The logical conclusion is that plastic emissions must be reduced. Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT demands a reduction to a 27th. In the retail sector, initiatives are being taken to save plastic in order not to bring plastic to the market. The sewage treatment plants in Germany achieve a deposition of the microplastic by 95%, with 35% of the microplastic being applied again as sewage sludge.

In Germany, 22% of the wastewater (62% of the rainwater and less than 1% of the wastewater) is not treated in sewage treatment plants, but discharged into our inland waters unpurified. This happens at overflows in the sewer system as soon as they have to be relieved of an event such as heavy rain. At this critical point, the use of modern fine rakes is a must. Advanced operators are familiar with HST solutions for overflows or are already using them. According to the current state of knowledge, the combined sewage system with its 13% share of unexplained precipitation water is far more efficient in terms of plastic retention than the separation system with 43%. The concentration of particles / m3 is significantly higher in inland and coastal waters than in the high seas. Therefore, recovery in these areas is also particularly effective.

In less developed infrastructure regions, in addition to the micro- and the macroplastic, water flows unhindered. Here the importance of meaning shifts to macroplastic. This shift is compounded by the fact that in many countries there is no deposit and often no collection system. The result is rivers with a closed plastic layer.

HST Systemtechnik has long been committed to the reduction of plastic emissions. Initially, by assisting ocean-going projects such as Pacific Garbage Screening to dump the macro-plastic islands, HST is now shifting its focus, according to scientific evidence, to reducing the entry of microplastics from inland waters across rivers, harbors, and coastal waters. The plastic waste is thus cut off the supply.

Even today, HST technology, with its digitized, intelligent rake and artificial intelligence, holds back a maximum of microplastics from the amounts of tee water. Based on the optimal control of the freight flows in the channel, the HST rake is only cleaned depending on the event. As a result, a filter cake accumulates in front of the rake, which retains not only macroplastic but also microplastics and other fines and suspended matter. This affects the 22% share of unpurified wastewater, making it an essential step in reducing plastic emissions.