FAQ

The ocean garbage patches are not solid ‘islands’ of trash. Rather, the plastic is dispersed, forming massive ‘debris fields’. But that does not mean these areas aren’t highly polluted and don’t require cleaning up. The average concentration of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is around 60 kg per square kilometer, and peaks at several hundred kg per square kilometer. For comparison: a few hundred kilometers from the patch you’d struggle to find values of 0.1 kg per square kilometer. A summary of the science of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can be found here and more details on the trash island misconception here.

Quantifying the amount of plastic in the ocean is not an easy feat, and new papers on the pervasiveness of plastic in the marine environment come out every week.

In our article published in Scientific Reports in 2019, we relied on models and statistics to estimate how much plastic was being emitted into the ocean and where it would end up.

In the article, we estimated that 107 and 290 million metric tons of plastic were emitted into the ocean between 1950 and 2015. Over this period, plastic output increased exponentially, and it continues to increase as global plastic production surges.

Plastic pollution on a beach in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with System 002

Depending on the buoyancy of the plastic, its journey once it enters the ocean differs. Approximately 35.5% of the plastic entering the ocean is considered non-buoyant and can therefore be assumed to sink close to the ocean entry point. The rest (65.5%) is considered buoyant plastic, which will either a) beach onshore, b) sink to the seabed close to shore, or c) escape out into the ocean and eventually end up in the so-called garbage patches. While the latter fraction is the smallest of the three, it remains important as it moves the floating trash out of reach for cleanup efforts operating closer to shore.

The journey of a piece of plastic can be very long, beaching and re-entering the ocean multiple times, all the while slowly breaking down and releasing microplastics. It might also take years or even decades before a plastic piece has traveled all the way to a garbage patch.

To conclude, we need to stop plastic from entering the ocean. But to mitigate harm to the environment and limit the generation of further microplastics it is also essential to clean up the plastic that has made its way into the ocean.

To learn more, also see these FAQs and pages:

• Ocean Plastic Pollution Explained
• What types of plastics do you find in the middle of the ocean?
• What are microplastics, and macroplastics and why may they be harmful?
• What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
• Plastic Tracker – Simulate a journey for a piece of plastic from anywhere in the world
• What are the long-term effects of plastic pollution in the ocean?
• Our cleanup technology for Oceans
• Our cleanup technology for Rivers

In 2014 and 2015 The Ocean Cleanup organized several expeditions to measure the vertical distribution of plastic, in high resolution for the top five meters of the ocean. Results were published in Biogeosciences and Nature Scientific Reports.

The smaller the pieces get, the more sensitive they are to mixing due to wind and wave turbulence. The measurements showed that even the microplastics stay on or near the surface in turbulent seas. The highest concentrations of microplastics were found directly on the surface and quickly went to trace concentrations when at only a few meters of depth. Larger objects, which comprise most of the mass of plastic in the ocean, are more buoyant and are found almost directly at the ocean surface.

It is important to note that we’re referring to the floating fraction of plastic. Part of the plastic that enters the ocean is of a plastic type that is heavier than water. However, most packaging and fishing gear (the two primary sources of ocean plastic) is made of buoyant types of plastic (Polyethylene and Polypropylene), and most life can be found in the top part of the ocean, which is why The Ocean Cleanup focuses on the floating plastic.

The vertical distribution of ocean plastic in wind condition that are average for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (left) and more windy conditions (right). Derived from Kooi et al., 2016.

Although microplastics are most abundant by count, our reconnaissance of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch revealed that 92% of the plastics are still large objects in terms of mass. The smallest size class we quantified, pieces smaller than 1.5mm, accounts for just 0.77% of the mass.

Compare it to standing next to Mount Everest while holding a handful of pebbles. While the pebbles in your hand are more abundant by count than the mountain (for which the count equals 1), the mountain, obviously, contains more rock than your hand does. As you can see, it’s the mass that counts (pun intended).

So, most of the plastic floating in the ocean garbage patches is still intact as large objects, which is even more reason to go and clean it up – before the 92% breaks down into more and more small pieces.

Most plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is contained in large objects. Lebreton et al., 2018

Microplastics are plastic objects smaller than 5 millimeters in size. They can consist of plastic fragments, flakes, fibers, or pre-production pellets (also known as nurdles). We differentiate between primary microplastics, which are plastic pieces produced in that size (nurdles, cosmetic microbeads, etc.), and secondary microplastics, which come from the degradation of larger objects (found in the form of fragments, fibers, paint flakes, etc.).

Examples of secondary microplastics; plastic fragments stemming from larger objects

Macroplastics are typically categorized as anything larger than 5 millimeters. However, at The Ocean Cleanup, we differentiate between mesoplastics (0.5 – 5 cm), macroplastics (5 – 50 cm), and megaplastics (>50 cm). This is to reflect the wide variation of sizes in plastic pollution. As larger objects left in the environment may slowly break down into smaller pieces, monitoring and documenting the full-size spectrum of plastic pollution and its evolution over time is essential.

Macroplastics being sorted on board the support vessel of System 002, in January 2022

Example of megaplastic pieces caught during the System 002 mission

Of all the size classes, microplastic accumulation poses the greatest risk of harming the environment. Because of their small size, their bioavailability increases, meaning they can potentially impact many more species than larger objects. The ingestion of microplastics can result in physical damage to organisms. Concerns have also been raised surrounding the toxicity of plastic ingestion, as plastic can carry possible harmful chemicals (either through absorption or leaching). Finally, as pathogens and parasite vectors have also been identified on microplastics, there is an increased risk for ecosystems. However, there is still no consensus on how damaging microplastics are to the environment, and their impact depends on the plastic size, environment, organisms, and level of exposure.

How plastic pollution travels up the food chain

Floating macroplastics also have apparent impacts on marine megafauna through ingestion or entanglement. As they degrade over time, they can generate large numbers of microplastics – and like their smaller counterparts, macroplastics can carry chemicals and invasive species. The increasing accumulation of floating plastic ‘rafts’ on the ocean surface provides a gateway for species to move from one continent to another like never before, representing a real risk for biodiversity due to species invasion.

Learn more about ocean plastic pollution here.

Because plastic is such a persistent material, the ecological, economic and eco-toxicological effects of plastic pollution are all long-term. These include:

• Physical impact on marine life: entanglement, ingestion, starvation
• Chemical impact: the buildup of persistent organic pollutants like PCBs and DDT
• Transport of invasive species and pollutants from polluted rivers to remote areas in the ocean
• Economic impact: damage to fisheries, shipping, and tourism

In recent years, the amount of attention focused on very small plastic particles has increased dramatically, but little is yet known about their long-term effects on the environment. The microplastics The Ocean Cleanup is focused on preventing is the so-called secondary microplastics, i.e. plastic fragments resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic debris at land and sea.

For more information, see our Ocean Plastic Explained page as well as our research about the persistent organic pollutants on the plastic.

Not all plastic makes its way to the garbage patches once released into the aquatic environment. During our expeditions and cleanup missions, we have mainly seen and caught HDPE plastics (High-Density Polyethylene), with a smaller fraction comprised of LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) and PP (Polypropylene). Their density is lower than water, which makes them stay afloat and more likely to persist in the ocean for long periods.

Examples of plastic products we find in the ocean, typically made with HDPE, are:

• Fishing equipment, ghost nets
• Bottle caps
• Toothbrushes
• Detergent bottles
• Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel bottles
• Some types of beverage bottles
• Crates
• Pieces of buckets
• Toys

Ghost net lifted onboard the vessel in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, during the System 001/B mission 2019

Examples of plastic caught during the System 001/B mission in 2019.

Other plastic types usually wash up on the shore, or sink close to the coast. Examples of these plastic types are:

• Plastic bags
• Cigarette filters
• PET bottles (note: the cap does float)
• Styrofoam food- and beverage containers
• Straws
• Textiles made of plastic

With our Interceptor solutions, we aim to catch plastics before it beaches, sinks, or escapes to the ocean. Our ocean systems will tackle the legacy plastic already out there, as it can take decades before plastic pieces make it to the ocean garbage patches.

Learn more about plastic becomes ocean plastic on our Ocean Plastic Explained page.

There are several steps you can take to prevent plastic pollution, but some depend on recycling facilities in your area. Here are a few tips:

• Spread awareness for plastic pollution
• Organize beach, river bank or land cleanups (and start a fundraiser for The Ocean Cleanup while doing your local cleanup)
• Reduce your use of disposable plastics (including microbeads in cosmetics)
• Make sure you dispose of trash properly
• Wash your synthetic clothing as little as possible
• Reuse and recycle whenever possible
• Support us financially with a donation or apply to The Ocean Cleanup to help us develop our system
• Lobby to your (local) government

This assumes littering is a conscious action. Plastic enters the oceans primarily through negligence; unconscious actions of people that do not think about (or are unaware of) the consequence of the action. Once the consequences of one’s actions are raised to the conscious level, people can make rational cost-benefit analyses of their actions and would probably think twice about throwing their rubbish into the environment. And what better thing can one do to raise the topic into the public awareness than by executing a very visible project like The Ocean Cleanup?

Right now, the oceanic plastic problem is quite an abstract problem. Since the patches aren’t solid masses of plastic they’re difficult to photograph, and, in any case, they are very far away. By lifting the plastic out of the ocean and showing the world mountains of trash coming into port, we remove the abstractness of the problem and bring it much closer to home.

