229,000 Pounds Of Trash Stopped From Landing On Los Angeles Beaches

Originally posted on SURFER | By Jake Howard | Last updated 3/25/24

Targeting one of the most polluted rivers on the West Coast, two years ago the folks at The Ocean Cleanup decided it was time to do something about the Ballona Creek. Teaming up with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, they implemented their Interceptor technology, which catches and collects large particle trash and waste on the surface of the water before it flows to the Pacific Ocean. After two rainy seasons that have seen record rainfall throughout the L.A. area, the Interceptor 007 has reportedly captured more than 229,000 pounds of trash.

The first Interceptor to be used in the United States, initially the program was launched as a two-year pilot to see just how successful it would be. The Interceptor 007 was towed into place in October 2022. At the time, the Ocean Cleanup team estimated that Ballona Creek emitted about 28,800 pounds of plastic per year. Obviously, the 229,000 pounds collected blows that estimate out of the water. It is important to note that number includes all waste collected, including old mattresses as seen here in their Instagram video.

"Together with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (Department of Public Works), we are working to put an Interceptor Original in place for 2 storm seasons as a pilot. If successful, the Interceptor will be gifted to our partners so it can remain in place to continue intercepting plastic before it can reach the ocean.," reads a statement on The Ocean Cleanup's website.

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The Ocean Cleanup has Interceptor programs going around the world. Siting that 80 percent of riverine pollution comes from only 1,000 rivers around the world, their strategy has been to target these sources of pollution. And while the Ballona Creek falls just outside of those 1,000 rivers, they deemed it a critical location to focus on. Other locations include Indonesia, Vietnam, Jamaica, Thailand and beyond. They have 15 Interceptors in place around the world to date.

The Ocean Cleanup reports that the Interceptor technology "is 100 percent solar-powered and extracts plastic autonomously allowing for quicker roll-out."

With the two-year pilot period coming to an end for the Ballona Creek Interceptor, it's clearly made a difference in keeping pollution off of Venice and Santa Monica beaches. Hopefully the team at The Ocean Cleanup and the City of L.A. are able to not only keep it going for years to come, but maybe even add a few more Interceptors to other Southern California problem spots.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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