Imagine a futuristic barge, powered by the sun 🌞, scooping up plastic waste from Bangkok’s bustling Chao Phraya River. That’s the scene this week as The Ocean Cleanup launched its latest ‘interceptor’ – a high-tech system using floating barriers and conveyor belts to trap trash before it reaches the ocean.
Black flies buzzed as the device hauled bottles, bags, and debris onto its bamboo platforms – a gritty but vital mission. Founded by 29-year-old innovator Boyan Slat, the project aims to tackle what he calls the ‘single largest source’ of plastic pollution flowing into the Gulf of Thailand. 🌊
Why care? The Gulf isn’t just an ecological hotspot 🐠 – it’s the lifeblood of Thailand’s tourism and fishing industries. ‘Every piece of plastic we stop here means cleaner beaches, healthier marine life, and stronger local economies,’ Slat told reporters.
The interceptor works like a floating traffic cone 🚧, guiding waste into its processing system without disrupting boats. It’s part of a global push to clean oceans, but Slat’s team says Southeast Asia – a region battling severe plastic waste – needs urgent attention. 🌏
Could this tech turn the tide? Locals are hopeful. As one Bangkok resident tweeted: ‘Finally, someone’s cleaning up our river! 🙌’
