DFG in the water

RECYCLING MARINE DEBRIS

MARINE DEBRIS TO INFRASTRUCTURE

THE STEPS FROM A TO Z

 

 

The Hawaiian Islands face severe impacts from marine debris due to their proximity to the North Pacific Garbage Patch. Every year, over 200 tons of debris in the form of derelict fishing gear (DFG) and other plastic pollution threaten the fragile ecosystems and coastal communities of the archipelago.

 

Funded by NOAA Sea Grant, this project seeks to tackle this rising problem of marine debris by removing it from the ocean and transforming it into valuable infrastructure products at our new established Plastic Recycling Research Facility (PRRF) on Oʻahu. 

 

Our mission is to protect the ecosystems of the Central North Pacific Ocean while promoting a circular economy that benefits both the environment and the local communities.

 

The Marine Debris to Infrastructure Project aims to accelerate marine debris removal by turning the pollution into a valuable resource for local necessary infrastructure products. We will achieve this through a comprehensive process that includes detecting, removing, storing, transporting, sorting, reporting, and repurposing plastic pollution.

 

Join us on our journey to make the Hawaiian Islands a model for sustainable recycling.

dfg in the water

STEP 1 - DETECT

Creating data models to map the daily location of the North Pacific Garbage Patch and predict the influxes of debris in Hawaiian waters.

LEARN MORE

Fishers removing nets

STEP 2 - REMOVE

Funding large scale marine debris removal organisations across the entire island chain. 

 

 

LEARN MORE

place holder

STEP 3 - STORE AND TRANSPORT

Establishing storage nodes on neighbor islands and transportation of the collected debris to the PRRF - the Oʻahu hub.

LEARN MORE

none

STEP 4 - SORT

Sorting collected debris into gear type to understand its origin, and polymer type for recycling.

 

 

 

LEARN MORE

place holder

STEP 5 - REPORT

Compiling a standardized cradel to grave database of marine debris removed by multiple organizations across the Hawaiian Islands. This database will monitor what proportion of the marine debris is DFG and what proportion is being recycled.

LEARN MORE

shredded nets

STEP 6 - REPURPOSE

Innovating methods and partnerships to locally convert debris into long-term necessary local infrastructure products. We evaluate each process to prioritize the most environmentally friendly recycling option.

LEARN MORE

placeholder

STUDY AND EDUCATE

Foundational to all of the steps above, we focus on scientific research and education of university students and the public. LEARN MORE

IN COLLABORATION WITH

  • Hawaiʻi Sea Grant

  • University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa

  • University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

  • International Pacific Research Center

  • Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP)

  • Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund

  • SHARKastics

  • Surfrider Kauai

  • Hawaiʻi Longline Association

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources
  • Department of Land and Natural Resouces - Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation
  • Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
  • Pacific Whale Foundation
  • First Star Recyling / The Last Pound
  • E-Opala
  • The Nature Conservancy