Cleaning plastic from the ocean, as well as all the R&D required to make it happen, also helps to increase the available knowledge of the problem, as our numerous scientific publications have shown. This, in turn, allows us to develop better technologies and policies to also address the prevention-side of the equation.

The moral hazard argument can also be countered by the Broken Window Theory, which says that that visible signs of social disobedience (graffiti, litter, etc.) promotes more of such behavior. People are, for example, more likely to litter when the park they walk in is already littered. By making the ocean clean again, we avoid the idea that the oceans are already full of plastic and that one extra piece of plastic won’t make much of a difference. Saying that the oceans can’t be cleaned up and the only thing we can do is to try to not make it worse is a very depressing message. If the oceans are truly polluted forever, why bother trying to do something about it?

Following the logic of the moral hazard in reverse, it looks like the best way to stop plastic pollution will be to stop collecting litter from the streets and remove any waste infrastructure because these things all give people an incentive to create more waste in the first place. Obviously, that is not true. The data shows countries with the least amount of waste infrastructure have the highest rates of plastic leakage.

As always, it is important to make a balanced assessment between a hypothetical risk in the future, versus a certain impact today.

The Ocean Cleanup provides data and knowledge from scientific research and field operations for governments and institutions to consider when discussing new policies and legal frameworks to regulate plastic pollution.

We were recently granted Consultative Status by the United Nations, which will allow us to have a voice and play a role in formal deliberations with UN bodies, NGOs, and member state governments. The international community is currently negotiating a new United Nations Treaty on plastic pollution and conserving marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

In every project we initiate worldwide, we seek partnerships with civic and private waste management authorities and strive to ensure the waste caught by the Interceptor is managed responsibly.

In times of globalization, we all share the responsibility to create a better global framework and a cleaner environment for the next generation

Yes. We have been cleaning in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch since July 2021, when System 002 captured our first plastic. System 03, our current cleanup system in the GPGP, was deployed in August 2023.

You can follow System 03’s progress on our Dashboard.

We will never be able to remove every single piece of plastic from the oceans. However, by intercepting plastic in rivers, and cleaning what is already out there, a significant decrease of floating debris in the ocean’s accumulation zones can be achieved. Our aim is to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.

Solving the entire problem will require radical changes at the individual, corporate, and governmental levels of society. In addition to these efforts, cleanup of the oceanic accumulation zones is necessary; plastic in these zones does not go away by itself and it creates an ecological risk as it breaks down into more dangerous microplastics. Intercepting plastic before it reaches the ocean, rather than waiting for policy/societal change, will also help in limiting the effects plastic has on sea life, economies, and human health.

The Ocean Cleanup can significantly reduce the concentration of plastic in the ocean garbage patches and work with stakeholders all over the world to intercept plastic in the world’s most polluted rivers. With the application of these solutions, our aim is to reduce 90% of the floating plastic pollution by 2040.

The ocean garbage patches are vast (three times the size of France) and vessels crossing through it are rare – on average there are less than five within its boundaries.

Therefore, we expect minimal interactions with other vessels and will not be interrupting active shipping pathways. By having an active system, we can coordinate with other ships and change course when appropriate. We will put out a notice to mariners in that area, and there will be signs and lights on the ship and on the retention system to ensure it is visible. We will also be able to contact other vessels to inform them of our presence if necessary. If there are multiple systems in the area, we will follow the same procedure.

Because the cleanup systems are meant to stay in the patch for long periods of time, it is important that our systems can withstand the forces of the ocean. We will continually monitor the loads in the system and adapt the speed and span to lower the loads in the case of rough seas. We will also monitor weather forecasts and plan a trajectory to avoid storms, and by understanding the patch climate, we can plan to operate in less critical locations. In the case of a particularly severe storm, the system can be temporarily withdrawn from the operation.

Our system was designed with minimal components and high flexibility, and minimizing opportunities for breakages was always in our minds. We continually monitor the system with loadcells and adapt the speed and span to lower the loads in the case of rough seas. We also monitor weather forecasts and plan our route to avoid storms. By following weather forecasts, we also aim to operate in areas where conditions are more favorable. In the case of a particularly severe storm, the system can be temporarily withdrawn from the operation. Inspections and repairs are always conducted during initial deployment and final recovery for each trip. When expected wear and tear occurs, we can usually fix these components on deck during idle periods, for example, during transit to and from port.

The driver behind our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic is to make the ocean a healthier place for all life that benefits from it, so our number one priority is safety for the environment and our crew. While the overall risks of our operations were found to be negligible, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by CSA Ocean Sciences determined that some interactions are likely with some species of fish, turtles, and certain plankton and neustonic organisms with limited mobility, so we must minimize this impact as much as possible.

The EIA notes that the long-term impact on marine species of the removal of large amounts of plastic and marine debris should be beneficial, and it is unlikely that any potentially impacted species will decrease in number. As data is still limited, there is uncertainty about the residual impact our operations may have on these communities; therefore, we aim to help fill these knowledge gaps by continuing to collect data during our operations and sharing this with the scientific community.

Our systems are designed to be safe for the marine environment; speed (slower than a casual stroll), materials, and shape have all been chosen to minimize negative side effects. We have also incorporated mitigation measures into our systems to deter marine animals from interacting with the system or provide easy exit routes in case they do – and we continue to develop new mitigation measures as we operate. Alongside increasing our underwater cameras, System 03 introduced a new Marine Animal Safety Hatch, which can activate to encourage any animal in the Retention Zone to exit, further limiting any chances for an animal to become trapped. While extracting plastic, dedicated Environmental Observers and crew are present and monitoring the area. If necessary, we can -and do- halt cleanup operations based on the event severity level.
As we continue to develop our technology and learn more about the natural behaviors of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its wildlife, we will adapt as needed to ensure our net impact on this environment remains as positive as possible.

Read this Update: “How we Ensure an Environmentally Sound Cleanup” for more information about mitigation measures.

Fish are often attracted to floating structures found offshore, such as flotsam, and oil and gas platforms. This also applies to the plastic that is currently in the ocean, including large ghost nets. By collecting this plastic, fish may gather around our system temporarily. However, because the retention zone is emptied every two weeks, and the entire system may be removed from the water every four weeks, these FAD effects are removed, and the fish disperse.

Learn more about how the system is designed for limited environmental impact in this YouTube video.

Limiting our impact on the environment is at the core of each decision we make. As with any large-scale activity at sea, currently, consuming fuel is inevitable. With System 03, this is primarily related to the vessels operating the system. Since the start of our activities in the GPGP in 2018, we have been offsetting all carbon emissions related to our operations following a third-party assessment of our total carbon footprint. We will continue to do so with S03, while continuously working on minimizing emissions. Our offshore partner, Maersk, will continue to develop the most fuel-efficient vessel routing and logistics for our scale-up and hope to further incorporate sustainable fuels, with the aim to integrate renewable fueled assets into our operations. We are also working on a full cost-benefit assessment to determine our net impact on the environment.

The main shifts in our concept have involved the switch from a moored system to a drifting system and later to an active system. We learned this has many advantages: higher plastic capture efficiency, reduced deployment and maintenance costs, and reduced risk of system damage due to lower forces from wind, waves, and currents, to name a few.

System 001 suffered from fatigue issues and could not keep a sufficient speed difference with the plastic. The learnings gained from System 001 were implemented into a redesign: System 001/B, a smaller, modular version that could be adjusted offshore if necessary. Although we did successfully capture and retain plastic, we concluded that we could not effectively scale up with this design. Therefore, with System 002, we developed a new approach that uses active propulsion to move slightly faster than the plastic continuously. With an actively propelled system, we will be able to catch plastic more quickly and efficiently because contrary – to the passive approach – we can now direct our system towards areas with high concentrations of plastic.

System 002 received proof of technology in October 2021. We continued to harvest plastic System 002 while beginning the gradual transition to System 03, which was completed in August 2023. System 03 is not only significantly bigger (wings length and depth + retention zone length) but also features upgraded system components to reduce overtopping and increase integrity and reliability – improving uptime and capture efficiency.

As we have scaled up the size of our system, we have also increased our measures to safeguard marine life and the environment during our operations. As well as the elements already in place with System 002, we added additional underwater cameras all along the Retention Zone of System 03. These cameras are monitored by protected species observers (PSOs) on board. System 03 also has a newly developed Marine Animal Safety Hatch, which can be activated to create an opening for the animal to exit while closing off the rest of the Retention Zone and preventing the animal from becoming trapped. This function also prevents us from losing our entire plastic catch when we are required to free an animal. The MASH complements the other (already existing) openings on the underside of the retention zone.

System 03 was deployed on its first cleaning trip in August 2023. As with any other change and upgrade, we need to test and learn how to operate it efficiently before deciding how to move forward. We aim for System 03 to be the blueprint for scale-up to a full fleet. Stay tuned to follow the learnings from System 03 on our website and social media.

Yes, we have conducted environmental impact assessments for our previous ocean systems, as well as the current one operating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – System 03. You can see the EIA for this system here.

Before we scale up to a fleet of systems, we will reference our original assessment and conduct additional EIAs based on any design changes and the scope of the operations. We will only move forward with deployment once we have confirmation from new EIAs that our activities will not adversely affect the environment.

Read more about out prevention and mitigation measures in this blogpost.

The Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by CSA (independent third-party) for our technology estimates that impacts of System 03 on Neuston likely range from negligible to low. However, we acknowledge that it is difficult to determine what positive or negative impact will occur between our technology and floating organisms (neuston) as little is known about the interaction of these organisms with this offshore environment, plastic, and our technology. There is still much to learn, hence the need for continued research. Fortunately, our operations provide a unique platform to conduct regular and systematic research on this under-studied topic, helping us to understand our potential impact on the marine environment and providing greater insights into these organisms. We are currently investigating the seasonal dynamics of neuston and how they relate to plastic accumulation in the GPGP and beyond.

To read more about our findings, preventions, and mitigations in the System 002 campaign, you can visit this update. See also our update on research on neuston in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

SYSTEM 001 – WILSON
System 001 was nicknamed Wilson in reference to the volleyball that is Tom Hanks’ friend in the film Cast Away, while he is stranded on a small island in the South Pacific. Wilson is lost in a storm and floats away. His fate remains unknown, however, oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer suggests he could have ended up in the garbage patch between Australia and South America, floating for years in a vortex, or becoming washed ashore on a small island somewhere in the gyre.

SYSTEM 001/B – WILSON′ (WILSON PRIMED)
After completing design upgrades based on the insights from System 001, System 001/B was engineered. System 001/B took on the name Wilson′ (Wilson primed) as a logical step since the prime is used in mathematics to generate variable names for items that are similar – therefore, Wilson′ is a system related to or derived from Wilson.

SYSTEM 002 – JENNY
Continuing the Tom Hanks theme, Jenny was chosen as the name for System 002. Tom Hanks named his boat in the film Forrest Gump “Jenny”, after the girl he was in love with. This boat was driven by active propulsion and caught trash. With System 002’s adapted design and active propulsion, we aim to catch plastic more efficiently and effectively than previous systems.

SYSTEM 03 – JOSH
Given that System 03 had to be big (2.1 km or 1.3 miles in length) to increase the catch efficiency, we had an easy reference to the next Tom Hanks movie – BIG. The movie is about a kid named Josh, who is tired of being limited by the rules of adults. When visiting a fair, he sees a wishing slot machine and makes a wish to become an adult. This machine magically grants his wish, and he is transformed the next morning into an adult (played by Tom Hanks). So, Josh is a fitting name for System 03, as the wish to be big became a reality.

Many of you have already guessed it right last week… But here is the story behind our ocean system nicknames and the name of the BIG System 03: pic.twitter.com/8uQJIvIuoD

— The Ocean Cleanup (@TheOceanCleanup) August 30, 2023

Based on our learnings with the first two iterations and the development work that we undertook after those deployments, we concluded to need to make this pivot to improve our cleanup efficiency, keep it affordable and make it scalable.

System 03 is The Ocean Cleanup’s third ocean cleanup system designed by The Ocean Cleanup and deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) in August 2023.

System 03 is not only bigger than its predecessor, System 002, but much better. We have upgraded System 002 components to make our cleanup more efficient and economical. At peak efficiency, System 03 can clean an area the size of a football field in five seconds.

The system now extends deeper under the surface and catches plastic floating underneath. Yet, this does not represent a further danger to marine life. Regarding mitigation measures, System 03 comes with MASH: the Marine Animal Safety Hatch. If an animal is spotted in the Retention Zone, the MASH is activated, blocking any further entrance into the Retention Zone and giving the animal a clear way out. Additionally, we can ensure that animals exit the Retention Zone without compromising the plastic catch.

System 03 is the result of years of testing and experimentation. We hope it becomes the blueprint for the fleet we need to rid the oceans of plastics.

Want to know more about System 03? Visit the Update: System 03: A Beginner’s Guide for answers to the 10 commonly asked questions.

A complete cleanup of a gyre is unrealistic, but our ambition remains to clean up 90% of ocean plastic by 2040. To ensure we clean up as much plastic as possible, intercepting plastic from rivers, the major sources of ocean plastic, will need to continue to occur simultaneously.

The Ocean Cleanup focuses on the floating fraction of plastics. Since most are located between the surface and a depth of two meters, the cleanup system will be designed to clean up only the plastic in this upper layer of the water column. System 03 has a screen that extends 4 meters deep.

For more information about the distribution of plastic in the water column, read our update about vertical distribution here (2016) and our research on the fallout of microplastic here (2020).

We are specifically targeting plastics larger than 15 millimeters, but we do not yet know the exact size the system will be able to capture.

Even though sub-centimeter-sized plastic represents a significant share of the plastic count, the mass is made up of larger objects. These larger objects will eventually turn into microplastics if not extracted, so our goal is to prevent that from happening.

Our aim is to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. The cleanup needs to be paired with river plastic interception on land in order to ensure lasting effects.

To rid the world’s oceans of plastic, we must remove legacy waste and prevent plastic from entering the ocean. Because rivers are the primary source of ocean plastic, this is where we must take action.

The Interceptor Original is the world’s first scalable solution for preventing river debris from entering the ocean. Designed for series production, the Interceptor Original relies on natural forces (river currents and solar power) to extract debris flowing through rivers and ensure this waste never makes its way to the ocean.

While we designed our Interceptor Original to be suitable for a wide range of rivers, our understanding of the differences among these 1000 rivers has shown us that a single solution would not be sufficient to handle all conditions experienced in scale-up. Thus, we are now creating a family of Interceptor solutions, a toolkit we can use to apply the best solution for each specific location. Our toolkit currently consists of the Interceptor Original, the Interceptor Barrier, the Interceptor Tender, the Interceptor Barricade, and the Interceptor Guard. To learn more about our river technology, check out our River page.

The Interceptor Original is a barrier and conveyor belt system that concentrates and extracts plastic from rivers. The flow path is uninterrupted due to the catamaran design, which allows plastic to flow freely into the device and water to continue with the current.

The barrier concentrates the debris as it floats with the current and directs it to a permeable conveyer belt. At this point, the waste is transferred up the belt to an automated shuttle that distributes the waste between one of six containers located on a separate barge. Once full, the barge is exchanged, and the waste is transferred to a local waste management facility. Apart from unloading, discharging, and reinstalling the waste collection barge, the Interceptor™, due to its solar power, does not require polluting and expensive fuels, allowing for efficient operating costs and minimal labor requirements for its activities.

To learn more, see our river page.

Currently, there are Interceptor Originals in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, the United States (L.A. County), and Vietnam, with more deployments planned for Thailand and Indonesia. The Interceptor Barrier, Tender, and Guard have been deployed in Kingston, Jamaica, and you can find our Interceptor Barricade in Guatemala. Check out our Interceptor deployments on our Dashboard.

The Interceptor size is 8M x 24M x 5M with a waste collection (barge) capacity of 50 M³; it is fully autonomous with an off-grid power generation, remote monitoring dashboard, automated extraction control, 4G data uplink to the cloud, and more.

The Interceptor pontoon weighs 45.2 metric tons and the barge with the dumpsters weighs 10.2 metric tons.

For more details, see our Interceptor Original page.

The Interceptor Original has 6 barges with a total capacity of 50 m³. When the barges are full they are emptied by local operators. The amount removed per river will vary depending on local conditions such as elevation, slope, annual rainfall, etc.

We also recognize that each river is unique, and our measures may need to be adapted to fit a specific river, such as installing a double barrier or using a different Interceptor Solution. See our Rivers page for more details on our family or Interceptor solutions.

Interceptors are placed in the river only after consultation with relevant public bodies and stakeholders, while considering all applicable rules and regulations. That said, the barrier of the Interceptor does not have to span the entire width of the river – because we can identify the natural plastic accumulation paths in a river, or “hotlines”, we can place the Interceptor in a location that prevents the majority of plastic flowing through the river while still allowing vessels to pass by. If this hotline is not present, we can create an artificial one using a second barrier upstream.

Prior to each Interceptor deployment, we work with local and global partners including expert consultants to scan for environmental and social impacts unique to the specific conditions of each river and to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. We commissioned third-party environmental and social impact scanning (ESIS) with Royal Haskoning, Arcadis, and Witteveen+Bos for the deployment areas in question. With an ESIS we estimate the possible impact on the environment. To date, the assessments have shown the impact to tend towards negligible. In tandem, we are developing monitoring processes to better understand this possible impact – with some pilot efforts currently active. While we are still very much in a learning phase, for each deployment, we will conduct additional ESISs and develop monitoring efforts for verification

Before our operations commence, The Ocean Cleanup takes several steps into consideration of local communities, wildlife, and habitats.

Prior to each Interceptor deployment, we work with local and global partners including expert consultants to scan for environmental and social impacts unique to the specific conditions of each river and to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. We commissioned third-party environmental and social impact scanning (ESIS) with Royal Haskoning, Arcadis, and Witteveen+Bos for the existing and upcoming deployment locations.

These reports are shared with the necessary regulatory stakeholders for each project when applicable, but as they involve multiple third parties, which differ for each Interceptor, it is not appropriate for us to publicly share the assessments at this time. For each Interceptor project, we will conduct additional ESIS assessments prior to deployment. Since the approach and depth of the assessments can vary, we are learning how to best conduct, standardize, and share environmental and social impact scanning. Part of this process includes the development of management plans with monitoring and mitigation protocols, including recording occurrences of animal interaction and collected debris composition. This information is used to continuously improve our technology and methodology to reduce impacts.

Considering that we are still developing this process, our intention is to provide more information here in the future, including a summary of the results of existing impact assessments.

