All roads flow to the sea capturing road-based plastic pollution

Description

Mismanaged plastic waste, predominantly from land-based sources, accumulates in the marine environment causing harm to many species. Roads are a conduit for plastic waste (particularly smaller microplastics <5mm) to enter aquatic environments from several different processes: (1) road use and maintenance; (2) tyre-derived crumb added to asphalt mixes during road resurfacing to promote durability and in other infrastructures such as parking bumpers and soft-fall coverings. Very little is known of the shedding capabilities of road paint, artificial grass and tyre-crumb-based infrastructure from the installation process to wear and tear.

Impact

Successful interventions already capture, identify and audit road-based litter including larger plastic debris using stormwater drain traps, e.g. ‘Drain Buddies' in Queensland. In trials we have modified Drain Buddies to capture finer-scale road-based microplastics; but we are missing knowledge on the ‘when', ‘where' and for ‘how long' to target a reduction in road-associated pollution; and a system for initiating the intervention. Other plastic waste studies have used community-based nudge interventions to dramatically reduce waste, but typically at individual levels (e.g. using bins, not littering). We will use the same community nudge concept to reduce waste at the corporate level through liaison with councils and road industry sectors to encourage less wasteful behaviour via the easiest, most accessible option without adding extra burden to the process. This project will be carried out at sites in Rockhampton and Yeppoon over a two year period.

Partners

• Clean Water Group
• Rockhampton Regional Council
• Livingstone Shire Council
• Dr Amanda Rebar
• Dr Amie Anastasi

This project has received funding support from the Queensland Government's Community Sustainability Action grant program.