test

Tag: Plastic debris

Aquatic Drones Tackle Local Waterway Pollution

By Furhana Husani, Director of Programs and Climate Initiatives – Waterfront Alliance

May 28, 2025

The New York and New Jersey waterways face significant environmental challenges, particularly from plastic pollution, harmful algal blooms, and the accumulation of biomass and other floating debris. These issues threaten marine ecosystems, biodiversity, human health, and economies reliant on clean water.

  • Plastic Pollution: A stark example of the problem is the estimate that 165 million pieces of plastic are floating in New York Harbor and nearby waters at any given time. This is part of a global issue where over 171 trillion pieces of plastic are in our oceans, projected to triple by 2040. This plastic debris, including tiny nurdles, breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics, releasing chemicals that harm marine life and are considered among the world’s top environmental challenges.
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Biomass: HABs, caused by cyanobacteria that flourish due to excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff, are increasingly prevalent. Last summer, over 500 confirmed harmful algal bloom conditions have been reported statewide in New York, affecting dozens of water bodies. HABs can cause health problems for humans and animals, from skin rashes to severe illnesses, leading to beach and swimming area closures for extended periods. Climate change is expected to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of these blooms.
  • Oil and Hydrocarbons: Incidental oil spills in areas like ports and marinas, often from land-based runoff or leisure craft, pose a risk to environmental health and can restrict activities like swimming, boating, and fishing.

These challenges underscore the urgent need for effective, environmentally sound methods for pollution removal and waterway restoration in densely populated coastal areas like New York and New Jersey.

RanMarine Technology, a cleantech company specializing in the design, manufacture, and sale of autonomous surface vessels (ASVs), also known as aquatic drones, is focusing its efforts on tackling these critical water pollution problems in New York and New Jersey waterways. Founded in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2016, RanMarine’s mission is to empower people, companies, and governments worldwide to restore marine and freshwater environments to their natural state using advanced, zero-emission technologies and data-driven approaches. ASVs are designed to clean the surfaces of waterways, including ports, harbors, marinas, rivers, estuaries, canal systems, lakes, and ponds.

RanMarine’s technology directly addresses these problems. The primary focus of their ASVs is the removal of harmful plastic pollutants, algae/biomass, and oils from water, as well as the treatment of HABs. Core products include:

  • WasteShark: An agile, efficient, and emission-free ASV that operates autonomously or via remote control to collect floating plastic debris and biomass.
  • MegaShark: A mid-sized vessel (tender boat duality) designed for high-volume waste collection of aquatic waste and biomass. Operated on-deck or via remote control.
  • BlueShark: Integrates WasteShark or MegaShark ASVs with a patented, chemical-free system that disrupts and eradicates cyanobacteria (the cause of HABs) in situ, reducing toxicity and nutrients without harming the ecosystem.
  • OilShark (in development): Designed as a first responder for incidental petrochemical and/or hydrocarbon spills in specific areas like ports and marinas.

RanMarine vessels are fully electric and operate with zero emissions, minimizing environmental disturbance and noise compared to traditional fossil-fuel methods.

Beyond collecting waste, RanMarine’s ASVs offer additional capabilities, often through partnerships with third parties. While operating, they can collect critical water quality data using various sensors, such as chlorophyll, pH levels, water temperature, salinity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. This data can be accessed in near real-time through the RanMarine Connect portal, aiding informed decision-making about water quality. The vessels can also be utilized for tasks like bathymetry in shallow nearshore areas, acoustic telemetry for tracking tagged fish, and visual mapping of the waterfront.

The application of RanMarine ASVs in the New York environment is evidenced through the successful deployment of a WasteShark at the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT).

Vice President of Estuary & Education at the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT), Carrie Roble said “Thanks to a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, we were able to purchase our WasteShark, affectionally named “Gulp” by our community, approximately two years ago. Gulp now has her own little “shark-shed” at the Gansevoort Peninsula where our team periodically deploys her to help clean plastic hot spots along the bulkhead and park piers.  Aside from collecting floating debris, she’s eye catching and an exciting educational tool, prompting conversations between Park users and our River Project team about our important work as park stewards.”

