SeaSweepers LLC., a Miami-based marine plastics upcycling company, announced the completion of their first two research tours with ocean conservation partners Conch Republic Marine Army and FillABag. These tours act as a critical first step in initiating the SeaSweepers pilot project to document and publish the steps and requirements for an effective marine plastic recycling supply chain, specific to the underserved North and Central America regions. This pilot project, which will include the sourcing and processing of just over 1 ton of ocean plastics, will then be used as the foundation for their greater mission of creating the first US-based marine plastics recycling center.
“Our research trips to the Florida Keys & Key Biscayne with our non-profits partners were very successful. We identified several key conservation areas which are being cleaned up via the removal of plastic pollution, lobster/crab traps, plastic nets and ropes, and other plastic debris.” Said Taryn Larock, Chief Sustainability Officer and Co-Founder of SeaSweepers.
SeaSweepers Co-Founders Taryn Larock & Naveen Sydney traveled to two of the most beautiful areas in Florida – Big Pine Key & Key Biscayne – to see firsthand the retrieval methods, plastic types and quantities being removed from the ocean by their partner organizations. Additionally, SeaSweepers collected samples which will be used with their recycling equipment partners to confirm the correct selection and calibration of equipment to meet the specific requirements necessary for marine plastics recycling.
“Unfortunately, recycling ocean plastics is not as simple as taking what is collected and sending it to the local recycling center. Because of contaminates and plastic mixing, it takes special equipment and processes to effectively clean, identify, shred, and pelletize marine plastics.” Said Naveen Sydney, CEO and Founder at SeaSweepers. “That is why we started SeaSweepers, to fill that critical gap of dedicated recycling capabilities almost entirely missing on a global level with the ocean plastic recycling supply chain.”
“Much of the plastic removed from these areas is never recycled, and sadly is either incinerated or landfilled due to the current lack of recycling facility options.” Added Taryn Larock, expanding on the impact to both the environment and the people who inhabit it. “This current system of dealing with marine plastics that are being removed from coastlines is not only dangerous to human health and the environment, but is also incredibly wasteful, as we could be re-using these plastics to upcycle into millions of consumer goods. Incineration releases highly toxic chemical pollutants like microplastics, bisphenols, and phthalates — all which can disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions, and has been linked to heart disease, respiratory issues, and neurological disorders. This is one of the key problems we are looking to solve by establishing appropriate recycling facilities for these plastics that traditional recycling facilities cannot work with.”