In the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, there are over 200 stunning uninhabited islands making up the Whitsunday region. On these islands plastic marine debris regularly washes ashore through currents, tides and winds from the Pacific Ocean. Since 2009, Ecobarge Clean Seas volunteers have removed more than 191,000 tonnes of marine debris from these islands using a flat bottom barge. As no other option existed, the collected debris was sent to landfill.

In May 2018, a Shruder program was delivered to Ecobarge, sponsored by Coca-Cola South Pacific, which provided the Shruder, working with plastics training, tools and equipment for an onsite plastics recycling plant. Through Plastic Collective’s closed loop network, Ecobarge was partnered with WAW Handplanes (product manufacturer). As recovered ocean plastic is highly sought after by product manufacturers, Ecobarge benefits from above industry prices for their shred. Funds from these sales assists the not-for-profit group to support and expand their environmental education operations including a Marine Debris Education Centre and Marine Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Hospital.

DELIVERY DATE: 

November 2018

PC SYSTEM INSTALLED:

Shruder Mk2

TRAINING:

Global Plastic Problem
Plastics Knowledge
Operations (Shruder)