RanMarine’s strategy for deploying its technology, particularly in areas with significant need but limited direct funding like the vast New York and New Jersey shoreline, is heavily focused on innovative partnerships. This is achieved via multi-sector collaborations involving International Governmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), various tiers of government, technical partners, operational partners, and ultimately funders including but not limited to as grant makers, corporate sponsors, and environmentally conscious high-net-worth individuals.

A prime example of this approach is the recently launched “Adopt a Shark” initiative in New York City. This initiative will facilitate the deployment of RanMarine ASVs across multiple harbor sites to remove floating plastic debris and biomass and treat HABs in situ. This program will work to engage local communities and involve organizations specializing in the green-blue economy and workforce training.

Through this partnership strategy, RanMarine seeks to make its innovative technology accessible to the areas and organizations that need it most, facilitating crucial clean-up and restoration efforts across the vast and complex waterways of New York and New Jersey and raising awareness about the significant pollution problems they face.

RanMarine is currently seeking to connect with environmental stewards, community leaders, and potential sponsors and funding partners in the New York and New Jersey area who recognize the need for these capabilities in their local waterways and are interested in exploring collaborative deployment opportunities.

For all enquiries regarding partnerships and/or deployment opportunities in the NY/NJ area, please contact Andrew Douglas, email: andrew.douglas@ranmarine.io or cell/WhatsApp: +27 73 790 5946
For further RanMarine related Products and/or Procurement options, availability, or possible Distributorship interests then please contact us on: sales@ranmarine.io / +31 616952175

An orange WasteShark in the Hudson River, New York City in the distance
WasteShark with New York skyline. Both pictures ©️Hudson River Park Trust

Original article appeared on the Waterfront Alliance website

Trash Trapping Program rids Toronto Harbour of 175,000+ pieces of plastic in 2024

PortsToronto’s Trash Trapping Program has emerged as a beacon of environmental innovation, showcasing how technology and collaboration can effectively combat waterway pollution. Since its inception in 2019, the program has made significant strides in removing plastic debris and other contaminants from Toronto Harbour, preventing these pollutants from reaching Lake Ontario and beyond.

A Multifaceted Approach to Pollution Control

The Trash Trapping Program utilizes a combination of advanced technologies and manual efforts to address the pervasive issue of floating debris. Key tools include Seabins, WasteShark aquadrones, and LittaTrap catch basin filters. Seabins, essentially floating garbage bins, are deployed at strategic locations along Toronto’s waterfront to suck in trash from the water’s surface. WasteSharks, nicknamed “Ebb” and “Flow,” are remote-controlled aquadrones that skim the water for floating debris. Meanwhile, LittaTraps are installed in storm drains to capture plastics before they even enter the waterways.

Complementing these technologies is manual skimming, which involves physically removing large debris and invasive plants that accumulate microplastics. Together, these efforts have created a robust system for intercepting waste at multiple points along its journey to the lake.

PortsToronto staff empty a WasteShark aquadrone of floating debris captured during a Trash Trapping Program mission in the Peter Street Basin on the Toronto waterfront. The materials collected by trash traps are counter and characterized by U of T Trash Team researchers. (CNW Group/PortsToronto)

Impressive Results

The program’s achievements speak volumes about its effectiveness. Between May and October 2024 alone, over 600 kilograms of anthropogenic debris—waste created by human activities—were removed from Toronto Harbour. This included more than 100,000 small pieces of plastic, such as bottle caps, foam fragments from food containers, cigarette butts, and even larger items like fatbergs. In earlier years, similar efforts removed tens of thousands of pieces of plastic annually, underscoring the program’s consistent impact.

Notably, the introduction of WasteSharks in 2023 proved particularly effective. In just three trials during their pilot phase, these aquadrones collected approximately 20 kilograms of marine debris. Combined with ongoing efforts by Seabins and other devices, the program has become a critical tool in reducing microplastics and other pollutants in Toronto’s waterways.

Research-Driven Innovation

A cornerstone of the Trash Trapping Program is its partnership with the University of Toronto Trash Team (U of T Trash Team). Researchers from the team meticulously analyse the materials collected by trash traps to identify sources and trends in pollution. This data-driven approach not only informs solutions-based research but also supports policy changes aimed at reducing waste at its source.