For each deployment location, we will collaborate with a local operator and governments to ensure it is safely and legally implemented and that its operations are well-maintained.

We currently expect that the respective operator of an Interceptor will take ownership of the system. If necessary, ownership can be assisted through sponsorships or low-interest loans. Where local circumstances require a different solution to keep the momentum, we will look into it. For us, the impact is more important than the ownership.

We could have chosen to commit to cleanup only, while others focused on the prevention side. Yet, after two years, we decided to also tackle the other part of the equation. The Ocean Cleanup cannot be successful if the input isn’t halted, especially considering the amount of plastic entering the oceans continues to increase, rather than decrease.

Our ambition is to tackle the pollution problem in the 1000 most polluted rivers by applying our technology, knowledge, experience, and network. We have a toolkit, the Interceptor Solutions, that can work in the majority of these rivers, but we will get to our goal much faster if everyone helps – this means better waste infrastructure, awareness, education, collaboration between initiatives, and more.

We know the goal of 1000 rivers is ambitious, but it is a necessary one.

Prevention is indeed a necessary part of the entire solution; it is one of many options, but it is a much more complex issue, which likely requires a mix of legislative change, infrastructure change, and advancements in materials science. All efforts to prevent and remove plastic from our waterways are necessary, but, as a technology foundation, we have decided to focus on what we know best: technology. Furthermore, we believe this is the path that could yield the fastest results, which is key considering the urgency of the problem.

We go into more details on the topic in this update: Why Rivers are the Key to Rapidly Stopping Plastic Pollution.

We kept this project under the radar to avoid raising false expectations. Our objective was to be able to announce a project that was actually working and when we had systems operating, we believed it was the right time to unveil this to the wider public.

During the initial development phase, funds for this project were earmarked by specific donors and were, therefore, allocated as promised. Because we are a nonprofit, we did touch on the subject in our yearly annual report, albeit succinctly, to avoid unnecessary external pressure during this crucial period.

We project that we can remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040, and to truly rid the world’s oceans of plastic we must do two things: cleanup legacy plastic and stop it from entering the ocean. Both are necessary to achieve this mission, so we will continue our efforts in the ocean to ensure we have a safe and healthy ocean in the future.

Because plastic in the oceans is persistent, the only way to reduce the amount of plastic in the oceans is to also clean up the legacy. No ocean cleanup, no clean ocean.

We want to give the plastic collected from the ocean a new life. Our plan is to work with partners to recycle the plastic and transform it into durable plastic products. By recycling the collected ocean plastic into useful products that are made with certified plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, we aim to make the cleanup operational costs, to a large extent, financially self-sustainable.

To demonstrate this is possible, we have already transformed the catch from our prototype System 001/B into our first product – sunglasses. To learn more, visit theoceancleanup.com/sunglasses/ 

Please note: the sunglasses are out of stock as of February 2022. 

In simple terms: when our system is operating, the Retention Zone acts like a huge bag, collecting the plastic guided into the bag by the system’s wings. Once the bag is full, we take it out of the water, empty the contents onto the deck of our vessels, and put it back to collect another load.

In a bit more detail: Once we see the Retention Zone is full of plastic, both ends of the system are attached to a single vessel. A buoy is connected to the extraction vessel, activating a choke to close off the Retention Zone opening, allowing it to be rolled onto the ship deck.

The extraction vessel has a crane to lift the Retention Zone, emptying the extracted plastic onto the deck below.

Once the plastic is on deck, the Retention Zone is re-secured and placed into the water to return to cleaning. We have many videos of our extractions on our YouTube channel.

After exploring the options of recycling the plastic at sea, our team has determined that processing plastic on land is more practical. Our first catch was made with recycled ghost nets from Mission One made into sunglasses. To learn more, visit theoceancleanup.com/sunglasses/.  Please note: We are out of stock as of February 2022 and will not make more products of our own. Instead, we will partner with companies that will be using our ocean-certified plastic in their product lines.

In October 2020, we launched our first product made with plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: The Ocean Cleanup Sunglasses. These sold out in February 2022. With this proof of concept, we were able to show that it was possible to make high-quality products from our catch. We want to ensure that the collected plastic continues to be seen as a material with value. By recycling the collected plastic into durable products, we help fund the continued cleanup. We also want to ensure that we have a plan to keep the products out of the environment when they reach their end of life.

We have decided not to be a plastic supplier, but rather we will use the collected plastic as part of a larger-scale partnership with companies who can use it in their products. Our Global Partnership with Kia is a good example. Through this multi-year agreement, Kia will provide funds and in-kind contributions. In addition, their experience in product design, development, manufacturing, and go-to-market strategies will help to create a resource circulation system by integrating part of our catch into their production and value chain process. The end products will be durable to avoid harvested plastics ending up back in the environment. To ensure maximum impact, as our plastic supply is small in comparison to the plastic industry, we take this selective approach with our catch.

To learn more, visit our Waste Management and Recycling page, and reach out to us via our contact form, to discuss collaboration opportunities.

In line with our waste management policy, our primary focus is on recycling the collected plastic. We are currently exploring alternatives for the fractions of the waste that cannot be mechanically recycled. Turning waste into fuel for the vessels required for our ocean system operations could be a promising option for this reject fraction, but there are many technical and logistical challenges that we would have to investigate prior to implementation.

To read more about what we are doing with the waste collected, see our Waste Management and Recycling page.

We sometimes receive the question: why do some of the plastic pieces shown in our System 002 catch videos look so clean, compared to plastic pollution people are used to seeing closer to shore (i.e., washed up on coastlines).

Many factors influence the growth of organisms on the plastic and the weathering of the floating plastic debris at sea. For example, the waters of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) contain far fewer nutrients when compared to coastal waters. This is because the GPGP is far from land and, therefore, far from key nutrient sources. Furthermore, very little nutrient-rich deep water rises to the surface within this region. Fewer nutrients mean less ideal environment for biofouling – meaning cleaner-looking items.

Additionally, the plastics rub against each other while in the retention zone of the system, meaning barnacle growth on the outside of the objects often falls off.

Regardless, the plastic is not always as clean as it may appear in the catch videos, which generally show the whole catch in one overview rather than zooming in on specific pieces. Biofouling is present on the plastic, especially in cracks and inside. Biofouling is usually more common on parts submerged in the water. The parts that remain at the surface are exposed to more UV radiation and are typically free from biofouling.

Biofouling can be seen under, inside, and in the crevasses of several of the items.

Barnacles in a piece of a basket, extracted by System 002

Additionally, some biofouling is often easier to see when plastic is submerged underwater, as species like sea anemones then spread their tentacles; when they are out of the water, they make themselves smaller and are more difficult to see.

It is also important to note that not all pieces of plastic are the same. It is possible that an object that has been in the water for years has much less biofouling than an object spending only a couple of days in coastal waters due to polymer type and production process. We primarily find fishing gear in our GPGP catch. This gear is made to persist for long periods in the marine environment, often containing additives in the polymers to reduce the amount of life growing on them, ensuring they can stay “clean” and free of biofouling even after decades in the ocean.

We have collected a wide variety of plastic items from the GPGP, with varying levels of marine growth. You can check out some items found in this Facebook album , this YouTube video, and this Tweet from Boyan Slat (CEO and Founder).

As we aim to help tackle the 1000 most polluting rivers, we cannot manage the local waste handling ourselves. There are many challenges to disposing of the waste as facilities and waste diversity vary from country to country; therefore, we implement solutions, in collaboration with partners and governments, according to the current and future waste management capacities of each deployment location. Meanwhile, we continue to investigate solutions to properly treat and dispose of the collected plastic waste in accordance with our internal waste management policy that are affordable, and compliant with local regulations and environmental and social standards. Recycling is preferred, and technical feasibility is being assessed.

Interceptors in operation are helping us to further improve how we approach the treatment and disposal of collected waste while also encouraging local stakeholders to address overall waste management practices and infrastructure.

To learn more about the waste management approach for Interceptors, check out our dedicated blog post on river waste management and see our Waste Management and Recycling page for a general overview.

No, this technology is not a replacement for waste management and infrastructure, nor conscious behavior of plastic production, consumption, and disposal. Governments and many organizations are already focused on improving solid waste management systems. Our aim is to provide an alternative solution which is complementary to the broad range of actions.

Essentially, we are a project, and our goal has always been to put ourselves out of business; therefore, all efforts to care for plastic waste are necessary.

Please visit the Careers page to see if we have any outstanding internships available. If you have a specific interest and it is not listed under our vacancies, please send a message detailing your interest to hr@theoceancleanup.com.

Please send your request through our contact form.

We welcome you to use the contents of our website, as long as you mention the source and do not use it for commercial purposes.

1. For photos and videos to use for lessons, visit our Media Gallery and our YouTube channel.
2. For lessons regarding our technology, visit our Oceans and Rivers page.
3. For lessons regarding the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, visit our dedicated page.
4. To learn about the flow of plastic into our oceans, check out our Sources map.
5. For scientific publications to include in lessons or for citing, please visit our Scientific Publications

We do have a newsletter. You can subscribe to it via the field in the footer. You can also stay up to date on our progress by following us on social media. We are active on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.

Yes, we do! You can purchase the following items from our official merchandise partners:

• A variety of items, such as t-shirts, sweaters, puzzles, and accessories, from Rapanui
• Mission Ocean game for kids age 4+, from Adventerra Games

You can also visit our Merchandise page for an overview and more details

Thanks again for supporting us; we deeply appreciate it.

