principally fishing, experts said on Sunday. While a lot depends on the scale of leakage carrying hazardous cargo of calcium carbide, diesel and furnace oil smothering can impact sensitive marine ecosystems, said Grinson George, director of Kochi-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). 'Oil smothering could threaten sensitive marine species and disrupt fishing activities, particularly affecting artisanal fishers in coastal regions. If the spill spreads, it may harm marine productivity, especially during the monsoon — a critical period for pelagic fish breeding and growth. This could have lasting consequences for fisheries,' George said. Monsoon typically supports high marine productivity, George said, adding that much will depend on how the ship's leakage can be contained. A study on long-term impact of the very low sulfur fuel oil spill (VLSFO) from the site of Wakashio, a ship which sank off Mauritius in July 2020, shows contaminated sediments and mangroves. The study was published in Elsevier's Marine Pollution Bulletin recently, three years after the sinking. This was the world's first major spill of VLSFO since a global sulfur cap took effect from Jan 2020. Chemical analysis in March 2023 of sediment samples collected from mangroves close to the site of Wakashio's sinking confirmed biodegradation. The researchers have concluded that the mangroves differed in their sensitivity to oil, resulting in the more tolerant species obtaining a competitive advantage to recolonise other systems. In such cases, it is crucial to know locations of the spilled oil and monitor such sites with health checks on mangroves and associated plants and animals.
