Plastic invades the coast of Spain

Plastic invades the coast of Spain

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THOUSANDS OF SMALL PELLET BALLS HAVE BEEN DISPOSED INTO THE SEA AND NOW CONTAMINATE THE ATLANTIC COAST OF SPAIN. MANY PROTESTS OVER THE DELAY IN DEALING WITH THIS SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

They continue protests for the inefficiency of the Iberian authority in managing the emergency caused by the tide of millions of small white plastic spheres, known as pelletwhich invaded the beaches of Galiciaautonomous community in the North-West of Spain.

In fact, since last December 13th, dozens of bags of pellets have started to appear in the region Rias Baixasespecially in the Muros and Noia estuaries, scattering the small spheres on the sand, on the rocks and in the water.

«The coasts are affected in a radius of 80 kilometers – explains Madison Hourihanmember of the local environmental association Clean Noiawho raised the alarm about microplastic pollution in the region -. We have already found them on about twenty beaches and it will continue. Plastic is also appearing further south, on the Portuguese coast. If you look in just one square meter of sand you can find five hundred pellets, each the size of a lentil».

Delays in managing the environmental disaster

The accident has raised strong controversy in Spain between environmental organisations, local and national administrations. Fifteen thousand people have taken to the square of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, in recent days, against theineffective management of environmental disaster of plastic pellets lost in the Atlantic Ocean by the local government.

The council of the area has in fact activated the Territorial Plan for accidental maritime pollution situations in Galicia, initially with an emergency level of 1 and, only later, was it raised to 2. Through a statement, it then accused the central government of not having done nothing, despite having exclusive jurisdiction over the sea and therefore also over the waste that reaches the mainland from the sea.

The Minister of Ecological Transition in Spain, Teresa Ribera, then replied that she had contacted the local administration. They made vehicles and operators available after the emergency level was updated.

«It’s been more than a month since the incident and weeks since we were alerted to the massive arrival of these balls on the beaches – regrets Cristobal Lopezspokesperson for Ecologists in Actiona confederation that insisted on more timely intervention by the authorities and greater transparency -. Yet the government did nothing».

Bags of pellets lost in Spanish waters

But where do these lowercase letters come from? plastic balls that are washing up on the Spanish coast? It all began last December 8th, when the ship Toconao of the Maersk company loses six containers off the coast of Viana do Castelo, in Portuguese waters. One of the containers contained these very bags of plastic pellets. Owned by the Bedeko Europe company, they were intended for the production of food packaging and water bottles.

The strong currents of the Atlantic then transported the plastic materials towards Rías Baixas. The association Clean Noia at the first discovery he immediately alerted the Guardia Civil and the company concerned. The latter has undertaken to collect the bags that reach the shore. Unfortunately, however, hundreds of thousands of pellets have already mixed with the sand due to the tides and heavy rains that occurred after the event.

Plastic on the coast of Spain: rules are needed

Regarding this latest incident, environmentalists say it is not the first time these plastic pellets have washed ashore. The loss of this material during transportation, whether by sea or land, is a recurring theme throughout the world. They therefore ask that the management of these incidents be regulated. Specifics are needed protocols in the event of a spill, as already exists for spills of crude oil.

To date, unfortunately, shipowners are not obliged to declare the loss of cargo. Furthermore, the responsible companies are not required to cover the cost of the cleanup, which thus remains the responsibility of the citizens or local authorities.

«It is estimated that every year the plastics industry and its subcontractors – he claims Lucie Padovani from the Surfrider foundationan environmental organization that is committed to protecting the sea – lose 160 thousand tons of pellets in Europe alone».

Currently the European Parliament plans to review a proposal to regulate the plastic pellet industry. But, for the moment, this proposal would not include maritime transport.

Plastic can put food safety at risk

What is worrying about this latest accident is not only the enormous environmental impact but also the consequences it could entail for the salute. The Spanish Prosecutor’s Office has in fact opened an investigation into the environmental crisis, fearing that the pellets could be toxic and could jeopardize the food safety.

Also the various associations, including Greenpeacewarn of the danger of these pellets, capable of breaking down into microplastics even smaller. They can, for example, be eaten by fish and thus end up on our tables. Therefore, not only would it be a public health problem, but also an economic problem for the area affected by the disaster, for which the fish and shellfish industry is fundamental.

«Whether it is an additive or just the base polymer, they are raw materials that should not be in the environment – declares Jordi Olivaco-founder of Good Karma Projects, an organization that fights against the presence of microplastics in the sea. -. In both cases it is an environmental disaster».