Location - Coastal and marine envrionment surrounding Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia.

Groups Involved - Waste Collection and Shredding= 'Ecobarge Clean Seas.' Funding for shredder= 'Plastic Collective' and 'Coca-Cola.'

Background - In this area "plastic marine debris regularly washes ashore through currents, tides and winds from the Pacific Ocean."

Aims - The project aims to resolve this waste issue by the collection and recycling of waste plastics.

Resources Recycled - Trips to collect plastic waste are taken regularly on a barge "around 300 kilograms of marine debris" is removed "per trip". It is then shredded using a "shruder" machine. This shredded plastic is then used to make further recycled goods.

Social Impacts - The initiative also involves "environmental education operations", in which members of the local community can learn about the project and the impacts of marine waste within the "Marine Debris Education Centre."

Economic Impacts - Through partnerships with companies willing to use recycled plastic waste, such as "WAW Handplanes" (a company that makes recycled bodysurfing equipment), "Ecobarge" and the local economy have benefitted from the sales of recycled products.

Environmental Impacts - Recyling plastic not only helps clean the ocean, but the funds from selling the shredded plastic also helps to benefit other projects they have such as the "Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre" that looks after "sick or injured marine turtles."

References:- Plastic Collective. 2020. Whitsundays Ocean Trash Recycling - Queensland, Australia - Plastic Collective. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 December 2020].Ecobargecleanseas.org.au. 2020. Home | Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc.. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 December 2020].WAW Handplanes. 2020. Body Surfing Boards | Recycled Ocean Plastic | Fins & Equipment | WAW Handplanes. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 December 2020].