Cynthia UR Sorting

The Sorting for Graphing Begin

Start with removing any sand or biomass picked up along with data.

I need to measure some of the smaller pieces to possible qualify for micro- plastic (less than 5mm).

I marked gram equivalents levels using a few simple kitchen tools and a conversion chart.

Method:

Remove and separate large pieces, wrappers and paper from trash

Remove cigarette butts, placing in holding bins

Remove debris (natural biomass)

Remove and separate foams and rope from other plastics

Measure each in grams and record.

Created graphs and finished citations today.
I should have a little something more tomorrow night.

The sifting process began with South site; the amount of cigarettes, I really wanted them gone first. 

Cigarette butts are Cellulose Acetate based materials.

Cellulose being naturally accruing plant fiber that is treated with acetic anhydride in the presents of a catalyst, then dissolved in acetone to yield a semi-synthetic fiber that spun, create filament used to make a “tow” that is cut to order by the cigarette companies, or fabricated into rayon or cellophane. 

They’re nearly as synthetic as pure plastic and hang around quite a while.

Tare = 7.00oz

Because of their light mass they’re wicked difficult to weigh; so to illustrate the space they assume, my original thought to show a volume. This was flawed for use with plastics that unless pulverized could not be measured in the same manor.  I began again using ounces in order to capture their weight and translate that into grams for the final graphing. 

I missed picking trash on Friday April 20^th. (between school and work)

I should’ve been factoring in circumstances and conditions that could arise to ensure my timing is fair between the sites. (I am curious if one site is more prone to garbage then the other).

Harris, Bradford. (2011).The intractable cigarette ‘filter problem’. Tobacco Control 20:i10-i16. Retrieved from http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i10

I will leave you for now with this entry from last weekend, and a graph from that day.

04/21/18 and 04/22/2018

It was a windy Saturday morning (16mph) that nearly turned me away, but the weather yesterday will be with us for the next few days.

I started at 8:10am before the rain, there was strong waves and low tide had been at 7:02am, small pieces of plastic left tiny line trails were they had traveled along sand before coming to a halt and I wonder if they were kicked out with the light foam. More polystyrene then before, much if these quarter inch pieces were rolling down critter holes before I could stop them.

I picked up more small pieces of plastic today than before. Conditions kept the sand mostly undisturbed (without feet prints).

A Volusia County employee drove up to empty the trash and recycle receptacles while I was there. They come every morning about 6:30 am, but today he cleaned up cans that spilled from a container that fell over in the wind. After they empty the containers and any large articles of debris on the beach, they spend the remainder of their shift picking trash areas they observe.