tech
A solar-powered rubbish-eating boat? The vessel chomping plastic waste out of the sea
Guided by floating barriers, the Interceptor has already stopped more than 143,000lbs of rubbish from entering the Pacific from one LA river
TL;DR
- The Interceptor is a solar-powered barge designed to collect plastic waste from rivers.
- It uses a floating barrier and conveyor belt to channel rubbish into six dumpsters, holding up to 20,000lbs of waste.
- The Ocean Cleanup nonprofit operates 21 Interceptor systems globally, aiming to clean up 30 polluted cities by 2030.
- The system prioritizes stopping waste at the source in rivers, as rivers are responsible for 90% of ocean pollution.
- In 2025, the Ballona Creek Interceptor stopped 143,710lbs of rubbish from entering the ocean, leading to reduced beach grooming budgets for coastal communities.
- The design and pilot project in LA cost approximately $2.8 million, with annual maintenance at $650,000.
- The system is not perfect, with occasional escapes of debris and challenges with large logs.
- Each river requires a unique Interceptor system due to varying conditions.