Turning the tap! Stopping the flow of microplastics into our waterways.
27 May 2021
By Tanya Reed
Microplastics are now recognised as a widespread environmental contaminant that can be found in locations worldwide.
Much of the microplastic in the sea comes from the erosion of larger plastic litter items that are dumped there, but increasing volumes are entering through our wastewater systems.
As our infographic shows, these microplastics enter and accumulate in the wastewater system and end up either being discharged to inland waters, estuaries and the sea or trapped in the sludge at wastewater treatment plants. Microfibres from textiles are the largest contributor to this, with 35% of the pollution coming from a combination of textiles manufacturing, industrial and domestic laundry1. Every domestic 6kg load of laundry can shed 700,000 microfibres into the wastewater, but fabric production, dyeing and finishing all contributes to the microfibre pollution.
The next largest microplastic polluter is vehicle tyres, with every car tyre shedding up to 1kg of microplastic in their lifetime (8kg for lorry tyres)2. Microplastic from tyres shed onto roads is washed into roadside gullies and drains, where it converges with other micropollutants and microplastic city dust. Road markings, paints, plastic pellets and personal hygiene products add to the growing accumulation of microplastics flushed into wastewater systems.
Changing the design and manufacturing process of textiles, tyres and plastic derived products isn’t a quick or easy process, but using filtration technology where microplastics enter water can effectively stop the flow of microplastic pollution at source and give businesses time to find long-term solutions.
Our R&D team is working on dynamic and smart filtration systems to capture microplastics from home, business and industry run-off. For more information contact us here.