We do not sell bracelets. However, if you’d like to visibly show your support of The Ocean Cleanup, we offer plenty of sustainable items such as T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tote bags, games, and more. By sporting these, you can help spread our mission of clean oceans. Visit our merchandise page for more details.

You can find all of our scientific publications here.

We publish research often and have a number of upcoming research papers that will be published within the coming year. To know more about our ongoing research, please visit our Research page, and to see our previous publications, visit our Scientific Publications

Our research shows that roughly 1000 rivers contribute to 80% of the plastic that enters the world’s oceans from rivers. See our interactive map to see the top rivers and see our update on the research results.

See our dedicated Great Pacific Garbage Patch page here.

Yes, we are. We know that rivers are the primary source of ocean plastic pollution. High-level modeling enables us to classify which rivers are most responsible. On-site monitoring allows us to validate those classifications and understand where we need to focus our efforts. Find out more about more of our research focus on our Research page and our recent publications on our scientific publications page.

Our research shows that roughly 1000 rivers contribute to 80% of the plastic that enters the world’s oceans from rivers. See our interactive map to see the top rivers and see our update on the research results.

As a non-profit, your support is what makes our project possible. With every individual, foundation, and corporate ally joining our cause, we move closer to a cleaner future for our oceans.

If you feel inspired to contribute, your donation would mean a lot to us. You can make a difference by donating or setting up a fundraiser to rally your network.

For those who prefer to give as they go, consider making The Ocean Cleanup your “favorite” in PayPal. Set it up on your mobile app’s Give section or on here your desktop, and opt to donate a small sum with each PayPal purchase.

If your company is looking to make an impact on the ocean with us through sponsorship or donations, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out through our contact form to discuss options.

In our product FAQ, we have answered a lot of expected questions about our first product made with plastic certified from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. If you still have questions, please reach out to us through our contact form.

Please note: The Sunglasses are fully out of stock since the end of February 2022. 

Thank you for wanting to help clean our oceans. We appreciate your organization’s dedication to making a positive impact!

Our mission is a joint effort, and we are open to exploring a range of institutional and corporate collaborations. To see how companies and institutions are contributing to the success of our project, you can visit our dedicated Partners page. If your organization is interested in supporting us by providing funding, technical/regional support, or would like to contribute as part of its sustainability goals, please use our contact form to get in touch.

The Ocean Cleanup also makes it easy for employees and volunteers to contribute to the largest cleanup in history. To get involved, check out our Fundraising Platform.

Thanks for being part of the solution to ocean plastic pollution!

Here are some tips on how to get involved and help clean up ocean plastic:

• Make a donation to The Ocean Cleanup or donate as a gift to someone who loves the ocean.
• Rally your community and start any type of fundraiser via our dedicated fundraising platform.
• Wear our merchandise to show your support for cleaner oceans.
• Help teach the next generation the importance of clean oceans and the impact of plastic pollution with this educational board game for kids ages 4+.
• Apply for a job at The Ocean Cleanup and see the largest cleanup in history up close.
• Donate your Flying Blue miles to help enable our team to be where they need to be to further our mission.
• Become a Citizen Scientist. Help us understand plastic pollution around the world by using The Ocean Cleanup Survey app to record the plastic you see in your local rivers and streams.
• Tag @theoceancleanup on social media when you share your efforts to tackle plastic pollution. We love seeing what you do!

And of course: share The Ocean Cleanup’s mission wherever you can – word of mouth, social media, in your office, and wherever people believe in a future of clean oceans.

Furthermore, we also recommend keeping the following in mind:

• Dispose of trash properly; and reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible
• Wash your synthetic clothing as little as possible and use microfiber absorbers when you do.
• Lobby to your (local) government to help get more attention for this problem, if you see a lot of pollution in your area.
• Organize beach, riverbank, or land cleanups with your friends, family, and neighbors (you can tie the cleanup together with a fundraiser for The Ocean Cleanup). Cleaning up is much more fun when done together!

Thank you for your drive to clean up the ocean – we really appreciate the support!

We currently have one cleanup system in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – System 03. The aim is to use System 03 as the blueprint for scale-up, pending the learnings from the operations. We will continue researching and optimizing our operations with System 03 before confirming how we will scale up to clean the entire GPGP.

We will need a full fleet of systems to clean up the GPGP effectively. After having scaled up in this patch, we will move on to the other four patches: the South Pacific, the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, and the Indian Oceanic Gyre (order to be determined based on research).

In the run-up to full-scale deployment, we welcome funders to contribute to having a major impact on our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.

Please contact us through our contact form if you want to sponsor an ocean system.

If you are an operator who can facilitate efforts to clean your local waterways, a local government who is ready to actively solve your river pollution problem, or a company who would like to fund this groundbreaking technology – with the aim of ensuring that less plastic enters our oceans from rivers – then we would love to get in touch with you about realizing this goal. Please reach us via our contact form.  

That said, if there are other solutions that are better suited for your region, we can help to facilitate implementation of alternative options. To learn more about how we want to solve river plastic pollution, possibly with the use of an Interceptor, you can submit an inquiry through our contact form for more information. 

First of all, thank you very much for wanting to help clean the ocean by raising awareness and/or funds!

You can raise funds through this platform. Or if you’d rather help raise awareness without raising funds you are free to do so as well*.

You can use the content on our website for non-commercial purposes.

Our logo is not available for external use, but you can use all downloadable information from our website (see image gallery here) to support your initiative or find more information on our fundraising platform.

To license content for commercial work, please contact us through our contact form.

*Note: ensure that your audience understands that your activity is independent of, and not endorsed or sponsored by, us.

The Ocean Cleanup’s crowdfunding campaign gave us a great boost at an early stage of our project. In the summer of 2014, it helped us to attract the support of over 38,000 people.

We do not have plans for a new crowdfunding campaign, but we still very much welcome corporate and private donations. You can support us this way through our Donate page or creating your personal or company fundraiser. If you wish to sponsor us or give a larger donation, please reach out to us via funding(@)theoceancleanup.com or our contact form.

If you’re planning on crossing a gyre and are interested in collecting data on ocean plastic pollution for research, you can download our Citizen Science app. The app is available through Google Play and the App Store.

If your vessel would be available for research expeditions, please reach us through our website contact form – we always have many research projects ongoing that require field data.

If you plan to sail across the ocean as a challenge, you can also set up a fundraiser to rally your friends and family to cheer you on and help clean up your favorite playing ground: the ocean.

Thank you so much for wanting to help!

Thank you for your interest in raising funds to clean up our oceans – we appreciate your drive to make our planet a better place for the next generations.

You can start your own fundraiser here, as an individual or as a team. There are many ways to activate a fundraiser, for example: set up a birthday fundraiser to ask for donations instead of gifts, challenge yourself to run 1 kilometer every day in January, or set a cleanup target with your friends, family, or neighbors to clean up your local beach or river. You can find more inspiration on the fundraising platform.

If you are a company that would like to raise funds for team building/employee engagement activity, you can read more here.

Thank you for wanting to get hands-on and involve your network in shedding light on the plastic pollution issue and the solutions we aim to bring!

We are always open to collaboration, and we would love to hear from you. You can send an email to our team at esa@theoceancleanup.com

Because of our non-profit status, we cannot offer shares. However, as we are fully reliant on private and corporate funding, we are grateful for any donation, big or small, that you would like to make. You can donate through our website on our Donate page.

We offer another channel to support our mission. You can also donate through stocks, cryptocurrencies. Follow this link to make a donation with Infinite Giving.

Donors can donate in currencies other than Bitcoin or Ethereum by emailing support@infinitegiving.com

Your donation will go to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, Foundation, a 501(c)(3) registered foundation in the US. By donating, you agree to the terms and conditions.

Your donation through stock or cryptocurrencies is tax deductible, learn more about tax deductibility here.

The Ocean Cleanup is registered as ANBI foundation in the Netherlands (Stichting The Ocean Cleanup). You will get an automated receipt after donating through our Donate page that you can use for tax deductibility in the Netherlands.

It is also possible to support the mission of ridding the oceans of plastic via American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, Foundation. A registered 501(c)(3) foundation for US donors.

For both foundations, you can contribute via this Donate page. For manual bank transfer/wire transfer details for both foundations, see the following FAQ.

You can also make a tax-deductible donation to The Ocean Cleanup from many European countries through Transnational Giving Europe.

For tax receipts, see the following FAQ.

For questions regarding tax deductions for international donations outside of Europe, please consult your tax advisor. If you wish to receive additional information on this topic, please reach out through our contact form.

Thank you for wanting to support the mission to rid the oceans of plastic!

For non-US donors: You can donate to our Dutch ANBI Foundation (Stichting The Ocean Cleanup) in with the following details:

ACCOUNT DETAILS
EURO IBAN: NL73 ABNA 0529 4518 24
BIC: ABNANL2A

Account name: Stichting The Ocean Cleanup
Account holder address: Coolsingel 6, 3011 AD Rotterdam, The Netherlands

BANK DETAILS
Bank Name: ABN AMRO Bank
Bank Address: Gustav Mahlerlaan 10, 1028PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands

For US donors: You can donate to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, a US 501(c)(3) foundation supporting the same mission. You can learn more about it here.

