ERS' Innovative Solution to Beach Plastic Pollution
- ERS Remediation
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
ERS’ is one of 12 companies successful in going forward to the accelerator stage of the CivTech Round 11 challenges to fast-track high-tech solutions to help improve people’s lives and public services.
Ocean plastic pollution is a well known issue globally, but did you know plastic pollution is also an issue in Scotland and the wider UK? The village of Arrochar, located at the end of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, is one such location that suffers from plastic washing up on the tides.
What is being done about the plastic pollution issue at Arrochar?
After years of landfilling the plastic contaminated material, the government wanted a less expensive and more environmentally friendly solution to the plastic pollution problem. The problem was included in the latest round of CivTech challenges - a Scottish Government initiative that pairs real-world public sector problems with private sector innovators to create tech-driven solutions.
ERS responded to Challenge 11.3: How can technology reduce the environmental and social impact of litter at Arrochar?
(video emedded via CivTech YouTube channel)
Why is Plastic Pollution an Issue at Arrochar?
The beach at Arrochar, a beauty spot located at the head of Loch Long in Scotland, has been plagued by plastic litter washing up on the beach due on the tides. Arrochar was officially designated a "litter sink" by the Scottish Government in 2017. Plastic and other litter accumulates here due to a combination of factors such as tides, currents, and prevailing winds.
As well as potential environmental impacts caused by plastic and microplastic pollution, the issue has a detrimental effect on the local community and visually detracts from the area's natural beauty.
What is CivTech Challenge 11.3?
The current solution of sending plastic contaminated seaweed to landfill is an increasing costly option and has its own environmental impact, especially in terms of carbon dioxide emissions from transportation to landfill and carbon dioxide and methane emissions on landfill disposal. The challenge aims to find a more cost effective and sustainable approach that can be implemented long-term to remediate the plastic contamination as it washes in on the tides.
To add to the challenge, the Scottish Government is moving towards a ban on sending biodegradable materials to landfill, so a method of separating the plastic waste from natural seaweed is required.
ERS' Proposal to Solve the Plastic Pollution Problem
Unlike the current approach of sending mixed seaweed and plastic litter to landfill, ERS’ response to the challenge is to develop a targeted microplastics and mesoplastics recovery system to reduce the bulk of the plastic contamination. This will also leave the seaweed in place on the beach, minimising the impact on the natural ecosystem from physically removing it.
We’re looking forward to the implementation of this project and will be sure to keep you all updated on our LinkedIn page.
And if you are interested in some of the other challenges and successful proposals from CivTech Round 11, you can learn more on their website.
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