Plastics production has steadily increased over time, some would even say exponentially. Many plastic products are made from pre-consumer plastic polymer pellets approximately the size of a lentil. Despite the plastics industry objective of “Zero Pellet Loss” reality is entirely otherwise. In addition, the production of plastic pellets & plastics and their required infrastructure are a major contributor to carbon emissions.
This presentation has two main parts:

1. Plastic pellets do not readily break down and they soak up contaminants. Aquatic animals sometimes mistake the pellets as food, and according to the plastic industry’s own Material Safety Data Sheets, may accumulate in their digestive systems causing injury and possible death due to starvation. Since 2016 these pellets have been tracked, sampled, quantified, and mapped on southwest BC coasts and waterways including Vancouver’s Fraser River and on the backshores of the Gulf and Vancouver Islands. Fourteen industrial sites in BC’s lower mainland with spilled plastic pellets have been identified and regularly monitored. Working with UVic’s Environmental Law Centre(ELC) briefs were submitted to the BC Ministry of the Environment followed by a formal submission detailing the spillage of pellets at one specific facility.
2. West Coast Olefins Ltd and associated projects has applied to ultimately construct a gas to plastics pellets plant in Prince George. This presentation will focus on legislation and responses, or lack thereof, from various levels of government thus far as to both of the above.

Please note David, Daniel and Calvin will be presenting remotely.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely.

Past NRESi colloquium presentations and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.

Please Note: NRESi colloquium presentations this semester will be available to attend both in-person as well as online. However, those wishing to attend in-person must wear a mask as per Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders and University policy. Thank you for your understanding.