For instance, researchers have identified that much of the floating debris originates from stormwater run-off, industrial activities, and improperly managed waste bins near water edges. Insights like these have led to targeted community outreach programs designed to increase waste literacy and encourage better disposal practices.

Expanding Impact Beyond Toronto

The success of PortsToronto’s initiative has inspired similar programs across the Great Lakes region and beyond. As part of the International Trash Trapping Network led by Ocean Conservancy and U of T Trash Team, lessons learned from Toronto are being applied globally to combat plastic pollution in urban waterways.

Moreover, PortsToronto’s efforts align with broader strategies like the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy. This collaborative framework brings together various stakeholders to reduce floating litter through innovative methods and strategic placement of trash traps.

Looking Ahead

As the program enters its seventh year in 2025, PortsToronto is set to expand its capabilities further. Plans include adding three new fixed trash-trapping devices to its existing fleet of seven Seabins and two WasteSharks. These additions will enhance coverage along Toronto’s waterfront and Outer Harbour Marina.

The continued success of this initiative underscores the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges. By combining cutting-edge technology with research-driven strategies and community engagement, PortsToronto is not only cleaning up local waterways but also setting a global example for sustainable urban water management.

Read the original full story here.

Global Plastics Treaty for Dummies: 2025 Edition

What is the “Global Plastics Treaty?” Feb 2025


The Challenge

2 men holding a banner - polluted by single use plastic - on a beach covered by plastic waste

Every year, 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans, harming marine life and ecosystems. It’s not just an environmental issue; it’s affecting our health and economies too. The problem is so big that no single country can solve it alone.

Key Players (as of early 2025)

1. High Ambition Coalition (HAC): 85 countries pushing for strong, binding commitments.

2. Business Coalition: 250+ businesses, including IKEA, Nestlé, and Unilever, supporting an ambitious treaty.

3. “Like-minded group”: Countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Iran, focusing more on waste management than production cuts.

4. United States: Not part of the HAC, hesitant on production control measures.

5. France, Rwanda and Mexico: Leading a group of 95 “willing countries” supporting legally-binding provisions to phase out harmful plastic products and chemicals.

Hopeful Outcomes

1. Reducing virgin plastic production

2. Eliminating harmful chemicals in plastics

3. Promoting reuse systems and better product design

4. Improving waste management globally

5. Creating a truly circular economy for plastics

Timeline

– March 2022: UN resolution to create the treaty

– 2022-2024: Initial negotiation rounds

– May 2025 (tentative): Final negotiation round (INC-5.2)

– End of 2025: Target date for finalizing the treaty

– 2040: Ambitious goal to end plastic pollution

Remember, this treaty isn’t just about banning plastic straws. It’s aiming to revolutionize how we produce, use, and dispose of plastics. It’s like going on a global plastic diet – we’re not giving up plastics entirely, but we’re trying to make healthier choices for our planet.

As we head into the crucial 2025 negotiations, the world is watching to see if global leaders can put aside their differences and create a treaty that truly tackles the plastic crisis. Will we see a game-changing agreement, or will it be watered down by competing interests? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – the outcome will shape our relationship with plastics for decades to come.

RanMarine WasteShark capturing 2 floating plastic bottles
WasteShark capturing plastic


RanMarine’s WasteShark and MegaShark are perfectly positioned to help deliver on the Global Plastics Treaty’s ambitious goals. These innovative aquatic drones directly tackle plastic pollution in waterways, a key focus of the treaty. The WasteShark, capable of collecting up to 500 kg of debris daily, has already proven its worth in urban waterways and marinas. Its bigger sibling, the MegaShark, launched in 2024, takes this concept further with a capacity to hold 880 liters of waste. Both can operate remotely and emission-free, aligning with the treaty’s emphasis on innovative, sustainable solutions. Moreover, their data collection capabilities support the research and monitoring aspects crucial to the treaty’s success. RanMarine’s technology stands out as a practical, scalable solution that could play a pivotal role in achieving the treaty’s objectives.

So, next time you’re sipping your drink through a paper straw, know that you’re part of a worldwide movement. The Global Plastics Treaty might just be the biggest cleanup effort in human history – and it’s happening right now!

