08/24/2026
The Anthropocene started in 1950s, with the mass-production of human-made substances like THE PLASTIC. And since then - not only our lives, but also the lives of the animals - everything has changed forever.
The accumulation of plastic waste in our environment has had devastating consequences for wildlife. Birds like fulmars and albatrosses are choking because of a build-up of plastic in their stomachs. The plastic trash we casually dispose off in our waterbodies is leading to entanglement of water birds & aquatic animals, most times with fatal consequences.🦤🚯
But you know what’s crazy?
It’s the same stupid plastic that some birds are now using to raise their young ones. Take the common coots, often found in many European canals. Long before the introduction of plastics, common coots used to build nests with plant materials. Now, due to lack of vegetation in our urban spaces, they’ve started using human litter easily found in waterways—and nearly 30% of this nesting material is artificial: fake plants, face masks, chocolate wrappers, coffee cups..🍫🤿
On our visit to Ghent in Belgium🇧🇪, we saw the plastic litter in coots’ nests ourselves. But along with that, we also saw an unusual floating platform that the coots were using to nest. Turns out, this organisation .koet.minder.afval is weaving these floating platforms that give coots a place to nest, rest and raise their young in Ghent’s canals. And the coots in turn, are helping clean the trash from the waterways. Once the breeding season is over, all the plastic is collected and recycled to prevent it from entering our oceans. 🌊❎
Isn’t that a simple & ingenious idea!? Such a natural partnership to manage urban waste.♻️🦆
Why don't we have more such natural partnerships and create a healthier living environment for all?💚🌱
( Ghent, Urban Waste Management, Belgium, Coots in Europe, Anthropocene, Coots of Belgium, Natural Partnership, Plastic trash, Plastic Kills, Plastic Waste, Stop Plastic, Recycle Plastic, Clean Canals, European Canals, Waterways, More Coots, Less Waste, Green Living, Green Cities, Sustainability )
