In a bid to reduce ocean plastics pollution, the Associated British Ports’ (ABP) facilities in Hull and Goole are trialing a recycling scheme which turns waste into shampoo bottles. Recycling company TerraCycle in collaboration with multinational manufacturer Proctor and Gamble will transform the compliant materials into shampoo bottles that will go on sale at a major UK retailer later this year.
This initiative aims to reduce waste by recycling the “non-recyclable” and ABP’s marine team and Hughes Marine Service will work hard to support it. ABP’s 21 ports across the UK hope to follow suit and take on the green scheme too.
In just a few weeks, the team has collected 2.5 tonnes of plastics so far that have been washed up from across the Humber. The Humber waterways are cleaned by bulldozer-like floating machines – with reduced emissions – called the Waterwitch and Envirocat. The boats collect the rubbish and it’s then separated to divert plastics, steel and wood from going to landfill.
Chris Green, Hull and Goole Port Manager, said:
This green project is part of ABPs commitment to continually improving our environmental performance and work around our Humber ports to reduce plastics and marine litter. One plastic bottle can last for 450 years in the marine environment, slowly fragmenting into smaller and smaller pieces, so we as a port authority will lead the way and make the Humber – the UK’s busiest waterway – a cleaner and more environmentally friendly place.
ABP Humber has dedicated teams to reduce and divert waste from landfill and they also encourage wildlife with various green projects such as bug hotels and owl boxes and create green spaces for staff to enjoy.
ABP staff also litter pick across public areas of the port estates to stop it going into the sea and regular beach cleans are hosted at Spurn.
