29 tons of plastic waste collected in the Pacific Ocean

Victoria (AP) – In a testing phase that lasted several weeks, the plastic garbage collector from “The Ocean Cleanup” has achieved success in the Pacific Ocean.

On nine missions, the system collected nearly 29 tons of plastic waste at the sea’s surface, the organization announced Wednesday in Victoria, Canada. The initiator and head of the organization, Dutchman Boyan Slat, told representatives of the press that this successful test for him is evidence that the technology works and that the oceans can be cleaned of garbage. “I think this is really a success for humanity,” said the 27-year-old.

At the end of July, a modified 002 system with the nickname “Jenny” stretched from the west coast of Canada to the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Scientists estimate that 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic will collect in this vortex in the Pacific Ocean. The garbage collector from “The Ocean Cleanup” is an 800-meter net that is slowly pulled across the water by two U-shaped tugs. The plastic waste that collects in it is loaded onto ships and recycled on land.

After the testing phase is over, the system 002 should sail again Thursday, the company said. According to the “ocean cleanup” plans, a fleet of ten cleaning systems of 2,500 meters each should be used in the long term. The goal is to halve the amount of litter in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch every five years.

San Francisco’s first garbage collector started in September 2018. However, the system was damaged during trial run and was unable to pick up the garbage as planned. Many failures occurred in the development of the project supported by companies and universities. There are also criticisms of the effectiveness and sustainability of the system.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211021-99-674393 / 2

ocean cleanup organization