Planet Buyback
Crowdfunding the Earth ™

  • “Plastic pollution can be found all over the world – it is a global problem that needs global solutions.”

    – Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO

     

    The Ocean Cleanup develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s ocean of plastic. They clean up the legacy plastic already in the ocean, as well as stopping plastic flowing into the ocean via rivers.

    The latest deployment of their river technology, the Interceptor, took place in October 2022 in Los Angeles. Interceptor 007 is situated in Ballona Creek, near Venice Beach, and will be catching trash for a pilot period of two storm seasons. If this pilot goes well, Los Angeles Public Works will be gifted the Interceptor.

“Plastic pollution can be found all over the world – it is a global problem that needs global solutions.”

– Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO

 

The Ocean Cleanup develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s ocean of plastic. They clean up the legacy plastic already in the ocean, as well as stopping plastic flowing into the ocean via rivers.

The latest deployment of their river technology, the Interceptor, took place in October 2022 in Los Angeles. Interceptor 007 is situated in Ballona Creek, near Venice Beach, and will be catching trash for a pilot period of two storm seasons. If this pilot goes well, Los Angeles Public Works will be gifted the Interceptor.

If no action is taken, plastic will increasingly impact our ecosystems, health, and economies.

CHALLENGE

Plastic pollution impacts marine life, our health and economies. Most plastic in the ocean arrives there from rivers, often due to lack of proper waste management. In the case of L.A. County, the waste management infrastructure is well developed, but with 20 million people living in the area, trash can accumulate in waterways. During the rains in the storm season, all this accumulated plastic is flushed out into the Pacific Ocean.

SOLUTION

The Ocean Cleanup has developed the Interceptor™ Original, a solar powered machine that extracts trash from the water with a conveyor belt and distributes it over 6 dumpsters. Once full, it is emptied by local operators and the trash is brought back to shore for sorting and processing. During this 2-year pilot phase, we will be monitoring and assessing the performance of Interceptor 007, helping with potential maintenance and operational challenges, and conducting in-depth research into its interaction with local flora and fauna. By donating to this fundraiser, you will support The Ocean Cleanup’s pilot period and help to develop a stable process for continued operation once the Interceptor is handed over to L.A. Public Works.

CHALLENGE

Plastic pollution impacts marine life, our health and economies. Most plastic in the ocean arrives there from rivers, often due to lack of proper waste management. In the case of L.A. County, the waste management infrastructure is well developed, but with 20 million people living in the area, trash can accumulate in waterways. During the rains in the storm season, all this accumulated plastic is flushed out into the Pacific Ocean.

SOLUTION

The Ocean Cleanup has developed the Interceptor™ Original, a solar powered machine that extracts trash from the water with a conveyor belt and distributes it over 6 dumpsters. Once full, it is emptied by local operators and the trash is brought back to shore for sorting and processing. During this 2-year pilot phase, we will be monitoring and assessing the performance of Interceptor 007, helping with potential maintenance and operational challenges, and conducting in-depth research into its interaction with local flora and fauna. By donating to this fundraiser, you will support The Ocean Cleanup’s pilot period and help to develop a stable process for continued operation once the Interceptor is handed over to L.A. Public Works.

  • We have power in numbers.

  • We have power in numbers.

  • We have power in numbers.

LONG-TERM IMPACT

Ballona Creek, L.A. County, United States

From only the first flush of rainwater, they have collected 35,000 lbs of trash, with residents already noticing the difference on Venice beach compared to the last storm season. Stopping this plastic that otherwise would end up in the Pacific Ocean or on the nearby beaches has a positive impact for marine life, tourism, and the neighboring community. It also reduces the need for manual cleanup operations on beaches.

 

The continuous operation and learnings from this pilot phase are vital to keep trash from entering the Pacific Ocean from Ballona Creek in the future.

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