Scientists have found that, like other sea residues, taken bottles and hats were sometimes colonized by immobile organisms called epibilities that live on the surface of other organisms or materials. The band found items with fastened diamonds, Barnacles and Mollusk, with the presence of those correlated with age plastic. Bottles and hats also showed degradation patterns typical of maritime exposure – discoloration, consumption and fragmentation.
However, despite these transformations, plastic waste often retained key identification features, such as product codes, brand names, production locations and dates. These data helped to trace their origin, even when the bottles were damaged or colonized by organisms, providing valuable information about their paths of origin and transport.
For Garcés, one of the most disturbing conclusions of his research is the situation on the islands such as Galapagos and Rapa Nui, protected natural areas. As he explains, epibics attached to plastic bottles wash on their beaches: “And this is a serious threat because we do not know what species of organisms arrive or where they come from. And they can be invasive.”
Works would not be possible without cooperation to 200 local leaders from 74 social organizations, as well as 1000 volunteers who were part of this scientific initiative. Their methodological approach not only allowed the research team a better understanding of the features of plastic waste affecting Latin America, but also to understand regional preferences of drinks and consumer trends in different countries.
Proposals to solve this crisis
Considering the wide presence of disposable plastic bottles, mainly local origin, one of the main recommendations of researchers is to replace them with standard return bottles throughout the region – “as it used to be,” says Garcés. “When I was a child, the products were sold in glass bottles.
He says that this remedy should be supplemented by the policy of returning and initiative of social business responsibility on the part of involved drink companies. They say that the demanding reusable packaging from large producers of bottled drinks are necessary strategies for reducing plastic pollution and protection of coastal ecosystems, the authors say. “Ultimately, companies have their own interests and are looking for the cheapest alternatives to the production of bottles. That is why governments have to get involved,” says Garcés. However, he says that improving waste management, especially in coastal communities, is another key problem that should be solved.
Scientists also emphasize the central role of human behavior in reducing the pollution of plastics. “As the population increases, consumption increases. And as long as the basic needs of the coastal population in terms of access to drinking water will not be met, it will continue to grow, polluting more and more coastal environments,” says Garcés. When drinking water is available only in plastic disposable bottles, consumers do not have alternatives, “limiting their ability to act in a sustainable manner.”
This story originally appeared Wired in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.