The Ocean Cleanup begins cleaning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Summary

The Ocean Cleanup project has reached a critical milestone with the successful deployment of System 2, a technology designed to remove plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. During a press event, the team showcased their latest haul of 9,000 kg of plastic waste, marking a major step toward cleaning the oceans. System 2, a large-scale system towed by vessels, efficiently collects plastic, which is then recycled into products like sunglasses. With plans for System 3, and a focus on stopping pollution at its river source, the Ocean Cleanup aims to drastically reduce plastic in the oceans through innovation and global collaboration.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Ocean Cleanup has achieved a critical milestone with the successful proof of technology for System 2, designed to collect ocean plastic waste.
• 😀 Over 9,000 kg of plastic was collected in a single haul during a recent demonstration event in Victoria, Canada.
• 😀 System 2, named 'Jenny,' is designed to be towed by large vessels and operates at a slow speed (1.5 knots) to collect floating plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• 😀 The system includes a barrier that extends 3 meters below the ocean's surface to guide plastic into a collection zone, where it can be sorted and recycled.
• 😀 The Ocean Cleanup is turning collected ocean plastic into valuable products, such as high-end sunglasses, to raise funds for future cleanups.
• 😀 Each pair of sunglasses is made from recycled ocean plastic and features a QR code that reveals the origin of the plastic and tracks its collection journey.
• 😀 Although the Ocean Cleanup does not plan to manufacture products from System 2's plastic, the sunglasses serve as a proof of concept for how waste can be repurposed.
• 😀 Early designs for System 1 were less effective due to smaller plastic pieces escaping, but the crewed System 2 has proven successful in retaining more plastic waste.
• 😀 The Ocean Cleanup plans to deploy multiple systems simultaneously and develop System 3, which will be three times larger and span 2.5 km to collect more plastic.
• 😀 In addition to cleaning up the ocean, the Ocean Cleanup is deploying river interceptors worldwide to prevent plastic from reaching the ocean in the first place.
• 😀 The nonprofit emphasizes that addressing plastic pollution requires not just cleanup efforts but also behavioral changes, improved recycling practices, and reducing single-use plastics.

Q & A

What is the main goal of The Ocean Cleanup project?

The main goal of The Ocean Cleanup project is to remove plastic pollution from the ocean, particularly from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, by deploying specialized systems that collect and recycle the plastic waste.

How much plastic did The Ocean Cleanup system 2 collect during its demonstration in Victoria, Canada?

During the demonstration in Victoria, Canada, The Ocean Cleanup system 2 collected over 9,000 kg of plastic waste in a single haul.

What is the difference between system 1 and system 2 of The Ocean Cleanup?

System 2, called 'Jenny', is an upgraded version of System 1, named 'Wilson'. The key difference is that System 2 is towed at a slow speed (about 1.5 knots) by two large vessels, while System 1 was autonomous. System 2 is also designed to collect plastic more efficiently, with a retention zone where plastic gathers.

Why is System 2 referred to as 'Jenny'?

System 2 is named 'Jenny' after the character from the film *Forrest Gump*. Similarly, System 1 was named 'Wilson' after the volleyball in *Cast Away*, also starring Tom Hanks.

What happens to the collected plastic once it is brought in by System 2?

Once collected, the plastic is sorted and processed into pelletized plastic, which can be used in the manufacturing of recycled goods, such as sunglasses or other products.

What role do the sunglasses play in The Ocean Cleanup project?

The sunglasses, made from reclaimed ocean plastic, were created to raise awareness and funds for future cleanups. They serve as a proof of concept, showing that plastic waste can be turned into valuable products to support the cleanup effort.

How can consumers track where the plastic in their sunglasses came from?

Each pair of sunglasses has a QR code that can be scanned to trace the origin of the plastic, showing where in the ocean it was collected and providing access to related videos and ocean cleanup data.

What are the future plans for The Ocean Cleanup's systems?

The Ocean Cleanup plans to deploy multiple systems simultaneously to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. System 3, which will be three times larger than System 2, will be the blueprint for future systems. The goal is to deploy 10 systems every 5 years.

How does The Ocean Cleanup aim to stop plastic pollution at its source?

The Ocean Cleanup is deploying River Interceptors globally to stop plastic pollution at the mouths of rivers, which are key conduits for plastic waste flowing into the oceans. They also emphasize the importance of education and changes in consumer behavior to reduce plastic waste.

What is the ultimate environmental impact The Ocean Cleanup is working toward?

The ultimate goal is to significantly reduce the amount of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other parts of the ocean, with the long-term vision of eliminating large-scale ocean plastic pollution. The team is also focused on carbon neutrality and experimenting with low-emission fuels for their fleet of vessels.