These are the details of that foundation:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017

ABA #: 021 000 021

Only in case you wire from outside the US please add the SWIFT address

SWIFT address: CHASUS33

Account Name: American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, Foundation

Account #: 0000 0074 2271 452

If you would like a receipt for your donation, please email certificates@theoceancleanup.org with your name/business name, address, email address, donation date and donation amount in order to provide your receipt. A tax receipt is only required for US federal & state tax purposes for donations of USD 250 or higher.

Thank you for wanting to donate to help rid the oceans of plastic in someone else’s name!

You can donate through our donate page, and later use our gift templates (available here, or here with space for a personalized message). Print or share this certificate with a friend or loved one who wants to help save the oceans.

We are very sorry for your loss. Thank you for wanting to help rid the oceans of plastic by donating in their name.

You can make a legacy donation through our donate page, and then use our gift template to share your contribution with their family or loved ones.

We accept donations in Euro or US Dollar amounts because we can receive these without paying conversion fees. If your account has another currency, you are still able to donate via our website. If you have an amount in mind that you would like to donate, calculate how much that equals in either euros or US dollars. Enter the amount on our Support page and choose your preferred payment method. Your bank/PayPal account will be debited the amount equivalent in your own currency.

Thank you very much for wanting to donate to The Ocean Cleanup.

Your donations can be made to our American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, Foundation, a 501(c)(3) supporting the mission of cleaning the oceans. You can learn more about it here.

We would love to hear from you, so please send us an email to funding@theoceancleanup.com. We will provide you with our wire transfer details as well through email.

If you would like a donation certificate for your donation, please email certificates@theoceancleanup.org with your name/business name, address, email address, donation date and donation amount in order to provide your donation certificate. (Donation certificates are only required for US federal & state tax purposes for donations of USD 250 or higher)

The Ocean Cleanup has a registered foundation in the Netherlands (Stichting The Ocean Cleanup). For US donors, you can donate to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, a US based 501(c)(3) charity supporting the same mission.

If you donate through the website, you will receive an automated receipt.

If you donated by making a bank/wire transfer and would like a receipt, we can make one for you manually. You can contact us via our contact form specifying the following details:

• • Full name
  • Date of donation
  • Full postal address
  • Donation method (ie. Visa, PayPal, Bank Transfer)
  • Donation made to the Dutch bank account or to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup

After verifying your donation with this information, a receipt will be created for you. Please note that this is a manual process, and therefore we ask for your patience in advance.

To learn more about tax deductibility, see this FAQ.

Yes. Writing or updating your will is an important personal decision. Once those closest to you are taken care of, leaving a gift in your will to The Ocean Cleanup will make a real, long-lasting impact in helping us achieve our mission of ridding the world’s oceans of plastic.

The Ocean Cleanup is registered as an ANBI foundation in the Netherlands. US donors can also make a tax-deductible donation to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, a 501(c)(3) public charity in the US, supporting the same mission.

We recommend that you consult a lawyer when making or updating your will, who can also advise you on the potential tax benefits of leaving a gift to The Ocean Cleanup.

If you would like to receive additional information about including The Ocean Cleanup in your will, please reach out through our contact form.

We offer another channel to support our mission. You can also donate through stocks, cryptocurrencies. Follow this link to make a donation with Infinite Giving.

Donors can donate in currencies other than Bitcoin or Ethereum by emailing support@infinitegiving.com

Your donation will go to American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup, Foundation, a 501(c)(3) registered foundation in the US. By donating, you agree to the terms and conditions.

Your donation through stock or cryptocurrencies is tax deductible, learn more about tax deductibility here.

You can donate miles through Flying Blue, KLM’s and Air France’s frequent flyer program. Go to Flying Blue’s site, log in with your account and navigate to donating miles via the menu. You can find The Ocean Cleanup as part of a list of 14 non-profit organizations that Flying Blue has partnered with. Airmiles are highly appreciated and help to facilitate the success of the project by allowing our team to perform the necessary work we have across many borders.

The Ocean Cleanup does not receive boat donations. Nevertheless, as an environmental nonprofit organization with a vision to save the oceans, we are always keen on accepting our supporters’ help.

We are seeking experienced seafarers who have a passion for ocean conservation to help us map ocean plastic pollution. While crossing the seas with your boat, you can become a vital source of data to help us better understand this environmental crisis.

Learn more about this initiative here or contact us through this form 

Workplace giving is a simple and effective way to donate to The Ocean Cleanup.

Many workplaces offer employees the opportunity to make regular donations to charitable causes through their payroll system. Some companies will match these donations, doubling your impact. Speak to your human resources department to find out details about your company’s workplace giving program. The Ocean Cleanup is registered on multiple platforms that support workplace and matched giving, including CyberGrants, Benevity, YourCause and Network for Good.

If you require additional information on this topic, please reach out through our contact form.

The Ocean Cleanup welcomes donations from Donor-Advised Funds (DAF). Please contact your DAF provider to initiate your donation to The Ocean Cleanup. If you wish to receive additional information on this topic, please reach out through our contact form.

Thank you for your continued support! To update your billing details, please reach out to us via our contact form so we can cancel your current donation. Once that has been cancelled, you can submit a new one through our donate page. Due to legal reasons, we are not able to update credit cards for our donors ourselves.

The driver behind our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic is to make the ocean a healthier place for all life that benefits from it, so our number one priority is safety for the environment and our crew. While the overall risks of our operations were found to be low, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted by CSA Ocean Sciences determined that some interactions are likely with some species of fish, sea turtles, and certain neustonic organisms with limited mobility, so we must minimize this impact as much as possible.

The EIA notes that the long-term impact on marine species of the removal of large amounts of plastic and marine debris should be beneficial, and it is unlikely that any potentially impacted species will decrease in number. As data is still limited, there is uncertainty about the residual impact our operations may have on these communities; therefore, we aim to help fill these knowledge gaps by continuing to collect data during our operations and sharing this with the scientific community.

Additionally, a net environmental benefit analysis (NEBA) was conducted to identify which components of the environment are most affected—both positively and negatively— by our operations. To support this approach, we reference the recent study by Egger et al. (2025), which applied a NEBA framework to assess the impacts of macroplastic cleanup in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Their findings indicate that marine life is more vulnerable to unmanaged plastic pollution than to cleanup activities, and that removing legacy plastics can reduce the risk of long-term microplastic impacts on ocean carbon cycling in the region. Notably, the study shows that the estimated carbon emissions from cleanup operations are up to two orders of magnitude smaller than the carbon cycle disruptions caused by persistent microplastics. This reinforces the importance of targeted mitigation strategies and supports the overall environmental value of responsible plastic removal.

Our systems are designed to be safe for the marine environment, incorporating several design and operational mitigation measures to help detect, avoid and deter animals from entering the system. These measures also allow animals to escape if needed and actively remove them if escape is not possible. As we continue to operate and gather more insights, we consistently develop new mitigation strategies. With ongoing advancements in our technology and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its marine life, we remain committed to adapting our systems to ensure our impact on this environment is as positive as possible.

Since 2015 The Ocean Cleanup has collected samples and led research on neuston — small organisms that inhabit the ocean’s surface — in the GPGP. Findings from this research, published in two companion scientific articles — [1] and [2], indicate that neuston are not found in higher concentrations within the plastic hotspot zones targeted by our cleanup operations

The most recent study, based on hundreds of samples collected across the GPGP, compared neuston densities inside and outside these plastic concentration zones. Results showed no evidence of consistently elevated neuston abundance within the hotspots, challenging previous concerns that our operations could disproportionately affect these organisms. This is especially relevant given that earlier assumptions were based on limited datasets and a nonlinear, species-specific relationship between neuston and plastic concentrations.

To ensure we continue operating responsibly, we rely on ongoing environmental monitoring alongside focused assessment of neuston communities. This includes systematic sampling performed simultaneously in front of and behind the cleanup system, obtaining data to compare the diversity and abundance of neustonic organisms before and after the system passes through the water. Our work is carried out in collaboration with independent marine scientists from several institutions around the world.

Minimizing incidental catch — the unintended capture of fish or other marine animals — is a top priority in our cleanup efforts, as even low levels of incidental catch can negatively impact ecosystems. To address this, we implement several proactive measures throughout our operations to prevent such interactions. Our approach includes an environmental impact assessment for ocean operations and an environmental management plan tailored to the species identified as potentially vulnerable to the cleanup process.

Over the years, we have taken an adaptive management approach to our operations — integrating extensive technical and scientific learnings into our systems, and continually testing both existing and innovative solutions to minimize impact on marine life. This includes mitigation measures designed to detect, avoid, and deter animals from entering the system, facilitate their escape when possible, and actively remove them if escape is not feasible.

For instance, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), we don’t solely rely on the system’s design to minimize incidental catch – we also plan our operations strategically. This includes actively operating away from areas known to contain sensitive species, such as loggerhead turtles, which are more commonly found in waters of certain temperature ranges as described in https://oceanwatch.pifsc.noaa.gov/turtlewatch.html.

All incidental catch is meticulously documented by onboard environmental observers, enabling us to track and monitor these events over time. We provide regular updates on our progress in reducing incidental catch, sharing data through environmental reports on System 002 and System 03. Additionally, environmental observers monitor the areas surrounding the cleanup system, helping detect and minimize impact to species during operations.

