European Territorial Cooperation 2021 - 2027

Title: Circular Ocean-bound Plastic (COP)

Program: Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021-2027/

 2.3 Supporting a circular and more resource efficient development

Abstract:

Ocean plastic is a global pollution problem which heavily impacts aquatic marine life and diminishes biodiversity, e.g., through entanglement, toxicity flows of hazardous substances, and plastic ingestion. This effects further impacts the local biomes of the South Baltic Sea. Plastics, and residual waste fractions, entering the South Baltic Sea (SBS) stems from both land- and sea-based sources, which over time dissolves into microlitter plastics. 80% of plastic waste ending up in the SBS stems from land-based sources, incl. urban areas. The waste finds its way into SBS primarily via waterways connected to urban maritime environments, such as rivers, city canals, harbours, etc. The litter composition varies between a mix of plastics and other residual waste fractions. To prevent more (plastic) waste entering the ecosystem in the SBS there is an urgent need to create awareness and incentives to prevent more (plastic) waste from ending up in this sensitive ecosystem.

Part of the challenge is that there is no economic incentive to collect and recycle macro litter plastic waste from ocean-bound waste streams. Macro litter plastic waste that ends up in the rivers and canals is disposed to UV light and salt water, which essentially destroys the surface of the plastic waste, so it is impossible/ extremely difficult for optical sensors at sorting plants to determine the type of plastic, hence it is almost impossible to sort and recycle the plastic waste.

Ocean macro plastics from land-based sources stem predominantly from areas of high human activity and consumption. Cities are therefore areas that are relevant for further investigation of collection, reuse and recycling of ocean-bound plastics. An increasing number of blue and green SMEs are working with solutions where difficult fraction of plastic waste can be used as input material and where there might be possibilities for using riverine or ocean-bound plastic waste. However, lack of accessibility, security of supply and knowledge on the mix and qualities of the plastic waste creates a lack of incentives for companies to consider developing recycling solutions using ocean-bound plastic.

The blue and green SMEs have a strong need for data on riverine plastics and plastics found in urban maritime environments to start developing new solutions utilizing these fractions. These prospects call for policy awareness and preventive actions, as the amount of (plastic) waste entering the SBS will only increase (if no solutions are found), which will have massive, negative impacts on the ecosystem itself and the future of the SBS.

Therefore, to tackle the problems with ocean (plastic) waste, it is opportune to look at the very source of where the (plastic) waste originates and identify incentives for collection, reuse, and/or recycling. The focus of the project will be to identify the problems and opportunities of collecting, reusing and/or recycling ocean-bound (plastic) waste. Bilaterally, these efforts will be supported by identifying the blue and green SMEs within the Region, including relevant environmental NGOs, knowledge institutions/technical universities and maritime clusters, which will either identify and/or co-create innovative collection methodologies of land- and sea-based flows of plastic waste. This approach will improve the awareness level of the ecosystem challenges within the SBS across the quadruple helix. As an added value, it will also stimulate the innovative levels of blue and green SMEs within the program region, as how to collect and recycle macro litter plastic waste, which will contribute to the longevity and securing usage of the macro litter plastic waste, post-collection.

Given the scope of the COP project, the main target groups will be 1) Public institutions and equivalent public entities, local and regional authorities and their associations, e.g, municipalities, policymakers, politicians, 2) Higher educational institutions and R&D institutions, 3) blue and green SMEs, formal associations clusters and networks of SMEs. Furthermore, public or private (having either public or non-profit character) companies dealing with communal and municipal environmental management (such as waste and water), 4) civic society sector, e.g., citizens and NGOs, interest organizations, etc.,

when relevant for project implementation, success and dissemination. Thus, embracing a full quadruple helix. Additional stakeholders will also be involved when relevant. Dissemination activities will also take place at seasonal events to create civic awareness of ocean-bound (plastic) waste.

KEYWORDS: Ocean-bound plastics; South Batlic; Plastic waste collection; Plastic recycling; Prevention;

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