The Ocean Cleanup's Annual Plastic Collection Efforts

The Ocean Cleanup is an NGO that removes plastic waste from the ocean. In 2023, it removed 25,000 pounds of trash in one collection, making it the largest gathering of waste from the patch so far. In 2024, the organisation removed 11.5 million kg of trash from oceans and rivers. However, it's estimated that about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. A study funded by the Ocean Cleanup put the range at 0.8 to 2.7 million tonnes per year, while one by researchers at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Germany found a range of 0.4 to four million tonnes per year.

The Ocean Cleanup removed 11.5 million kg of trash from oceans and rivers in 2024

In 2024, The Ocean Cleanup removed 11.5 million kg of trash from oceans and rivers. This is a record-breaking amount for the organisation, which removed about 25,000 pounds of trash in one collection in 2023.

The Ocean Cleanup is an NGO, and its work is important because it is estimated that about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. However, the amount of plastic collected by the organisation is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of plastic in the sea. A study funded by the Ocean Cleanup put the range at 0.8 to 2.7 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean per year, while one by researchers at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Germany found a range of 0.4 to four million tonnes per year.

The Ocean Cleanup's work is also slow because of the sheer size of the problem and because more trash keeps entering the ocean. According to the 2023 Plastic Overshoot Day report, China, the United States, and India produce the most kilotonnes of plastic waste per year. The same report revealed that India, China, and Brazil mismanaged the most waste, suggesting an imbalance between production and waste management.

The Ocean Cleanup removed 25,000 pounds of trash in one collection in 2023

In April 2023, The Ocean Cleanup NGO removed 25,000 pounds of trash in one collection, making it the largest gathering of waste from the patch so far. However, the sheer size of the problem means that progress is slow. It is estimated that about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. A study funded by the Ocean Cleanup put the range at 0.8 to 2.7 million tonnes per year, while another study by researchers at the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Germany found a range of 0.4 to four million tonnes per year.

The Ocean Cleanup's successful pilot collected a notable amount of plastic, but it is estimated that to clean up a fraction of one percent of the total plastic in the ocean, the project would have to run nonstop until 2150. Even when the fleet was artificially increased to 200 booms, the project only recovered five percent of the floating plastic.

A study funded by The Ocean Cleanup estimates that 0.8 to 2.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea via rivers each year

The Ocean Cleanup's efforts are making a difference, but it's a slow process. In the project's 20-year estimated timeline, it's predicted that The Ocean Cleanup's work will have no noticeable effect on the amount of plastic in the ocean. To clean up a fraction of one percent of the total, they would need to operate non-stop until 2150. Even when the fleet was artificially increased to 200 booms, the project still only recovered five percent of the floating plastic.

The problem is that more trash keeps coming. All countries produce some degree of plastic waste, but the management of that waste varies widely. China, the United States, and India produce the most kilotonnes of plastic waste per year, while India, China, and Brazil mismanage the most waste. This suggests an imbalance between production and waste management, with lower-income countries often lacking waste collection services. As a result, people dump their garbage in the street, where it is eventually washed into rivers and carried out to sea.

The Ocean Cleanup is making progress, but it's clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of plastic pollution. Strategies for managing waste are falling short, and the problem is only getting worse. With the amount of plastic entering the oceans each year, it's crucial that we find more effective ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle this material.

A study by German researchers found that between 0.4 and four million tonnes of plastic enter the sea via rivers each year

It is estimated that about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. The Ocean Cleanup removed 11.5 million kilos of trash from oceans and rivers in 2024, making it a record-breaking year for the organisation. However, in a 20-year estimated timeline, it was found that The Ocean Cleanup's efforts would have no noticeable effect on the amount of plastic in the ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup's work is an important step in addressing the plastic pollution problem. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean each year. This includes improving waste management practices and reducing plastic waste production.

The Ocean Cleanup would have to run nonstop until 2150 to clean up a fraction of one percent of the plastic in the ocean

It is estimated that about 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. In 2023, The Ocean Cleanup NGO removed about 25,000 pounds of trash in one collection, making it the largest gathering of waste from the patch so far. In 2024, The Ocean Cleanup removed 11.5 million kilos of trash from oceans and rivers.

Despite these efforts, the amount of plastic collected is a fraction of the amount entering the ocean. Hohn and his colleagues took the current amount of plastic in the ocean, added annual inputs, and compared it with how much plastic the Ocean Cleanup’s successful pilot collected. In the project’s 20-year estimated timeline, Hohn’s math showed that the Ocean Cleanup’s efforts would have no noticeable effect on the amount of plastic in the ocean. To clean up a fraction of one percent of the total, the Ocean Cleanup would have to run nonstop until 2150. Even when Hohn artificially increased the fleet to 200 booms, the project still only recovered five percent of the floating plastic.

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