Floating park built from recycled plastic waste debuts in the Netherlands

[demmiblue]

In a futuristic European port city that's already unleashed trash-eating aquatic drones to clean up its harbor, you might wonder what could possibly come next in terms of innovative methods of clearing plastic waste from polluted waterways.

Rotterdam-based environmental organization the Recycled Island Foundation is on it.

While impressive-looking floating "litter traps" devised by this fledgling foundation are certainly worthy of recognition, it's what the group has done with the captured plastic waste post-recovery that's more notable: they've introduced the plastic back into Rotterdam's bustling harbor as a snazzy floating green space dubbed Recycled Park.

Functioning mostly as a lushly planted offshore refuge for urban wildlife that's only partially accessible to people, Recycled Park stretches 1,500 square feet across a chain of interlinking hexagonal platforms constructed from recycled plastic and anchored to the harbor floor. Staggered at different heights, the platforms — buoyant garden beds, really — are planted with different types of vegetation geared to attract a range of critters including nesting aquatic birds. The whole beautiful spread is captured in the video below.

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/blogs/floating-park-built-recycled-plastic-waste-debuts-netherlands

[Achilleaze]

1. Excellent. The Dems should put lots of projects like this on the agenda

[Omaha Steve]

4. This

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. K&R, nt

[onethatcares]

3. great idea.

should also be manufactured as raised beds for gardens. Less trees used and urban settings and roof tops would be places to start.

[Hekate]

5. The Dutch are amazing

Thanks for this!

[smirkymonkey]

6. Very cool!

The Europeans are ahead of us in so many ways already.

[Demovictory9]

7. i love that the park is really for wildlife