Citations:

[1] https://plasticseurope.org/changingplasticsforgood/global-plastics-treaty/

[2] https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/global-ceos-call-for-a-legally-binding-global-plastics-treaty

[3] https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/blog/2023/11/global-plastics-treaty-%E2%80%9Cchange-humanity%E2%80%99s-relationship-planet

Fungus breaks down ocean plastic

A fungus living in the sea can break down the plastic polyethylene, provided it has first been exposed to UV radiation from sunlight. Researchers from, among others, NIOZ published their results in the scientific journal Science of the Total Environment. They expect that many more plastic degrading fungi are living in deeper parts of the ocean.

The fungus Parengyodontium album lives together with other marine microbes in thin layers on plastic litter in the ocean. Marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) discovered that the fungus is capable of breaking down particles of the plastic polyethylene (PE), the most abundant of all plastics that have ended up in the ocean. The NIOZ researchers cooperated with colleagues from Utrecht University, the Ocean Cleanup Foundation and research institutes in Paris, Copenhagen and St Gallen, Switzerland. The finding allows the fungus to join a very short list of plastic-degrading marine fungi: only four species have been found to date. A larger number of bacteria was already known to be able to degrade plastic.

Follow the degradation process accurately

The researchers went to find the plastic degrading microbes in the hotspots of plastic pollution in the North Pacific Ocean. From the plastic litter collected, they isolated the marine fungus by growing it in the laboratory, on special plastics that contain labelled carbon. Lead author Annika Vaksmaa of NIOZ: “These so-called 13C isotopes remain traceable in the food chain. It is like a tag that enables us to follow where the carbon goes. We can then trace it in the degradation products.”

Vaksmaa is thrilled about the new finding: “What makes this research scientifically outstanding, is that we can quantify the degradation process.” In the laboratory, Vaksmaa and her team observed that the breakdown of PE by P. album occurs at a rate of about 0.05 per cent per day. “Our measurements also showed that the fungus doesn’t use much of the carbon coming from the PE when breaking it down. Most of the PE that P. album uses is converted into carbon dioxide, which the fungus excretes again.” AltThough CO2 is a greenhouse gas, this process is not something that might pose a new problem: the amount released by fungi is the same as the low amount humans release while breathing.

Only under the influence of UV

The presence of sunlight is essential for the fungus to use PE as an energy source, the researchers found. Vaksmaa: “In the lab, P. album only breaks down PE that has been exposed to UV-light at least for a short period of time. That means that in the ocean, the fungus can only degrade plastic that has been floating near the surface initially,” explains Vaksmaa. “It was already known that UV-light breaks down plastic by itself mechanically, but our results show that it also facilitates the biological plastic breakdown by marine fungi.”

Other fungi out there

As a large amount of different plastics sink into deeper layers before it is exposed to sunlight, P.album will not be able to break them all down. Vaksmaa expects that there are other, yet unknown, fungi out there that are degrading plastic as well, in deeper parts of the ocean. “Marine fungi can break down complex materials made of carbon. There are numerous amounts of marine fungi, so it is likely that in addition to the four species identified so far, other species also contribute to plastic degradation. There are still many questions about the dynamics of how plastic degradation takes place in deeper layers,” says Vaksmaa.

Plastic soup

Finding plastic-degrading organisms is urgent. Every year, humans produce more than 400 billion kilograms of plastic, and this is expected to have at least triple by the year 2060. Much of the plastic waste ends up in the sea: from the poles to the tropics, it floats around in surface waters, reaches greater depths at sea and eventually falls down on the seafloor.

Vaksmaa: “Large amounts of plastics end up in subtropical gyres, ring-shaped currents in oceans in which seawater is almost stationary. That means once the plastic has been carried there, it gets trapped there. Some 80 million kilograms of floating plastic have already accumulated in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in the Pacific Ocean alone, which is only one of the six large gyres worldwide.”

RanMarine is dedicated to capturing floating waste and plastics from the water before they break down into microplastics.
The original article and the link to the full NIOZ scientific report can be found here

OUR WATERWAYS WITHOUT PLASTIC.

Interview by Up!Rotterdam / Rotterdam Innovation City

The mission of RanMarine is to develop advanced technology specifically designed for cleaning up pollution, organic waste, and debris in waterways. Additionally, water quality is monitored, allowing proactive measures to be taken to improve water quality.

