Every time you wash your clothes, tiny particles detach from them. Over a one-hour cycle, a washing machine drum rotates hundreds of times. The mechanical process and the supply of water cause material to be rubbed off the clothing. Cozy fleece sweaters and jackets, in particular, release microplastic into the water.
All of this wastewater ends up at a sewage plant – together with all the microplastic from toothbrush bristles, cosmetics, and much more. Water from washing machines and toilets is also sent to sewage plants.
The sewage plants filter the water, but their filters aren’t fine enough to catch microplastic.
What remains is sewage sludge, which is used in agriculture because of its valuable minerals and also contains microplastic, which then ends up in our fields.
Organic waste becomes humus in composting plants or in the garden. »Bioplastic« ends up in the organic waste. If the waste does not remain in the composting plants for long enough, it is uncertain how plastic subsequently decomposes further. The resulting humus that is used in fields to fertilize the soil also contains plastic and microplastic.
Seeds, soil, peat, young trees – everything that is delivered is wrapped in plastic, and the trees are even often planted in the ground with plastic. Plastic containers and films are very good at storing heat and water. This promotes germination and growth and also keeps pests away. But the »temporary« plastic will then often remain in the soil or is later plowed under.
Related Topics
GlossaryFleece Microplastic Sewage plant Organic Humus