The Guardian12 Jun 2026Innovation
Automatically composed with AI from the cited sources
The Interceptor system at Ballona Creek, LA, prevented 143,710 lbs of rubbish from reaching Santa Monica Bay in 2025, according to operator Ocean Cleanup. The solar-powered barge, which began its pilot in 2022, uses a floating barrier and conveyor belt to scoop waste into six dumpsters with a total capacity of roughly 20,000 lbs. Design and permitting cost $1.3 million, installation an additional $1.5 million, and annual maintenance runs to $650,000; the equipment is provided to LA County free of charge. Ocean Cleanup now plans two more Interceptor boats on the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers, part of a global fleet of 21 systems in 10 countries targeting the 1,000 rivers it says account for nearly 80% of ocean plastic emissions.