Approaching the mystery of the plastic waste “geological layer” February 9, 17:16

The "stratum" that appeared on the coast of Akita Prefecture.

Between the sands is a large amount of plastic waste.

Why did it appear in Akita?

What is the mechanism?

This situation is rare in Japan.

What I saw as I proceeded with the interview was a serious problem of garbage.

(Akita Broadcasting Station reporter Hisahiro Ito)

"Layer" on the coast

After hearing the story of "a rare phenomenon happening on the coast,"

I visited Detohama in Katagami City, next to Akita City.

This place is crowded with many families during the sea bathing season.

At first glance, it's a normal beach ...

As I approached, a large amount of plastic waste was caught between the sands.

There are also PET bottle caps and rusty lighters inside.

This kind of garbage spread over about 10 meters, just like a “stratum”.

In addition, there was garbage such as PET bottles with Chinese and Korean written in the surrounding area.

Did it flow from China, which is 2000 kilometers away, to Akita?

What kind of trip did you make ...

A deepening mystery.

Last October, I went to talk to Mr. Akira Watanabe, a local man who found this "layer" of plastic waste.

Mr. Watanabe:

"When I first saw it, I was surprised at why the garbage was piled up and layered.

I think that the sea is all-you-can-dirt."

Mr. Watanabe was a science teacher at a nearby junior high school.

He has also been studying geology and fossils for many years.

He says that this "layer" of plastic waste is like a "trace fossil" with traces of life such as footprints and burrows of dinosaurs and paleontology.

Mr. Watanabe:

"If this is 1000, 2000, or hundreds of millions of years in the future, it will be a trace of human life. If it's

a little better, it's okay to leave it, but it's thrown away. It's garbage.

When people in the future see it, I think people in the old days did something terrible. "

Plastic waste that also leads to marine pollution.

What happened on the beach?

Why Akita ... Approaching the mechanism

When I asked Professor Atsuhiko Isobe of Kyushu University, who is familiar with marine pollution of plastics, I found that the situation at Detohama is rare in Japan.

Professor Isobe, Kyushu University

"You may not have a chance to see the garbage in the stratum like a sandwich."

Professor Isobe speculates that the background to the formation of these layers is the "sea flow" and "strong wind" that are peculiar to the offshore of Akita.

First, "the flow of the sea".

Off the coast of Akita is the sea area where the Tsushima Warm Current, which was divided by the Sea of ​​Japan, joins again.

For this reason, plastic waste drifting in the Sea of ​​Japan tends to collect off the coast of Akita, and some of it may be distant from China and South Korea.

Professor Isobe of Kyushu University

"It was a dream story 30 or 40 years ago that something with foreign characters was washed away on the beach and I thought that I came from overseas when I saw it

. I've used too much plastic all over the world, and the amount of garbage has increased so much that it's no longer a dream. "

According to Akita Prefecture, about 460 tons of stranded garbage was collected last year on the coast of Akita.

This is the amount of garbage that about 1500 people put out in a year.

According to a survey of the coast around Detohama, there is data that more than 60% of the drifting waste was plastic waste.

So how was the “layer” of waste formed?

One of the factors is said to be the "strong wind" that blows from the Sea of ​​Japan side.

Since the average wind speed exceeds 7 meters off the coast of Akita, the amount of wind power generation introduced is the highest in Japan.

According to Professor Isobe, a large amount of garbage collected offshore is carried to the coast at once with big waves when a "strong wind" is generated from the sea to the land at the same time as the spring tide and the high tide.

It is said that the sand on the coast was carried by the wind and accumulated on the garbage, forming a "layer".

Then, at one point, the sandy beach was scraped by the erosion action such as waves, and the cross section was exposed, and it seems that it appeared in front of us.

When did you get it?

The "layer" of plastic waste created in this way.

Understanding the mechanism raised new questions.

When was this "layer" created?

According to another expert who has surveyed the site, a cap for a PET bottle of a beverage released more than 20 years ago was found in the "layer".

In addition, Mr. Watanabe, who lives in the local area, says that he had seen a similar "layer" of garbage in another place about 30 years ago.

In fact, "layers" have been around for quite some time, and is this the "tip of the iceberg"?

Mr. Watanabe

"Plastic waste may be buried in a wide area of ​​the coast just because the cross section is not exposed. There may be

countless other" layers "."

Professor Isobe said that it is difficult to find garbage if it is covered with sand, and if left as it is, not only marine pollution, but also creatures such as birds will accidentally eat plastic garbage and plants will not be able to take root. There is a possibility that it will be damaged, and there are concerns about the impact on the flora and fauna around the coast.

Professor Isobe of Kyushu University

"We must reduce the amount of plastic that is the source of plastic

. It is said that 1% to 2% of the plastic waste that is discarded in Japan leaks into the environment. We

do not use unnecessary and urgent plastic .

I think it is important for each person to recognize that. "

What can we do

Akita Prefecture is also concerned about the garbage that flows to the coast.

The prefecture has designated 22 coasts such as Detohama and fishing ports as "priority areas" and is working to collect and dispose of garbage in cooperation with local governments and residents.

In addition, the prefecture will continue educational activities to raise awareness of environmental issues by having elementary school students learn about the current situation of marine debris on the beach.

Mr. Hiyama, Global Warming Countermeasures Division, Akita Prefecture

"I want you to actually see the beach, see the garbage, and use it as an opportunity to think about what you can do after you get home.

The accumulation of each person's actions is the most important. I don't think it

's okay to litter just one person, but I would like to ask you to take environmentally conscious actions to protect the beautiful sea of ​​Akita. "

This unusual phenomenon.

Because it is a "layer", it is harder to find than usual, and it seems that there is also a troublesome feature that it is difficult to collect garbage.

As I proceeded with the interviews, I began to think of it as a message from the earth calling for problem solving ...

In January, when I went to Detohama, where there was a "layer" of plastic waste, the snow was piled up to the height of my waist and I couldn't get close to it.

What kind of spectacle is spreading on the coast when the snowy season comes?

I would like to continue to pay attention to it.

When I interviewed this time, I strongly felt that the problem of plastic waste could not be solved overnight.

I think it is important not only to not litter garbage, but also to reduce the amount of plastic used.

For example, the number of people who carry their own bags has increased due to the charge for plastic shopping bags, but in the same way, when buying plastic products, you may consider whether you can replace them with paper ones. maybe.

I also wanted to review my daily life and contribute as much as possible.

Akita Broadcasting Station Reporter

Hisahiro Ito

Joined

Fukuoka Station in 2018 After working at the Fukuoka Station, I

was in charge of prefectural government at the Akita Station to cover environmental issues

.