Boyan Slat’s organization recently collected 2 shipping containers full of garbage from the Pacific Garbage Patch.
This is the 1st time that any such initiative has ever been taken. The Dutch engineer is now thinking of dealing directly with the source of all this pollution.
Cleanup vessels have already deployed by him in the paths of main ocean currents. Large quantities of plastic trash are being directed towards his devices. These devices then collect the garbage and move them to shore for getting recycled. Even microplastics of 1mm size are getting captured by Slat’s machines.
But at the same time, he is trying to deal with the dirty rivers. Since they are the sources of oceanic pollution, tackling them is crucial.
The organization- The Ocean Cleanup has started targeting polluted rivers after research. The results of this research showed that about 80% of oceanic pollution is due to one thousand polluted rivers around the world.
If we can trap the trash while it’s moving through the river, we will not have to catch them in a wide ocean.
The young engineer’s latest creation is the Interceptor. It is a highly efficient, solar-operated barge that swallows all plastic garbage.
Working mechanism of this machine depends on the barrier that is water-permeable. This barrier is extended halfway across a river. There is a conveyor strip that scoops out the plastic from the water. This garbage is dumped on a shuttle that further moves it to 1 of the 6 dumpsters. This whole operation is remotely monitored from onshore.
When these dumpsters get full, they are removed with the help of another boat. The boat brings the waste ashore for the recycling of the garbage.
At full efficiency, 220,000 pounds (or 100,000 Kg) of plastic waste can be extracted per day. If multiple Interceptors are placed at the narrower regions of a river, most of the garbage can be collected. This will result in very little trash going into the oceans.
Interceptor 002 at work in Klang, Malaysia. Was amazing to see it in reality! pic.twitter.com/7xXoYojgzX
— Boyan Slat (@BoyanSlat) November 5, 2019
By 2025, Slat wants to have his Interceptors placed in each of the 1,000 most polluted rivers. The machine is easy to manufacture and scalable. This is an advantage for the poor countries as they can procure it easily. Since there are many polluted waterways in these countries, Interceptors are required there.
Kuala Lumpur’s Klang river and Jakarta’s Cengkareng Drain are currently being cleaned by the Interceptor. The former is enlisted in the top 50 worst polluted rivers list.
Anyone who wants to urge their local governments to use the Interceptors in their country’s rivers will be helped by the company. This can be done by visiting the Ocean Cleanup’s website.
Donating $50 to the company will help keep the process going and you’ll get a recycled product from the company.
