Steffen Krones presents documentary about plastic waste in Freital!

Steffen Krones presents documentary about plastic waste in Freital!

In times when environmental protection is more on the agenda than ever, the renowned environmental filmmaker Steffen Krones devotes his new documentary to the urgent issue of plastic waste. His film “The North Drift – Plastic in Streams” highlights the frightening transport of plastic waste from the banks of the Elbe in Dresden to the North Sea. An anecdote that led Krones to research the topic more intensively is particularly revealing: During a visit to the Lofoten Islands, he found a German beer bottle that brought the global dimension of the problem into focus. A few years ago, Krones placed GPS buoys in the water on the banks of the Elbe in Dresden to track their path to the North Sea, reports Sächsische.

The documentary, which premiered in German cinemas in 2022, will be shown on November 11th from 6 p.m. in the city library in the City Center, Bahnhofstrasse 34, in Freital. This event not only offers the opportunity to see the film, but also includes an interesting discussion with Steffen Krones and Petra Schiffert from the Freital Environmental Center. One more reason not to miss this event!

A worldwide problem

But why is this topic so explosive? According to ZDF, a third of the plastic waste produced worldwide ends up in the environment. The reasons for this are increasing plastic consumption, inadequate waste management and the export of plastic waste from industrialized countries to emerging countries. Scientists are also concerned about the health effects of plastics, which can find their way into food and lead to hormone and growth disorders and even cancer.

The film also shows particularly vivid images from the “plastic village” Bangun in Indonesia, where large amounts of plastic waste from western industrialized countries end up. Environmental experts, politicians and scientists appear in the documentary to discuss the serious threat that plastic poses to our environment. This problem, which has been increasing exponentially since the 1950s, is not only a challenge for individuals, but also requires joint action by politics, science, business and consumers.

On the way to a circular economy

A key point the documentary raises is the need to move from a throwaway society to a circular economy. This is achieved by all stakeholders acting in better collaboration. According to the Institute for Economic Environmental Research (IWU) urgently need to find solutions to address the recycling problem. Bioplastics are not seen as a panacea, and the discussion about creative approaches to reducing plastic waste and improving waste management remains active.

The upcoming event in Freital is therefore not just a film premiere, but also a call for participation in an important social discourse. Anyone interested should mark November 11th in their calendar and become part of the solution to the flood of plastic.