Plastic ‘interceptor’ tackles trash in river

Big breakthrough: Floating trash is collected into containers onboard the Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor on Chao Phraya river. — AFP

BLACK flies exploded into the air as plastic waste fell from bamboo conveyor belts into skips on a solar-powered barge attempting to remove rubbish from the main river in Bangkok.

The Ocean Cleanup project launched on the Chao Phraya river, its so-called “Interceptor” – a boat-like structure trailing a floating barrier – using the river current to funnel plastic into the barge’s waiting jaws.