A Refusal To Be Prisoners Of Plastic

A Refusal to Be Prisoners of Plastic

Monument Proposal

1. Introduction

        30 Million tons of plastic is thrown away every year in the united states, much of this garbage is shipped overseas and during transport, millions of tons are dropped into the ocean creating the “Pacific Garbage Patch”. The only way to bring about a change of consciousness in regards to the trash problem is an interactive monument that offers the experience of a life time. An Ode to the Pacific Garbage Patch is Monument to be built in the San Francisco bay on former alcatraz island to act as a consistent reminder of plastic excess.

2. Background.

        The Pacific Garbage Patch is a result of the excess of waste in the United States. The patch, larger than the size of Texas, is a large swirling slurry of anything that happens to fall off the garbage barges going to Asia to be processed. Once the garbage is in the ocean it is left to for animals to gobble up, mistaking it for food, as well as entangling animals or photodegrading to the point of leaching chemicals into the ocean water. This degradation of the ocean surface results in mass deaths of sea life and even remote bird colonies 2000 miles away from civilization.

3. Description

The Pacific Garbage Patch Memorial seeks to bring to light this tragedy with the goal of curbing plastic use and manufacturing. The monument will not only sit in on top of the former Alcatraz Island, reminding people that we are all “prisoners to plastic” But will be able to be visited by locals and tourists. The monument will be constructed from approximately 30 million tons of entirely recycled, locally sourced materials. The structure consists of a large pool of various garbage items. The water in the pool will consist of a slurry much like what is found in the pacific. The pool will also house items people will recognize as stuff that is thrown away everyday. A few red plastic cups from last weeks party. Sunday’s newspaper that you didn’t quite finish. The lawn chair that was broken when the kids jumped on it. A tire from the last time you decided to do your own car repair. A water bottle as a constant reminder of the consumer driven aspects of plastic production. And lastly a Seagull as a reminder of the destructive impact on animals created by the garbage we throw away. Large wooden lettering occupies both faces, declaring a changing of ways, “Reduce - Reuse - Recycle”. A glass arch extends over the whole structure to give a glimmer of hope that someday this disaster will come to an end. The entire structure is accessible via boat and an elevator that goes to the walking area. The boats that get to the location add another level of experience as they are small garbage barges, much like the ones used to transport our waste to Asia. Visitors would come upon the barge and be able to interact with all kinds of hazardous-free garbage. To encourage seabirds to bother the barges the barges would smell like a freshly thrown out fish dinner. The whole monument is 3000’ long, 2000’ wide and over 1500’ tall from base to top of arch. 

4. Benefits

        The benefits of this monument will be the increased knowledge and awareness of this disaster happening so far away from our immediate environment, helping visitors create a physical relationship with the consequences of our “throw-away” culture.  Placing it in San Francisco will also give tourists a feeling that SF cares about the environment and is willing to contribute to further knowledge about the Pacific Garbage Patch. 

5. Estimated Costs

The materials, although recycled, will cost the following

Recycled Plastic Bricks (Polli-Brick): $432,000,000

Glass: $155,000,000

Garbarge Barges: $300,000 / boat

Yearly Operating Costs for Transportation: $200,000,000 for wages and operating costs. 

5. Timeline

Year 1-2: Demolishing Alcatraz Prison

Year 3-4: Inital building phase of pool and port.

Year 5: Filling the pool and building of glass arch.

Year 6: Final Touches and Opening by end of year.