The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit environmental engineering organization in the Netherlands, focuses on developing technology to extract plastic pollution from oceans and rivers, preventing it from reaching the sea. Initially concentrating on the Pacific Ocean's garbage patch, they've extended efforts to rivers in countries like Indonesia, Guatemala, and the United States.
Their river system employs floating barriers, sometimes anchored to riverbanks. Beyond this, The Ocean Cleanup publishes scientific papers and has made the striking estimation that "1% of rivers are responsible for 80% of the pollution in the world's seas."
They have an ambitious goal of protecting 1000 rivers with such barriers.
The latest Ocean System's design "Jenny" features a towed, floating structure that functions as a containment boom, with a permeable screen underneath to catch subsurface debris. This innovative design includes an 800-meter (2,600-foot) barrier and has integrated active propulsion, enabling the system to operate at higher speeds. Crewed boats tow the U-shaped barrier through the water at a pace of 1.5 knots, and the system can be directed to areas with higher concentrations of waste.
In a significant achievement, the floating system reached the milestone of 100,000 kilograms of plastic removal from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in July 2022.
Their mission is driven by innovative technological solutions and scientific research. Key programs include:
The Ocean Cleanup System: Aiming to remove large quantities of plastic waste from ocean garbage patches, particularly the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Interceptor™: An autonomous system designed to capture plastic waste in the world's most polluting rivers, targeting the "1% of rivers responsible for 80% of the pollution in the world's seas."
Aerial Expeditions: Conducting aerial surveys to understand and analyze the concentration of oceanic plastic pollution.
Scientific Research: Publishing papers on plastic pollution and collaborating with researchers to better understand the problem and devise more effective solutions.
Scale-up to 1000 Rivers: An ambitious goal to protect 1000 rivers by implementing barriers, aiming for a significant reduction in plastic flowing into the ocean.
These programs collectively encapsulate The Ocean Cleanup's commitment to not only removing existing waste from the oceans but also preventing new waste from entering, leading to a more sustainable and healthier marine environment.
