Ocean Cleaning Device Successfully Catches Plastic Waste In The Pacific

A floating device that vacuums up plastic waste from the ocean passed its first test recently when it successfully collected debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, CNN reports:

“The Netherlands-based nonprofit the Ocean Cleanup says its latest prototype was able to capture and hold debris ranging in size from huge, abandoned fishing gear, known as ‘ghost nets,’ to tiny microplastics as small as 1 millimeter.

“‘Today, I am very proud to share with you that we are now catching plastics,’ Ocean Cleanup founder and CEO Boyan Slat said at a news conference in Rotterdam.”

Our ocean cleanup system is now finally catching plastic, from one-ton ghost nets to tiny microplastics!

Also, anyone missing a wheel? pic.twitter.com/Oq0rkXO3TH

— Boyan Slat (@BoyanSlat) October 2, 2019

Ocean Cleanup has been trying to perfect the device for seven years. Here’s how it works:

“The Ocean Cleanup system is a U-shaped barrier with a net-like skirt that hangs below the surface of the water. It moves with the current and collects faster moving plastics as they float by. Fish and other animals will be able to swim beneath it.

“The new prototype added a parachute anchor to slow the system and increased the size of a cork line on top of the skirt to keep the plastic from washing over it.”

“Last year, a design flaw stopped the barrier from holding onto the plastic it captured and a 59-foot section of the barrier disconnected from the device. In its next attempt, the design team noticed that plastic was floating over the top of a cork line that was supposed to stabilize the system.”

“Our team has remained steadfast in its determination to solve immense technical challenges to arrive at this point. Though we still have much more work to do, I am eternally grateful for the team’s commitment and dedication to the mission and look forward to continuing to the next phase of development.”