Our commitment to understanding the local environment extends beyond monitoring and incidental catch analysis, also including the movement of plastic and its interaction with marine life, which allows us to adjust our cleanup approach to enhance both efficiency and environmental responsibility. Furthermore, we report all relevant data to the Dutch Ministry as part of our commitment under the covenant, a formal agreement between the State of the Netherlands and The Ocean Cleanup concerning the deployment of systems designed to clean up plastic floating in the upper surface layer of the high seas.

Our cleanup efforts protect a wide range of marine, freshwater, and coastal species affected by plastic pollution, including:

• Large marine animals such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles and seabirds, which can ingest or become entangled in plastic debris, potentially impacting their normal functioning and health, and possibly leading to their death.
• Fish and shellfish, many of which ingest plastics (primarily microplastics) that can harm their health and disrupt food webs, including humans as consumers.
• Coastal and riverine species, particularly those in mangrove ecosystems, which support fish and shellfish populations, and other wildlife that are at risk due to plastic accumulation in the environment. Estuaries are also impacted, as plastic debris degrades water quality and potentially disrupts the life cycle of several species.
• Coral reefs, which can be smothered by plastic, blocking the sunlight needed by their symbiotic algae for photosynthesis, and possibly physically damaging corals and entangling marine life, impacting the reef’s ecosystem. Additionally, microplastics can adhere to or be ingested by corals, leading to physiological alterations. These processes can disrupt the health and biodiversity of these critical habitats.
• Seagrass meadows, essential for fish/shellfish nurseries, carbon sequestration and coastal stabilization, which are threatened by plastic pollution that suffocates the plants.
• Wetlands, which provide vital ecosystem services such as flood control and water filtration, but can be affected by plastic waste that alters soil properties and harms plants and animals.
• Coastal dunes, which serve as a barrier against coastal erosion/flooding and shelter wildlife, but are vulnerable to plastic pollution that can disrupt plant growth and animal habitats.

By removing plastic from oceans and rivers, we help reduce habitat destruction and impacts to wildlife and natural processes, allowing ecosystems to recover and thrive.

To understand the environment where we operate, we continuously monitor and log marine life during transit to and operations in the GPGP. This is done mainly in two ways: 1) wildlife monitoring around and inside the system by Environmental Observers; 2) analysis of marine life caught in the system along with plastic (incidental catch). Below we describe the main results of these monitoring efforts.

1. Wildlife monitoring by Environmental Observers (EOs): during transit and operations, the EOs monitor the surrounding area during daylight. When the system is being towed, the EOs also observe underwater cameras installed in the Retention Zone 24 hours a day. Highlights of these observations include over 8,300 observations of large marine animals (megafauna), most of which were not impacted by the system. This included almost 5,000 observations of marine mammals, including several species of whales, dolphins, porpoises and porpoises, as well as some records of seals and sea lions. Additionally, over 3,300 birds were recorded, including land and sea-based species. 50 sea turtles (mainly loggerhead and green turtles), 38 ocean sunfish (one of the largest bony fish in the world), and 56 sharks (blue, great white, oceanic whitetip and whale shark) were also observed.
2. Incidental catch analysis: in every extraction, the marine life that was removed along with the plastic is separated for identification, counting and weighing, in order to better understand our impact on the local environment, and inform our management plans. Highlights of this incidental catch analysis are:
   • Primary incidental catch (i.e., animals that were freely swimming when captured by the system) corresponded to a bycatch to plastic ratio of 0.6% – that is, over 99% of what we catch is plastic. Most of this bycatch was composed of small bony fish commonly associated with reef environments, such as sergeantfish and blennies.
   • Secondary incidental catch (i.e., animals that were alive but associated with or entangled in plastic when captured by the system) corresponded to 0.03% in relation to plastic catch and was composed mostly of gooseneck barnacles and small crabs.
   • Tertiary incidental catch (i.e., animals that were already deceased when entering the system) corresponded to 0.01% in relation to plastic catch, and was composed mainly of the remains of seabirds and sea turtles (mostly unidentified due to advanced decomposition).

The data from these monitoring efforts are currently being compiled in a scientific paper describing the biodiversity of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which will be published open access along with its database. This will allow other researchers to access this data and conduct further research on the general occurrence and distribution of marine life, and ultimately contribute to conservation efforts – including of endangered species.

The Ocean Cleanup designs its systems to minimize the risk of entanglement for marine life, including whales. Our cleanup technology differs from traditional fishing nets in that it moves very slowly—at an average of just 2.8 km/h, roughly the pace of a slow walk—allowing marine mammals like whales to detect and avoid it. Additionally, the system includes built-in escape routes to ensure marine life is not trapped.

Our system is also equipped with high-frequency acoustic pingers, which emit sounds that can be detected by whales, serving as an alert to the presence of the system. In addition, Environmental Observers are onboard our vessels at all times to monitor marine wildlife. In the rare event that a whale approaches the system, operations are promptly paused or adjusted to ensure the animal’s safety.

In the unlikely event that a whale does become entangled, we would follow strict protocols and collaborate with marine wildlife experts to safely release the animal, prioritizing the safety of both the whale and the rescue team. However, it’s important to note that this type of event has never occurred during our operations.

Microplastics pollution—caused by the breakdown of larger plastic debris into particles smaller than 5mm— poses a significant threat to marine life, ecosystems, and even human health. Once fragmented, these particles are nearly impossible to remove from the environment and are readily ingested by marine organisms, potentially entering the food web. To effectively address this, removing legacy plastic pollution —plastics that have already entered and accumulated in the environment — is crucial. This includes plastics trapped in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, reefs, and shorelines, as well as other accumulation zones like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. These legacy plastics gradually degrade under the effects of sunlight and wave action, breaking down into ever smaller particles and contributing to the growing concentration of microplastics. By targeting and removing legacy plastics before they fragment further, cleanup efforts directly reduce the future load of microplastics in the marine environment. Recent research by The Ocean Cleanup, published in Scientific Reports, reveals that a significant portion of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—approximately 75% to 86%—comes from offshore fishing and aquaculture activities, rather than from rivers or land-based sources. These plastics, including nets, ropes, traps, and buoys, are more likely to persist and drift into offshore accumulation zones, where they degrade into microplastics over time.

Cleaning up legacy plastics, both along coastlines and in ocean gyres, not only helps protect biodiversity and coastal communities, but also interrupts the ongoing creation of microplastics. For more information on how ocean cleanup helps reduce microplastic pollution, read the full perspective article here.

Our approach to tackling plastic pollution is guided by a commitment to environmental responsibility across all areas of operation, from preventing new plastic emissions to removing legacy pollution. Whether intercepting plastic in rivers, cleaning coastlines, or collecting debris from offshore accumulation zones, our methods are designed to maximize environmental benefits while minimizing ecological harm. We follow a framework that combines environmental assessments, scientific research, engineering design, and continuous environmental monitoring and data collection. Key measures to avoid impacts include:

• Wildlife Protection: Our systems are designed to minimize interactions with wildlife. For both rivers and open ocean operations, we use environmental monitoring, passive collection methods, and species-specific mitigation protocols to reduce the risk of harm to wildlife.
• Sustainable Practices: collected plastics are carefully sorted, responsibly processed or repurposed to ensure they don’t return to the environment.
• Collaboration with Experts: We work with scientists, regulatory agencies, and sustainability experts to continuously refine our methods and align with best practices.
• Science-driven design: all operations, from river barriers to ocean cleanup systems are based on research and field data, allowing us to target high-impact areas while continuously evaluating and improving our technology.

By combining source reduction (river interception) with the removal of legacy plastic pollution (in coastal and offshore areas), we work toward a long-term solution that protects ecosystems and enhances ocean and freshwater health. For a deeper look at how we ensure an environmentally sound cleanup, check out our update here.

We are currently conducting a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of cleanup versus no-cleanup scenarios for ocean and rivers operations. This assessment will help quantify the benefits of plastic removal while considering factors such as resource use, emissions, and overall sustainability.

The Ocean Cleanup contributes to multiple SDGs by addressing plastic pollution, fostering innovation, and promoting global partnerships.

SDG 14: Life Below Water – “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.”

• Alignment: By removing plastic pollution, The Ocean Cleanup directly improves marine ecosystem health.
• Key Indicators:
  • 14.1.1: Reduction of floating plastic debris density.
  • 14.2.1: Support for ecosystem-based marine management through plastic removal.
  • 14.5.1: Although not directly creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), our efforts contribute to healthier marine ecosystems that support the goals of MPAs. By intercepting plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean, we aim to reduce the pollution load in downstream coastal and marine environments, some of which include or border existing or planned MPAs.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.”

• Alignment: The Ocean Cleanup drives technological advancements in plastic collection and recycling.
• Key Indicators:
  • 9.5.2: Contribution to research and development in marine technology and environmental protection.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.”

• Alignment: Collaboration is central to The Ocean Cleanup’s mission, with partnerships spanning governments, environmental organizations, and research institutions.
• Key Indicators:
  • 17.6.1: Engagement in international science and technology cooperation agreements.
  • 17.17.1: Public-private partnerships supporting the cleanup effort through funding and expertise.
• By actively addressing these SDGs, The Ocean Cleanup is not only removing plastic from oceans and rivers but also driving systemic change to prevent further pollution.

The Ocean Cleanup supports several of the UN Ocean Decade Challenges, which define global priorities for achieving a clean, healthy and sustainably managed ocean. Our work aligns with the following challenges:

Challenge 1. Understand and beat marine pollution

This is the heart of our mission. The Ocean Cleanup is focused on tackling plastic pollution by removing legacy waste from the ocean and intercepting plastic in rivers before it reaches marine environments. Our work contributes to reducing the ecological and human health risks associated with plastic pollution.

