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2024: A record-breaking year for The Ocean Cleanup

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In 2024, The Ocean Cleanup made significant progress toward ridding the world’s oceans of plastic. From scaling up our work in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) to expanding river cleanup efforts globally, every milestone brought us closer to solving this critical environmental challenge.

 

OVER 11 MILLION KG OF PLASTIC REMOVED
This year, The Ocean Cleanup removed 11.5 million kilos of plastic from oceans and rivers. This total surpasses the amount collected in all previous years combined. In April, we celebrated a significant milestone: 10 million kg of waste extracted. This achievement was the result of 6 years of river and ocean operations. Only 7 months later, last November, we reached an astounding 20 million kg of plastic removed.

 

Want to see how it all comes together? Watch our latest video to learn how System 03 is driving change in ocean plastic pollution cleanup.
PROGRESS IN THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH 
System 03 played a central role in advancing our ocean cleanup operations in 2024. With 112 extractions, we refined its efficiency, reliability, and safety for marine life. In September, we confirmed that the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not only possible but also achievable at a projected cost of $7.5 billion.

PREVENTING PLASTIC AT ITS SOURCE
Our mission goes beyond cleaning the oceans; we also work to stop plastic from entering waterways in the first place. This year, we expanded our river interceptor network to key regions:
  • Bangkok: The Interceptor Original began work on the Chao Praya River as part of a multi-year initiative to reduce plastic pollution in the Gulf of Thailand.
  • Guatemala: The deployment of Barricade XL at the Rio Motagua marked a significant step in protecting the Gulf of Honduras, home to the world’s second-largest coral reef.
  • Jamaica: We installed Interceptor 015 in Kingston’s Sandy Gully, one of the country’s largest waterways.
Discover how we can rid the oceans of plastic and watch our live conference at the Port Call event in San Francisco.
For the deployment of Interceptor 015, our local partners organized a cleanup tournament involving the local communities. Watch our documentary of the event.

INNOVATION AND IMPACT
This year, The Ocean Cleanup continued to find new ways to maximize the impact of our mission. From scaling up operations to exploring opportunities to turn plastic debris into meaningful products with our partners, we demonstrated the importance of integrating science and technology in tackling marine plastic pollution.

WHY THIS WORK MATTER
Removing plastic debris helps protect marine ecosystems, improves the livelihoods of coastal communities, and reduces harm caused by microplastics in the food chain.
Research remains the foundation of our work. In 2024, we continued addressing critical scientific gaps, helping policymakers and stakeholders make informed decisions to combat plastic pollution.

From intercepted trash in Guatemala to a limited-edition Coldplay record. Watch the journey of transformation in this documentary.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025
Every milestone in 2024 was made possible by the support of our followers and partners. Together, we are addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
Stay tuned for even more progress in 2025 as we continue to scale up efforts to clean the oceans and rivers.