USA — The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit organization, has launched a beta cleanup system to collect plastic from the oceans, reports Forbes.<br /><br />According to the organization, there are about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic on the surface of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is located between Hawaii and California.<br /><br />The organization has come up with a cleanup system, called System 001,which consists of a 600-meter-long floater and a 3-meter-deep skirt to prevent the plastic in the ocean from flowing over it.<br /><br />System 001 would also take advantage of natural forces such as the wind, ocean currents and waves to propel the system forward and form a U-shape naturally to concentrate plastic in the center.<br /><br />The cleanup system is also fitted with solar powered-lights, cameras, sensors, satellite antenna along with anti-collision systems.<br /><br />A support vessel would come by periodically to take out the plastic gathered by the cleanup system, which would then be recycled and turned into products.<br /><br />This is just the first fleet; the organization eventually plans to launch 60 more fleets in an year or two.<br /><br />Some researchers worry the system might be harmful for marine life and could trap sea creatures as well, reports Business Insider.<br /><br />Meanwhile, others worry plastic parts in the ocean might be deeper underwater than the device can reach, and claim it might be a much more complex task to remove such pollutants.