Founder Richard Hardiman: “The idea for RanMarine arose in 2016 when I saw a few guys pulling plastic out of the water with a fishing net in a harbor in South Africa. I thought: this can surely be made easier. I literally sketched the idea for what is now the WasteShark on a napkin.”

“By removing plastic from the water in time while it’s still floating, we try to reduce the risk of it breaking down into microplastics” Richard Hardiman, RanMarine

Since 2020, Richard and his family have moved to Rotterdam. “I tried to start my company in South Africa, but there are many more challenges there than in The Netherlands. I had done business in Rotterdam before, so I knew the city. When I read about a startup program I could participate in, I didn’t hesitate to sign up and travel to Rotterdam. The Netherlands has a very large volume of water, so I immediately thought: this is the place to bring my idea to life. Moreover, Rotterdam, with all its maritime expertise, is the ideal hotspot for my company.”

RanMarine has developed several autonomous surface vessels, commonly known as water drones. Operating on technology similar to that of robot vacuum cleaners, these aquatic drones come in various sizes and are tailored to different environments. Compact versions are suitable for rivers and canals, even between moored boats, while larger models are designed for ports and lakes. The flagship product is the WasteShark, a catamaran-style vessel that can operate both remotely or autonomously and is equipped with a waste collection bin between the floats.

Richard: “Actually, there should be a WasteShark everywhere because it’s often only purchased when waste is visible on the water. It’s better to anticipate, because if you remove waste and plastics in time, you do so before it breaks down into microplastics.”

Richard has big plans for the future. “I also see a collaboration with Hebo. Together, we are working on the development of an emission-free vessel for rapid response in removing small oil spills from waterways. Every day, I am feeling happy with my work. It’s a great feeling to be involved in something good. I see that reflected in my colleagues too. For example, Robotic Engineers can work anywhere, but they also choose to work for an organization like RanMarine that makes the world a better place.”

“Without Rotterdam, I would never have achieved what I have now. There is so much talent here. It’s truly a city of action! As a good Rotterdam saying goes: Actions speak louder than words. The TU Delft is nearby, while the port with all its knowledge is within easy reach. UpRotterdam has been immensely helpful in the process. With their network, they directed me to the right people and organizations. Sometimes I talk to friends in South Africa about my experiences starting my business, and they don’t believe me when I say that I received needed supported during the process. As a Dutch person, you might not fully realize how well things are organized here. 

To all new entrepreneurs, I would say: don’t be afraid to fail. There are plenty of opportunities in the Netherlands. Just take the risk, there is always a safety net here.”

Richard Hardiman is one of the Rotterdam Icons. Curious about the other Icons? Click here to meet them!
Original story here

PortsToronto Network Remove 43kg and Nearly 63,000 Small Pieces of Plastic Pollution from Toronto Harbour in 2023

Toronto (February 26, 2024) – PortsToronto and the University of Toronto Trash Team are
proud today to release the official results of the 2023 Trash Trapping Program’s research
season. From May through October 2023, PortsToronto’s network of trash traps, which includes
eight Seabins and two WasteSharks, removed 43kg of litter, including 62,996 pieces of small
plastic pollution from the Toronto Harbour. This includes items such as plastic pellets, pieces of
foam from food containers, plastic bottle caps, cigarette butts and fatbergs (*see description
below).

2023 Results and Findings
Tiny debris, including microplastics (items smaller than five-millimetres) remain by far the most
common items by count collected by Seabins. Plastic items in the environment eventually break down into microplastics (often irregularly shaped small fragments), which can make it difficult to determine their origins. This year, using the same methodology, the research team has begun to see signs of a decrease in the amount of microplastics collected in PortsToronto Seabins, which could suggest the benefits of additional outreach and education efforts toward waste reduction.
WasteSharks, which are equipped with a large catch basin, captured mostly large plastic
fragments – including large pieces of foam from construction and food containers, hard plastic
fragments, as well as plastic water bottles, caps, cups, lids and straws. Data also revealed that
fatbergs were within the top ten most commonly found items in both the Seabins and the
WasteSharks. *These rock-like masses are formed by the combination of fat, grease and
wastewater materials, including wet wipes and diapers, that are released with wastewater
redirected to the lake during heavy rainfall.
In August 2023, PortsToronto launched a pilot program with two RanMarine Technology-supplied WasteShark aquadrones. This pilot program represented a Canadian first for these innovative trash traps, which are remotely operated and skim the surface of the water to collect floating debris. Over the course of only three expeditions in October 2023, the Toronto WasteSharks “Ebb and Flow” collected 19.2 kilograms of floating trash, including nearly 600 pieces of microplastics. With a larger capacity and remote controlled agility, the Toronto WasteSharks are able to collect a higher volume of debris in a shorter period, collecting nearly the same amount as all the Seabins combined over the entire field season. These can also be piloted into problem areas such as the corners of slips where we know that debris and other material can accumulate.

