In California, The Ocean Cleanup Declares the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Can Be Eliminated

In 2025, the organization will pause operations to launch a new initiative aimed at identifying plastic "hotspots" for more efficient futurePhoto byPossessed PhotographyonUnsplash

After six years of development and three years of successful extraction, The Ocean Cleanup has announced that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) can be eradicated within a decade. Using current technology, the organization estimates a total cost of $7.5 billion for full removal. However, data suggests that with accelerated efforts, the GPGP could be cleared in five years at a reduced cost of $4 billion.

The Ocean Cleanup’s operations have removed over a million pounds of trash from the GPGP, proving that large-scale removal is possible. Founder and CEO Boyan Slat called on global governments, corporations, and individuals to support the mission, stressing that the environmental and economic cost of inaction is catastrophic.

In 2025, the organization will pause operations to launch a new initiative aimed at identifying plastic "hotspots" for more efficient future extractions.