Black flies erupted into the air as plastic waste tumbled from bamboo conveyor belts into skips aboard a solar-powered barge on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. This innovative vessel, known as the “Interceptor”, is part of The Ocean Cleanup project aiming to rid the river of plastic before it reaches the sea.
The Interceptor utilizes the river’s current to funnel floating debris into its collection system, where waste is gathered and transported for proper disposal. The Ocean Cleanup, a global non-profit founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, is dedicated to removing plastic pollution from the world’s oceans by intercepting waste in rivers.
“The Chao Phraya is actually the single largest source of plastic pollution for the Gulf of Thailand,” Slat explained. “The Gulf is very important ecologically and economically, especially for tourism and fisheries. It’s crucial for us to tackle plastic pollution here.”
Flowing through the heart of Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River carries significant amounts of plastic waste into the Gulf of Thailand. By deploying the Interceptor, The Ocean Cleanup hopes to make a substantial impact on reducing marine pollution in the region.
This initiative not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports local economies dependent on clean waterways. As plastic pollution threatens marine life and industries like tourism and fishing, efforts like these are essential for sustainable development in Thailand and the broader Asian region.
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Plastic 'interceptor' tackles trash in Thailand's Chao Phraya river
cgtn.com
