With just one day to go before we set sail the Exxpedition crew have been out and about in Lanzarote. We visited the island’s waste management facility Environmental Complex Zonzamas where all the rubbish is processed.
Our guide Carmen Portella Ernest runs eco-trips on the island and is a keen birdwatcher
Since we’ve been docked at the marina we’ve not seen a single gull.
The reason for which became obvious as we approached the depot, where all the island’s domestic waste is dumped.
Cigarettes butts, which contain toxic plastics, are the most prolific marine debris item globally.
Number 2 on that list is plastic bottle caps,
which can be recycled or re-used.
Crew member Professor Jenna Jambeck, who co-ordinated the visit explained: ‘All the waste is processed and the recyclables pulled out for shipping to Gran Canaria as raw material for recycling.’
Organic and household waste can be composted.
Roberto who works at the plant ran a 3-month composting trial, volunteering in his own time.
In Lanzarote much of the garden compost people use is imported from Israel.
Roberto hopes that with the renewed investment in plant machinery there’ll be scope to incorporate a local composting scheme on a larger scale.
Seadragon filmaker Jennifer Pate capturing footage.
Documentation and education is key.
Onboard artist Maria Arceo works with plastic debris as a core material …
She plans to use sound recording and discarded plastic debris as part of the work she produces on the voyage.
