Environment

Korean researchers aim to trap marine trash at its source

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The trash interceptor and AI monitoring platform was developed and tested at the River Experiment Center before being installed on the Yugu-cheon in Gongju
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
The trash interceptor and AI monitoring platform was developed and tested at the River Experiment Center before being installed on the Yugu-cheon in Gongju
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
An AI-powered monitoring platform is used to analyze the composition and amount of floating debris
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
The trash interceptor was developed by researchers at the River Experiment Center in South Korea's Gyeongsang Province
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology
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Though efforts to clean up plastic waste from our oceans are well underway, it's also vital to stem the tide at a major source of pollution: rivers. Researchers in South Korea are looking to doing just that at a "living lab" facility in Gongju.

Like similar solutions from Ocean Cleanup and Ocean Conservancy, the Korean project is aiming to intercept floating waste in rivers before it can pollute our oceans.

"Garbage that enters the sea is difficult to collect due to its wide spreading nature and contains impurities (salts, mud, etc.) that increase the cost of cleaning-up process, so it is necessary to intercept and collect it from rivers before it enters the sea," said Dr. Sang Hwa Jung from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT).

In 2019, a trash interceptor was set up in the South Chungcheong Province to try and slow the increasing flow of marine debris from the rivers of the region. However, following structural damage caused by heavy rains and flooding, a redesign was necessary.

An AI-powered monitoring platform is used to analyze the composition and amount of floating debris
Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology

Jung and team began working on a new version designed to take river-level fluctuations into account while also allowing for easier trash collections. Experiments and prototype testing were undertaken at a 192,051 m2 (over 2 million ft2) River Experiment Center in the Gyeongsang Province ahead of construction of the new facility on the Yugu-cheon in Gongju, Chungcheong.

Data from the testing phase was used to develop an AI-based support system to analyze the composition and the amount of floating debris in the river. A monitoring system was incorporated into the design for real-time status checks, and local governments helped determine optimum collection times.

The Yugu-cheon facility was installed in May this year, and is expected to be operational – while undergoing continuous improvement – until at least 2026. Discussions with other local governments have begun, with a view to expanding the project to other rivers.

Source: KICT via EurekAlert

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6 comments
windykites
Beaches are effective rubbish collectors. All you need are people to pick it up.
CDE
If people and companies would dispose of their trash properly, they would not need these interceptors. Unfortunately, many people are lazy slobs.
ZermattChris
There is no simple, single fix to the mess we're making. It requires a huge effort and a multi-faceted front.

In theory, this is why we have our governments -- to force us past our (Corporate) short-term greed and push us forwards.

I'm afraid that at the current pace, our Grandchildren will curse our existence. Rightly so.
Rob Tillaart
For capturing thrash and plastic there is also "the great bubble barrier".
They started recently a project in Portugal - https://thegreatbubblebarrier.com/bubble-barrier-vila-do-conde/

The advantage of the bubbles is that neither fish or boats are hindered by the capture system.
Furthermore it adds oxygen to the water!
dave be
In addition to the others already in comments theres also 'The Ocean Cleanup' project, which has a river cleanup apparatus as well. They've had a few of them running for several years, and have plans for 1000 rivers though I dont know how many they've made past the initial handful.
CarolynFarstrider
Sadly, this is neither the answer nor does it stop plastic pollution at source. The source is people producing, buying and discarding plastic. These mechanical barriers do take out some large floating items but also trap wildlife. They do not stop microplastic particles, and overall the system is energy inefficient in comparison to the plastic it traps. Go back to the actual source and stop it there.