Background of Program
Since 2019, PortsToronto and the University of Toronto Trash Team have collaborated on the
Trash Trapping Program, which employs trash trapping technology and solutions-based
research to tackle floating debris in the Toronto Harbour. Through this program, researchers
measure and analyse the debris and plastic pollution collected by trash traps in order to track
trends in floating debris, determine the source of the material and use data to identify upstream solutions. This data and key findings and shared in order to raise awareness and encourage behavioural and policy change that could help reduce and prevent floating debris in Toronto’s Harbour. To view detailed data, results and mitigation strategies identified during the 2023 research season, please consult the U of T Trash Team’s website.
The PortsToronto Trash Trapping Program is part of the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables
Strategy (Floatables Strategy), which is a collaborative strategy with a mission to reduce plastic
pollution and other floating litter in the harbour. The Floatables Strategy incorporates additional methods of and locations for capturing floating debris, including storm drains. Further detail and waste characterization results can be found here.
Follow along with us on social media @PortsToronto and @Toronto_Sharks, and view a video
summary of our 2023 Trash Trapping Program season, here.

Quotes
“Floating debris and plastic pollution in the water is not a problem unique to Toronto. We know that this is an issue prevalent in urban waterways around the world. What is unique about Toronto is that we have a coalition of like-minded organizations that have come together to find innovative solutions that leverage new technology and local research and trades to help make a difference,” says RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of PortsToronto. “Thank you to all partners who have contributed to the Trash Trapping Program’s progress thus far. We look forward to continuing this important work for years to come.”
“Our collaboration with PortsToronto is invaluable,” said Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Head of
Operations at the U of T Trash Team. “Together, we make a huge impact in our community. We
clean the inner harbour. We collect data to inform upstream solutions. We increase waste
literacy among the public. And, we provide summer jobs to many students that provide training in science and application.”

Fast Facts
 Researchers estimate that 10,000 metric tonnes of waste enter the Great Lakes each
year, much of it plastic.
 A common occurrence in urban waterways, floating debris comes from a variety of
sources – including overflowing or windblown trash bins at the water’s edge, storm water
runoff and industry.
 Anthropogenic (originating from human activity) debris, and microplastics in particular
can harm wildlife and contaminate drinking water, and negatively impact public
enjoyment of cherished shared water resources.

 Since the Trash Trapping Program’s launch in summer 2019, Seabins in the
PortsToronto network have removed hundreds of thousands of pieces of plastic debris
from the Toronto Harbour, moving the needle toward cleaner water in Lake Ontario.
 PortsToronto Seabins are deployed at four locations on the Toronto waterfront and at
the Outer Harbour Marina (4).
 In 2023, PortsToronto launched a pilot program with two WasteShark aquadrones,
known as the Toronto WasteSharks, Ebb and Flow.
 The WasteShark aquadrone is designed to skim the surface of the water to collect
floating debris and waste from the aquatic environment.

About PortsToronto
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed approximately 2.8 million passengers in 2019; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada’s largest freshwater marinas; and, Marine Terminal 52, which provides transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $14 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto’s waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.


About The University of Toronto Trash Team
The U of T Trash Team, co-founded in 2017, is a science-based community outreach
organization made up of undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, researchers, local
volunteers and staff all working together with a common goal to increase waste literacy in our
community while reducing plastic pollution in our ecosystems. Their local projects
use research to inform policy and management, and education and community outreach to
increase waste literacy, engage the public and implement effective solutions. Their ultimate goal is to inspire an assortment of solutions resulting in the global reduction of waste and healthier habitats for wildlife and people.


