The Ocean Cleanup: How Much Plastic Removed?

The presence of plastic in the ocean is a pressing issue that has attracted the attention of several organisations and governments. While there is no precise data on the amount of plastic in the ocean, it is estimated that there are 21,000 pieces of plastic floating in the ocean for every person on the planet. This plastic pollution has a detrimental impact on marine wildlife and ecosystems. To address this issue, various organisations have initiated ocean cleanup efforts, such as The Ocean Cleanup, which aims to remove 90% of plastic from the oceans by 2040. Despite these efforts, the challenge of removing plastic from the ocean remains complex and costly.

Beach cleanups are one of the most effective ways of dealing with ocean plastics

Organizations like The Ocean Cleanup are developing innovative technologies to remove plastic from oceans and intercept it in rivers. However, critics argue that their methods may not effectively remove microplastics, and lower-tech strategies like beach cleanups are more practical. Beach cleanups prevent plastics from reaching the ocean, as most plastic in the ocean remains within 100 miles of the shore, breaking down into microplastics over time.

A study found that 77% of plastic remained on beaches or in coastal waters for the first five years after entering the ocean. This indicates that beach cleanups can significantly reduce plastic in the ocean and prevent it from breaking down into microplastics. Various organizations, including the Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, and Ocean Blue Project, regularly organize beach cleanups with volunteers, contributing to a collective effort to address ocean plastic pollution.

Beach cleanups also provide valuable data and insights. Documentation of the types and density of collected items helps identify hotspots and understand the movement of plastics across seas. This information is crucial for developing strategies to reduce marine debris and target specific areas for cleanup. Additionally, beach cleanups raise awareness about the scope of the plastic pollution problem, highlighting the need for systemic changes and individual responsibility in reducing plastic consumption and waste.

While beach cleanups are effective, they are not a standalone solution. To comprehensively address ocean plastic pollution, a multi-faceted approach is necessary, combining beach cleanups, technological interventions, and systemic changes to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management.

The Ocean Cleanup has removed over 100,000 kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation, has removed over 100,000 kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). The GPGP is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean. The Ocean Cleanup's founder and CEO, Boyan Slat, dropped out of his aerospace engineering studies at TU Delft in 2013 to work full-time on this ambitious project.

The Ocean Cleanup's System 002, or "Jenny", has collected 101,353 kg of plastic over 45 extractions, sweeping an area of the ocean of over 3000 km2. This is comparable to the size of Luxembourg or Rhode Island. Combined with the 7,173 kg of plastic captured by their previous prototype systems, The Ocean Cleanup has collected 108,526 kg of plastic from the GPGP. This is more than the combined weight of two and a half Boeing 737-800s, or the dry weight of a space shuttle.

The Ocean Cleanup's 2018 study mapped the patch and estimated the total amount of accumulated plastic in the GPGP to be 79,000,000 kg, or 100,000,000 kg if the Outer GPGP is included. The Ocean Cleanup aims to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040 with its ocean cleanup systems and river interception technologies. The organisation has been researching, extracting, and monitoring plastic pollution in oceans and rivers globally for over ten years, with millions of kilograms removed to date.

The GPGP contains more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing an estimated 100,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to over 740 Boeing 777s. The centre of the GPGP has the highest density, with the density decreasing towards the outermost regions. The Ocean Cleanup's expeditions between 2013 and 2015 found that buoyant plastic mass is distributed within the top few meters of the ocean, with larger pieces resurfacing more rapidly than smaller pieces.

The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptor has been installed in three rivers

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. It employs a dual strategy: intercepting plastic in rivers to cut down on pollution, and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. The Interceptor is The Ocean Cleanup's technology to achieve the former.

The Interceptor is designed to extract plastic from rivers before it enters the ocean. It was unveiled in late 2019 and there are currently three deployed in Klang, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. A fourth Interceptor, in Vietnam, has been delayed for deployment. The Interceptor in Jakarta has been on a trial run since May 2019 near the mouth of the Cengkareng drain, which connects the city’s notoriously garbage-laden Angke River to the Java Sea.

The Ocean Cleanup's goal is to deploy Interceptors in 1,000 of the world's most polluted rivers in just five years. These rivers are responsible for carrying 80% of ocean trash. The Interceptor Original is the first of The Ocean Cleanup's river cleanup technologies. The organization has also developed Interceptor 005 and 006, which are currently being manufactured simultaneously at Konecranes' MHE-Demag facility in Klang, Malaysia.

The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptor technology is an important step in tackling the urgent problem of ocean plastic pollution. However, some scientists are skeptical about the goal of targeting so many rivers in vastly different parts of the world. The process has also not been smooth, with the Interceptor in Jakarta facing allegations that it copied the design of another successful river cleanup device patented over a decade ago. Despite these challenges, The Ocean Cleanup remains committed to its goal of ridding the world's oceans of plastic.

