Video: Startup aims to clean up water pollution at marinas

The Seabin Project is developing a trash bin that can catch floating debris and other ocean pollutants.

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A technology startup has raised the funds it needs to produce a water-based trash bin that aims to stop water pollution at the source.

The ‘Seabin’ can pick up a half-ton of rubbish annually, according to the Seabin Project website, and is designed for use in marinas, ports and yacht clubs.

Seabins are still in a prototype phase, but the bin works using a shore-based water pump located on a dock. Water is drawn into the Seabin, which sits on top of the water and floating debris is collected in a natural fibre bag.

Peter Ceglinski, director of the project, said on the project website: “The marinas, ports and yacht clubs are the perfect place to start helping clean our oceans. There are no huge open ocean swells or storms inside the marinas, its [sic] a relatively controlled environment.”

Ceglinski said that the catch bag would need to be changed once every day or two, depending on other factors such as rainfall, which washes rubbish into the ocean.

Now that the group has raised the requisite funds, it is working toward production of the bins by the end of 2016. Notable supporters of the initiative include American surfer Laird Hamilton, The Echo newspaper, the Clean Ocean Project and others.

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