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Plastics

Types of marine debris items that wash up on Atauro.

Common items that are regularly found in our clean ups are single-use plastic cups, straws, cutlery, fragments of fishing rope, local icebags, personal care products (shampoo, detergent, makeup), cigarette lighters and toothbrushes. 

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Issues for the natural marine environment relating to marine debris.

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No. 1

Ingestion

A major issue that happens due to marine debris is ingestion by animals. Marine and terrestrial animals may mistake plastic debris they encounter as prey and ingest it. This can cause the animal to suffocate and or starve. Depending on the species and environment this can lead to species depletion and failure of an ecosystem. 

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No. 2

Entanglement

Some marine debris may entangle marine life and sea birds. This can endanger the animals' life, which may cause serious injury or death. Globally, fishing debris such as net scraps, fishing line and rope that are carelessly discarded cause these problems. Proper disposal of these items can help reduce the amount of casualties.

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No. 3

Unsightly Pollution

Marine debris on beaches and in the ocean can affect tourisms a whole in Timor Leste and on Atauro. Given that the reefs surrounding Atauro are world class and are highly regarded in the diving and academic world the visual pollution is seen as a big negative for Atauro's community.

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Circular Economy

A circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. The Circular Economy aims to tackle global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution by emphasising the design-based implementation of the three base principles of the model. The three principles required for the transformation to a circular economy are: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

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Ekipa Tasi Mos aims to stay true to the Circular Economy Principles. Locally we have created a small scale circular economy amongst our own community. Through our recycling of marine plastics and selling of our products, the money we make goes back to the community to fund employment and education. This creates a circular economy which benefits our community as a whole. Take from the community and then give back to the community. 

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Below is a PDF file about a study conducted by Steven Davis about where the marine debris that wash up onto to Atauro's beaches come from.

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                            Observations on the sources of deposition of plastic on the east coast of Atauro, Timor-Leste.

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News article of interest : The big problem caused by small packages.

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/sachets-small-packagings-huge-problems/103856656?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

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ABOUT US >

We are a plastic recycling organization based on Atauro Island, Timor-Leste. In May 2016 co-founders Bernadette Davis and Barry and Lina Hinton of Barry’s Place Eco lodge Atauro formed Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro to address

some of the problems that impact Atauro with regards to marine debris.

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Tetun Translation

Ami mak organizasaun halo fali plastiku iha Ilha Atauro ( reciclando), Timor-Leste. Iha Maiu 2016, fundadór sira Bernadette Davis ho Barry no Lina Hinton husi Barry's Place Eco Lodge Atauro forma Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro atu resolve problema sira ne'ebé afeta Atauro relasiona ho lixu maritimu.

  • What types of plastic can you recycle?
    We preferably recycle the types of plastic with the resin identification code "2" which is HDPE. This plastic type is food safe and the easiest types of plastics to recycle. We use plastic bottle tops to recycle as they are most commonly made out of HDPE and are easy to find and collect on Atauro.
  • Who helps with your beach clean ups?
    Local and international schools, tourists, visitors to the island and staff from Barry's Place Atauro Eco Lodge.
  • Where does the marine debris come from?
    The amount of marine debris that is deposited on Atauro Island is dependant on the weather, ocean currents and time of the year. We primarily get the most amount of marine debris during the months of June through to September. This time of year is when there are strong trade winds. For more information please download this pdf.
  • When was Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro established?
    In 2016 Bernadette Davis and Barry Hinton founded the local organisation Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro.
  • What does the name, "Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro" mean?
    Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro translated from Tetun means, "Clean Ocean Team Atauro"
  • What do you do with your funds gained from your recycled products?
    100% of the funds we gain are used to keep running Ekipa Tasi Mos Atauro.
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