Beach cleanups may not be enough to solve the problem of ocean plastic pollution

Beach cleanups are a great way to keep our oceans clean. Every year, thousands of people worldwide volunteer to pick up trash from beaches. The largest effort is conducted every September by the Ocean Conservancy, which in 30 years of cleanups has collected 300 million pounds and more than 350 types of items. However, beach cleanups may not be enough to solve the problem of ocean plastic pollution.

The challenge of ocean plastic pollution is immense, with millions of tons of plastic contaminating our seas. While cleanup efforts are commendable, they are not a panacea. The real solution lies in systemic change—reducing single-use plastics, promoting recycling, and fostering sustainable practices. Our use of plastics is expected to double in the next 20 years, which is a scary thought given that microplastics from plastic pollution have infiltrated our air, food, and water sources.

Most plastic in the ocean remains within 100 miles of the shore between the coastline and the ocean, washing back and forth and scraping on the sand. This process eventually breaks the plastic down into microplastics, which are difficult to collect due to their small size. In addition, the majority of large plastic pieces are spread out across the vastness of the oceans, making it challenging to collect them all.

To effectively address ocean plastic pollution, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. Firstly, there needs to be a focus on reducing plastic consumption and promoting sustainable alternatives. This can be achieved through legislation and policies that mandate the reduction of single-use plastics and encourage the development and use of eco-friendly alternatives. For example, in 2018, the town of Malibu, California, banned plastic cutlery and straws to clean up its beaches. Similarly, local shop and restaurant owners in the famous Mexican beach town of Puerto Escondido stopped using plastic straws, demonstrating their commitment to tackling plastic waste.

Secondly, the implementation of river cleanup technologies is crucial, as most plastic enters the ocean from rivers. Organizations like Ocean Cleanup have developed river interception technologies, such as solar-powered catamaran-like vessels that are placed at the mouth of polluted rivers to capture plastic pollution. By targeting these riverine sources, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans.

Lastly, collaboration between various stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and communities, is essential. Initiatives like the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) bring together diverse groups to work towards meaningful actions to beat plastic pollution. By sharing data, expertise, and resources, we can create a circular economy that reduces, reuses, and recycles plastic waste, minimizing its impact on our oceans.

In conclusion, while beach cleanups are important and have a significant impact on local communities and ecosystems, they are not sufficient to solve the vast problem of ocean plastic pollution. To truly address this issue, we need to focus on systemic change, reduce plastic consumption, promote recycling, and foster sustainable practices through collaboration between various stakeholders. By taking these comprehensive steps, we can make a meaningful difference in protecting our oceans and the planet for future generations.

The Ocean Cleanup's goal is to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that aims to remove 90% of plastic from the world's oceans by 2040. It has been researching, extracting, and monitoring plastic pollution in oceans and rivers globally for over ten years, with millions of kilograms of plastic removed to date. The organization develops and scales technologies to rid the oceans of plastic, using a dual strategy: intercepting plastic in rivers to cut the inflow of pollution, and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup's innovative ocean cleaning system is already removing plastic from the Pacific Ocean, specifically the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a plastic accumulation zone with over 100,000,000 kilograms of plastic. Throughout 2021 and 2022, their ocean cleaning system has been harvesting plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with a more successful iteration of their system removing 220,000 pounds of plastic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest gyre, located between Hawaii and California, covering 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice as big as Texas. It is estimated to contain 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing almost 90,000 tons.

The Ocean Cleanup also deploys Interceptor river solutions worldwide, with the goal of halting 80% of riverine pollution from reaching our oceans. Interceptor 005, also known as Neon Moon 1, has been a successful partnership for the organization. In addition, they share updates on plastic catches, research findings, new projects, and ways to get involved through their mailing list and social media presence.

The Ocean Cleanup's system consists of a large floating net-like barrier three meters deep that forms a large U shape and is slowly towed by two ships. The natural flow caused by the movement directs plastic to the central retention zone. Once a week, the two vessels come together to close the barriers, collect the retention zone, and unload the plastic onto one of their decks. The plastic is then separated into different recycling streams, packaged, and sent to recycling facilities onshore.

While The Ocean Cleanup has received a lot of attention for its efforts, some marine biologists believe its methods could do more harm than good due to the use of fossil fuel-powered ships that emit 660 tons of carbon dioxide per month of cleanup. The organization counters that it offsets its emissions and experiments with biofuels. Additionally, they have implemented measures to ensure the safety of marine life, such as breathing ports for mammals, birds, or turtles that may become trapped, underwater cameras to monitor entanglement, and a remote-controlled trigger release to open the retention zone if needed.

The Ocean Cleanup's goal of removing 90% of ocean plastic by 2040 is an ambitious engineering project that aims to address the significant challenge of restoring the ocean ecosystem and mitigating the negative impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife, the food chain, and community health.

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