Challenge 2. Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity

By removing plastic from marine and riverine ecosystems, we reduce threats such as entanglement, ingestion, and habitat degradation. This helps protect vulnerable species and supports the recovery of ecosystems like coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass pastures and coastal areas that are affected by plastic accumulation.

Challenge 3. Sustainably nourish the global population

Plastic pollution disrupts marine food webs and threatens fisheries that millions rely on for food and income. By removing plastic from the ocean and preventing new pollution through river interception, we help protect the health of marine species and ecosystems that are essential to global food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Challenge 6. Increase community resilience to ocean and coastal risks

Our work supports local resilience by protecting coastal ecosystems that reduce flooding and erosion, such as mangroves, seagrass pastures and dunes. Clean waterways and restored coastlines also improve local environment and economic conditions.

Challenge 7. Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System

We contribute valuable data on plastic pollution sources, transport, and accumulation through tools like our AI-powered mapping, monitoring of cleanup operations, and collaborative research with institutions worldwide. Apart from data on plastic, we also collect information on the marine life that inhabit our cleanup area, contributing to a better understanding of the biological components of the ocean.

Challenge 9. Skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all

We develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies, such as Interceptors and Ocean Systems, while also sharing insights with collaborators and the general public. Through partnerships and community engagement, especially in river projects, we build local capacity and promote ocean literacy

Challenge 10. Restore society’s relationship with the ocean

Our mission raises awareness of ocean plastic pollution as a global issue, inspiring action and long-term thinking. By demonstrating that the problem is solvable through innovation and collaboration, we aim to promote ocean stewardship.

UN Ocean Decade Endorsements

The Ocean Cleanup serves as the lead institution for two endorsed programmes under the UN Ocean Decade: The Ocean Cleanup Science & Technology Programme (2024-2030), and ADIS (Automated Ocean Debris Imaging System). The first one embodies our core mission, aiming to close the gap between the realities of plastic pollution and the development of effective policies. It integrates remediation, monitoring, and scientific research to overcome key structural challenges. The second one focuses on mapping and analyzing floating artificial debris, generating critical data to support global efforts in marine debris detection and removal. By examining how plastic is distributed, transported, and altered over time, ADIS enhances our understanding of its environmental behavior and supports the development of more targeted, science-based interventions.

Before our operations commence, The Ocean Cleanup takes several steps into consideration of local communities, wildlife, and habitats.

Prior to each Interceptor deployment, we work with local and global partners including expert consultants to scan for environmental and social impacts unique to the specific conditions of each river and to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. We commissioned third-party environmental and social impact scanning (ESIS) with Royal Haskoning, Arcadis, and Witteveen+Bos for the existing and upcoming deployment locations.

These reports are shared with the necessary regulatory stakeholders for each project when applicable, but as they involve multiple third parties, which differ for each Interceptor, it is not appropriate for us to publicly share the assessments at this time. For each Interceptor project, we will conduct additional ESIS assessments prior to deployment. Since the approach and depth of the assessments can vary, we are learning how to best conduct, standardize, and share environmental and social impact scanning. Part of this process includes the development of management plans with monitoring and mitigation protocols, including recording occurrences of animal interaction and collected debris composition. This information is used to continuously improve our technology and methodology to reduce impacts.

Considering that we are still developing this process, our intention is to provide more information here in the future, including a summary of the results of existing impact assessments.

Prior to each Interceptor deployment, we work with local and global partners including expert consultants to scan for environmental and social impacts unique to the specific conditions of each river and to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. We commissioned third-party environmental and social impact scanning (ESIS) with Royal Haskoning, Arcadis, and Witteveen+Bos for the deployment areas in question. With an ESIS we estimate the possible impact on the environment. To date, the assessments have shown the impact to tend towards negligible. In tandem, we are developing monitoring processes to better understand this possible impact – with some pilot efforts currently active. While we are still very much in a learning phase, for each deployment, we will conduct additional ESISs and develop monitoring efforts for verification

Mangroves are among the most valuable coastal ecosystems, providing critical benefits for marine life, human communities, and the environment. They serve as breeding and nursery grounds for many fish species, stabilize shorelines by preventing erosion, and act as natural water filters that trap sediments and pollutants before they reach coral reefs and seagrass beds. Mangroves also play a key role in mitigating plastic pollution. Their dense root systems act as natural barriers, trapping plastic waste that would otherwise drift into open waters. While this helps reduce the spread of plastic, excessive accumulation can harm mangroves by smothering their roots and hindering seedling growth, making conservation efforts crucial. Beyond their ecological role, mangroves are also vital in protecting coastal communities from climate change. Their root structures dissipate wave energy, reducing the impact of storm surges and coastal flooding.

Additionally, mangroves are one of the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Importantly, the fruits and other extracts of mangrove species contribute to food security for local communities, as part of the ecosystem provision component of ecosystem services. By safeguarding mangroves, we enhance climate resilience, protect livelihoods, and preserve biodiversity for future generations.

Our projects protect coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs from plastic pollution. To quantify the benefits of our conservation efforts, we assess the ecosystem health and biodiversity improvements by establishing the baseline conditions and monitoring the improvements after deploying our technologies such as those in Kingston Harbour and Jakarta Bay. In Kingston Harbour, legacy debris cleanups have removed accumulated plastic waste, enabling us to evaluate how reduced pollution supports ecosystem recovery.

Mangroves play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate resilience. These coastal forests store up to four times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests, trapping carbon in their soils for centuries. This makes them one of the most effective natural solutions for mitigating climate change.

Additionally, mangroves act as natural barriers against extreme weather, absorbing storm surges, reducing coastal erosion, and protecting communities from flooding. Despite their importance, mangroves face significant threats, including deforestation for agriculture and coastal development, pollution, and rising sea levels. Plastic debris can accumulate densely in mangrove forests, covering the forest floor and entangling roots. This accumulation blocks water circulation, leading to stagnant conditions and changes in salinity that can stress mangrove trees and disrupt the ecological balance.

Moreover, plastics serve as carriers for pollutants and microorganisms, with their surfaces often harboring harmful bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes.

At the moment, The Ocean Cleanup is active in 9 different countries, with many more to come. As no country, city or river is the same, our work requires a good understanding of the context that we are operating in. Our local collaborators bring deep understanding of cultural and contextual nuances, ensuring our approach is respectful and effective. This boils down to three main questions: Who are we impacting? How are we impacting them? And just as importantly—how are these communities impacting our operations? Through community engagement, we strive for positive outcomes for nearby communities by actively involving them in our projects and operations. Ensuring that those who may be affected are both informed and included helps build local ownership, supporting the long-term sustainability and success of the project.

Plastic pollution affects societies in numerous and far-reaching ways. Fishermen in Jamaica and India shared with us that they can no longer fish close to shore as they once did—fish populations have declined drastically, forcing them to venture into deeper waters. This shift not only demands more time and effort, but also increases operational costs. In some cases, plastic debris damages fishing nets and boat propellers, adding further strain

Beyond impacts on fisheries, plastic waste can clog storm drains, heightening the risk of urban flooding. The accumulation of plastic in cities also creates stagnant water pools, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and waterborne diseases. Additionally, plastic pollution on beaches affects local tourism, deterring visitors and harming the economic potential of coastal communities.

Every country we work in is unique, which is why it’s essential for us to collaborate closely with local partners who understand the cultural and contextual landscape. To ensure long-term impact and true sustainability, we actively involve the communities living in and around our project areas.

Here are a few examples of how local communities contribute to and shape our work:

• Dominican Republic – Rescate Ozama Program: We collaborate with various agencies, including the UNDP, to develop educational materials for schools, helping to raise environmental awareness among young people.
• Malaysia – Environmental Monitoring: In partnership with local universities like Universiti Teknologi MARA, we work alongside a fantastic team of researchers whose deep ecological knowledge supports our river projects and environmental assessments.
• Jamaica – The Great Mangrove Cleanup: We team up with local fishermen and communities to remove trash from mangrove areas, blending ecological restoration with community engagement.

These partnerships not only enrich our work but also empower local communities to lead and sustain environmental change.

Our cleanup efforts go beyond removing plastic from rivers and oceans—they also create positive social and economic impacts, particularly for vulnerable communities who are affected by plastic pollution and inadequate waste management. Keyways we support these communities:

• Reducing environmental hazards – By keeping rivers and drainage systems clear, we help mitigate risks of avoiding plastic-clogged waterways to flooding and damaging infrastructures, which often impacts lower-income communities the most.
• Creating economic opportunities – Through partnerships with local fishermen, community groups, and businesses, we create jobs and income opportunities in cleanup efforts, waste management, and recycling initiatives.
• Education & empowerment – We work with organizations to engage youth and local residents, raising awareness about waste management, driving long-term behavioral change and contributing to policy change.
• Collaboration with local stakeholders – By working closely with government agencies, NGOs, local researchers and community leaders, we advocate for better waste infrastructures and policies that improve living conditions for those most affected by pollution.

We are always open to collaboration, and we would love to hear from you. You can send an email to our team at esa@theoceancleanup.com

Thank you for taking the time to share your concern with us. It’s important to us to be able to hear and learn from critical feedback as well as positive. Would you please send an email our team at environment@theoceancleanup.com so we can start a dialogue with you?