Amplifying the voices of people who care about life on Earth
hamburger menu hamburger menu


Special Collections:
Plastic in Our Oceans

Plastic in Our Oceans
The Dominican Republic will soon have a new 400-meter barrier to stop trash from reaching the ocean

Interceptor upgrades are on the way in the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴. A new 400-meter barrier, our longest deployment yet, will effectively capture more plastic and invasive water hyacinths before they reach the river and ocean.

This upgrade aligns with the Government of the Dominican Republic's environmental initiatives and is expected to be completed by early 2027.

Good News: This Trash Did Not Reach Panama Bay 🇵🇦

Can Stopping Trash in Rivers Before It Reaches the Ocean Be a Job?

Interceptor operations help prevent trash from entering the ocean by intercepting it in rivers. This initiative not only protects marine environments but also generates benefits for local communities.

By creating employment opportunities, these operations contribute to the economic well-being of the areas involved.

What does the Great Pacific Garbage Patch look like?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest collection of floating ocean plastic, situated between Hawaii and California. It spans approximately 1.6 million square kilometers, which is twice the size of Texas or three times that of France.

Estimated to weigh around 100,000 tonnes, the plastic mass in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is equivalent to over 740 Boeing 777s.

Progress Report: From the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to Mumbai, India - July Updates

What Happens to the 60 Million kg of Trash Removed from Rivers and the Ocean?

We Removed Over 60 Million kg of Trash: What Now?

We've removed millions of kilograms of trash from rivers and oceans worldwide.

But what happens to it after collection? We do everything we can to address this issue. Learn more in the full video.

What Do We Do with the Waste?

In our mission to eliminate plastic from the oceans, we collaborate with local partners to develop responsible waste management solutions tailored to specific environments. This approach not only addresses the waste but also allows us to create products that raise awareness about plastic pollution and fund cleanup efforts.

Our video covers various topics, including our first product made from ocean plastic, the Ocean Cleanup sunglasses, and case studies from locations like Los Angeles and Panama City. We also discuss how we transform river trash into valuable resources, such as the Coldplay LP. Stay updated by subscribing to our YouTube channel: YouTube. Learn more at The Ocean Cleanup.

Interceptor Update from India

Update from Mumbai 🇮🇳: Interceptors 026 and 027 are now operational in Malad and Trombay waterways, installed in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, and Plastic Fischer.

As monsoon rains begin, we are optimizing waste interception processes with our partners and engaging local communities through United Way Mumbai. Special thanks to AT Capital Pte Ltd / Experion Developers Pte Ltd and Optiver Global for their support. Mumbai is part of our 30 Cities Program, aiming to cut plastic emissions from rivers into the ocean by one-third by the decade's end. Stay tuned for updates!

Answering Our FAQ: What Are You Doing to Educate Local Communities?

We collaborate with local organizations to address the unique challenges of each river and country, enhancing our impact within communities.

Through educational initiatives, our partners raise awareness of plastic pollution and promote sustainable, locally driven solutions.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch update: Testing how to predict plastic accumulation in the ocean

In the coming six weeks, our team will test the Smart Steering Strategy, which integrates data from ocean models, GPS, and aerial drones, in the Pacific Ocean to enhance predictions of plastic accumulation.

By pinpointing high-density plastic hotspots, we aim to optimize our plastic removal efforts. Stay tuned for updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments from the expedition!

Different rivers, different trash we catch

Scientists have found plastic pollution everywhere in the world

Addressing ocean plastic pollution involves a multi-faceted strategy. We prevent plastic from reaching the ocean by scaling river operations through our 30 Cities Program. Concurrently, we develop drone and AI technologies to efficiently detect plastic hotspots within the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, optimizing cleanup efforts.

Our work also includes researching discarded fishing gear to identify the most effective solutions. Additionally, once our Interceptors are operational, we clean legacy pollution from coastlines, restoring these environments and preventing stranded plastic from re-entering the ocean.

June update: trash tsunamis, new deployments, and chats about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

100,000 kg of trash did not enter the ocean in Panama this year

One year ago, our first Interceptor (022) launched in Panama's RĂ­o Abajo as part of the Siete Cuencas Project.

This year, we expanded operations to the Río Matías Hernández and Juan Díaz. Our efforts have prevented over 100,000 kg of trash from entering Panama Bay, significantly benefiting local communities and the environment.

All this trash could have been in the Caribbean Sea

Interceptor 016, situated in the Balmagie Gully, plays a crucial role in environmental protection.

This system effectively prevents trash from reaching Kingston Harbour and the Caribbean Sea, safeguarding these vital waterways.

Plastic pollution in Los Angeles doesn't stand a chance against Interceptors

Discover compelling stories and vital updates on ocean conservation efforts. By subscribing, you'll gain insight into the crucial work being done to protect our marine environments.

Stay informed and support the cause by visiting and subscribing to The Ocean Cleanup's official YouTube channel: The Ocean Cleanup YouTube.

Good news from Panama: less trash is reaching the ocean

In collaboration with our local partner @mareaverdepanama, we have deployed Interceptor 025 in Panama's Rio Matías Hernández. This effort aims to prevent more trash from reaching Panama Bay.

This marks the third of seven planned deployments in Panama City, integral to our Siete Cuencas project. Stay tuned for further progress updates.

We had a chat about ocean plastic pollution with Captain Charles Moore in Los Angeles

Following the successful deployment of Interceptor 007 in LA's Ballona Creek, two additional Interceptors will be deployed in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.

Together, these three Interceptors will address the 410 to 628 tons (820,000 to 1,384,503 lbs) of plastic that flows from the city to the ocean.

This is how we’re expanding operations in the greater LA region

Interceptor 007 in Los Angeles' Ballona Creek will soon be joined by two more Interceptors in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers by 2028. This expansion aims to prevent 410-628 tons of plastic (820,000-1,384,503 lbs) from flowing from the city into the ocean. Los Angeles is a key part of our 30 Cities Program, which seeks to tackle one-third of all river plastic pollution globally by 2030.

Stay updated by subscribing to our [YouTube channel](https://bit.ly/371k8sN) and learn more at [The Ocean Cleanup website](https://www.theoceancleanup.com/). Follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheOceanCleanup), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/theoceancleanup/), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@theoceancleanup), and [X](https://x.com/TheOceanCleanup).

EarthSayers are a beacon of hope for our planet. By amplifying the voices of those who care deeply about life on Earth, it empowers individuals and communities to take meaningful action”
— Dr. Elena Rivera
Environmental Scientist and Advocate
 

What EarthSayers stands for

Discover Diverse Voices on EarthSayers

Unlike algorithm-driven platforms that push you into a content bubble, we ensure you hear a variety of perspectives from scientists, activists, Indigenous leaders, business innovators, and everyday citizens working toward sustainability.

 

Learn Why We Care

EarthSayers CINEMA

Watch, learn and lead—sustainability starts with you.

The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection

“The Thinking Game” is the inside story of DeepMind's groundbreaking AI research, culminating in the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold breakthrough. Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind "AlphaGo," this documentary explores co-founder Demis Hassabis's lifelong pursuit of artificial general intelligence and the rigorous scientific journey from mastering strategy games to solving the 50-year-old protein folding problem.

Following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, "The Thinking Game" is now available to watch for free. For those interested in hosting a screening for a classroom, community, or workplace, visit: rocofilms.com/films/the-thinking-game/.

 

EarthSayers Cinema on LinkedIn

The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection