MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world
  • WorldShares
  • State Reports
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Blogs
  • Advice
  • MNN Community
  • MNN Social
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Follow us    
  • Join
  • Log in
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Shea Gunther

Eco fail: Subway car reef project disintegrates

An ambitious project to create a marine habitat out of retired subway cars is canceled after most of the cars fall apart.

Wed, Jul 22 2009 at 3:11 PM EST

Photo: Eeemart/Flickr
Gee, who could have possibly foreseen this?
 
A program that dumped old subway cars into the ocean to provide habitat for marine life has been deemed a total and utter failure after officials found that most of the cars have disintegrated.
 
New Jersey has suspended the program in the face of these poor results. Delaware has reportedly found better success with their cars because they used older cars made from steel instead of the stainless steel used in the newer cars.
 
I can understand the appeal of programs like this -- we get to dump waste while portraying it as an environmental initiative. What politician in her right mind wouldn't want to sign on to something that's going to save money and look green?
 
We've tried this before. They dumped a couple of million old tires into the sea off Florida's coast in the '70s only to watch the tires break away and wreck havoc on the sea floor. Tires started washing up on shore and caused damage to actual reefs when currents pushed them around.
 
Dumping our crap into the sea to give fish a place to live is just dumb. We continue to prove amazingly adept at screwing up our oceans.
 
Are you on Twitter? Follow me (@sheagunther) there, I give good tweets.
 
And if you really like my writing, you can join my Facebook page.
 
 
The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.
 
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More
Earn Points
What's this?
Email Twitter Stumble Digg ShareShare
CLOSE link:
Previous Post
Jon Stewart bores himself to sleep over climate change bill
   Next Post
Green vs Greener: It's catching on
Related Links
Related Topics
  • Fish
  • Oceans
  • Comments

    Follow this conversation
    Add your comment
    View:
    • All (1)

    anonymous
    dottECO 07/23/2009 09:16 AM

    It sounded like a good idea! Be happy that it did not happen. Some years ago the state of florida had this fantastic idea that they would create a reef of used tires to create an underwater paradise. It failed miserably! Chemicals from the tires leached into the water and it became a dead zone. How come organizations do not look at other's past mistakes and learn from them? DOH!

    • Like This  
    • |
    • Reply
    • report this post 

    Add your comment

    Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
      Log in or
      create an account
       
      Login
    Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
    Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
    The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
    Click here to review our Terms of Use

    ADVERTISEMENT

    TOP MEMBERSJoin Now
    • poland.jr
      21026 points
    • ecomainegirl
      9320 points
    • achase
      9314 points
    • LauraB
      5049 points
    • Momof2
      4479 points
    All members

    SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

    CONNECT WITH MNN

    Follow @twitterapi
     Tumblr
     Google +

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Editors' Picks

    Hot weather forecasters
    Forget tiger moms: It's French parents we should be emulating
    Out with the Gap, in with the lettuce: Reusing empty malls
    These plants could kill your cat
    10 things to know about your taxes

    MNN Originals

    MNN Eco-GlossaryMixed Greens: Leading voices in sustainabilityThis Day in HistoryMNN pollsInfographics

     


    • Earth Matters
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Green Tech
    • Eco-Biz & Money
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Home
    • Family

    Quick Links

    • Welcome to MNN
    • Editors' Blog
    • About us
    • Advisory Board
    • Press
    • Sitemap
    • Privacy
    • Terms of service

    MNN Tools

    • Idea Lab
    • Mixed Greens
    • Videos
    • Photos
    • Blogs
    • Advice
    • MNN Community
    • MNN Social

    All About MNN

    • Newsletters
    • RSS
    • Eco-glossary
    • Widgets
    • MNN Contests
    • MNN Lists
    • MNN Mobile
    • Contact Us

     


     

    Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
     
    SPONSORS