Taiwan’s 2010 Report of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)

Taiwan’s 2010 Report of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 

2010 International Coastal Cleanup in Taiwan had engaged 2,561 participants from 37 organizations.  They completed 30 locations around the island. This was the year that Taiwan engaged the largest numbers of volunteers for ICC.  The collected data had sent to The Ocean Conservancy for her annual report, which was issued in March this year.

 

 

  ICC is one of the major ocean protection actions around the globe.  In 2010, there were 610,000 volunteers from 114 countries to participate in this activity.  In addition to remove the litter, data was collected for education purposes.  By doing so, the public would increase the awareness and change daily habits to protect the ocean.

 

From the data collected, 30 cleanup activities during September and October of 2010, the

major trash of Taiwan coast is from “Shoreline & Recreational Activities.”  30,304 items were collected, accounting for 70 % of the total litter.  It indicates that 70 % of debris was created by people’s activities along the shoreline.  Or the trash was washed to the sewage systems then to the ocean by rain or wind because of failing to well manage the trash in the cities.  Beverage bottles, disposable food containers, plastic bags, wrappers from various kinds of materials are all belong to this category.

 

 

Next is the debris from “Ocean/waterway Activities,” with 8,022 items and accounting for 18.7 %.  Those included fishery equipments, nets, and buoys.  Number three litter of the chart is from “Smoking-related Activities,” including cigarette filters and tobacco packaging.  Final categories are “Dumping Activities” and “Medical/personal Hygiene,” accounting for 2.5% and 0.3%.

Then what is the most commonly found trash along Taiwan coast?  Plastic bags, not surprisingly.  We collected 8,295 plastic bags along 12.68 kilometers coastline, which means we found one bag within 1.5 meters in average.  Think about how many plastic bags we use in one single day, according the research:

 

The global usage of plastic bag is 1.2 trillions per year; in average one person uses 300 bags per year.  More than 1 million of bags are used in one minute around the globe; the average use time for one single bag is 12 minutes.

 

Those disposable plastic bags seem convenient and cheap, but we forget the invisible pollution costs after throwing them away.

 

The second largest litter is glass bottles, accounting for 7,236.  Those sharp glass pieces could easily hurt the beachgoers.  Number three are the buoys for fishery, made of plastic and Styrofoam, and the total numbers of them are 6,054.  Those top three items account for 50% of the total litter, showing the management importance of them.

 

Although lots of people make endeavors for ocean protection, the ocean pollution and harm by man-made litter are unimaginable.  Marine litter is not from one single source, and not accumulated within a short period of time.  ICC alone won’t solve the problem.  Since the source is from human, change would only become possible by human’s reflection and awareness.  So The Ocean Conservancy provides several suggestions to reduce the possibilities to pollute the ocean:
- Properly manage the litter you create.  By doing so, the possibility of trash entering the ocean by wind or water will be decreased.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Avoid buying things overly wrapped, in order not to create more litter.
- Cut the six-pack holders, so it won’t hurt the animals even they are falling into the ocean.
- Join coastal cleanup.
- Share the information of marine litter with your friends.
- Sponsor related plans and activities

● Taiwan’s 2010 Top Ten Items of International Coastal Cleanup
1. Plastic Bags                        8,285 (19.06%)
2. Beverage Bottles (Glass)      7,236 (16.65%)
3. Buoys/Floats                       6,054 (13.93%)
4. Caps, Lids                          4,283   (9.86%)
5. Beverage Bottles (Plastic)     3,190   (7.34%)
6. Cigarette Filters                    2,679   (6.16%)
7. Toys                                   1,584   (3.64%)
8. Straws, Stirrers                    1,566   (3.60%)
9. Clothing, Shoes                   1,140   (2.62%)
10. Food Wrappers/Containers  1,123   (2.58%)

 

Taiwan Ocean Cleanup Alliance (TOCA)
97057,No.87,Fuyang Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan
URL    :http:// www.icctaiwan.org.tw
E-mail : kuroshio@seed.net.tw
TEL　  : +886-3-857-8148
FAX　  : +886-3-857-8948

TOCA is a cooperative group of five Taiwan non-profit organizations that have devoted to solve the marine litter over a long-term basis, including Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation, National Museum of Marine Science & Technology, Tainan Community University, Taiwan Environmental Information Association, and the Society of Wilderness.  TOCA arouses the public awareness by education, appeal, and research.  Its aim is to unite everyone’s effort to protect the ocean and start a sea change by making better policies, involving industries, and adjusting personal daily habits.