About the PortsToronto Trash Trapping Program

The PortsToronto Trash Trapping Program employs trash trapping technology and solutions-
based research to tackle plastic pollution and protect Toronto’s waters for future generations.

Since 2019, the Trash Trapping Program has removed hundreds of thousands of small pieces
of plastic pollution from the Toronto Harbour. It is led by PortsToronto and the U of T Trash
Team, in partnership with Swim Drink Fish, the Waterfront Business Improvement Area (WBIA)
and the City of Toronto BIA Office Innovation Grant, Nieuport Aviation, the Toronto Zoo,
Harbourfront Centre, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). It is part of the
Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy, a partnership led by TRCA, and of the International
Trash Trapping Network, an initiative led by the U of T Trash Team and Ocean Conservancy,
and has influenced the launch of similar trash trapping and data collection programs throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.

About the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy
The Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy (Floatables Strategy) is a collaborative strategy
with a mission to reduce plastic pollution and other floating litter in the harbour. It is a
collaboration between the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority the Toronto Remedial
Action Plan, University of Toronto Trash Team, PortsToronto, City of Toronto, Swim Drink
Fish, Waterfront Business Improvement Area, and Harbourfront Centre. Partners in Project
Green oversees the Floatables Strategy on behalf of the Toronto and Region Conservation
Authority.

Media Contact
Jessica Pellerin
Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs, PortsToronto jpellerin@portstoronto.com

Algae-based microrobots able to clean up plastic waste

Swarms of iron-clad algae have been built to sweep through bodies of water to collect elusive bits of micro- and nanoplastics. Meet the Microrobots!

Imagine you are but a piece of plastic, adrift in an endless ocean — a mere remnant of a once larger structure, the origin of which you do not recall. You are the product of many, many years of natural erosion, and yet you, invisible to the human eye, persist.

Moved by the ocean’s whims, your fate is likely to be consumed by whichever organism stumbles upon you first. But suddenly, a shadow looms overhead, and much to your disbelief, it is no fish or squid, but a green sphere covered in bits of black iron, moving towards you at unnatural speeds. You feel yourself being pulled towards it, and as you approach, you realize it’s also covered in many others like you.

Albeit a dramatic representation for effect, it hints at a remarkable development made possible by a team of researchers at the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) at Brno University of Technology.

By decorating green algae cells with ever so tiny particles of black iron oxide — also known as magnetite — the team created magnetic algae robots that can be controlled from a distance to sift the most elusive of plastics from the waters.

A mess to clean up

Let’s face it: we love plastics. They are cheap, flexible, and moldable, while also being very durable and light. This makes them extremely convenient materials for endless applications, and thus, their current widespread use.

However, these very advantages are also highly detrimental from an ecological perspective. Their rising levels of production, combined with their characteristic resistance to natural degradation, have led to huge quantities of plastic waste that will stay in the environment for anywhere between a few decades to several centuries.

Throughout this entire time, plastics in aquatic environments will break down into minute fragments that are categorized into microplastics (smaller than 5 mm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 1000 nm). These fragments are then ingested by fish and other aquatic organisms, causing physical harm, problems in digestion and reproduction, and potentially death.

They can also collect other pollutants present in the water, such as heavy metals and organic contaminants. These plastics and the contaminants they carry are transferred up the food chain, and scientists are still beginning to study what effects, if any, this might have on humans in the long run.

To try and clean this mess and mitigate the persistence of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, researchers have been developing all sorts of solutions. Unfortunately, these generally suffer from being too complex or expensive to carry out, or simply weren’t efficient enough.

This is where the robots come in.

Magnetic algae robots

To better target these tiny plastics, a team of researchers at CEITEC came up with the idea of creating equally tiny janitors that they could control. These tiny robots are not like the conventional mechanical machines we’re used to but are themselves micro/nano-sized particles made up of a combination of various functional materials.

“I was thinking I could find one cheap and mass-producible material to replace expensive metals,” said Xia Peng, a researcher and Ph.D. student at CEITEC, and primary author of the current study published in the Advanced Functional Materials journal. “Then algae cells just came to my mind.”

Dubbing them “magnetic algae robots” or MARs, Xia and her team decorated cells of Chlorella vulgaris (a species of green microalgae) with eco-friendly magnetite nanoparticles, which enable the MARs to be manipulated using an external magnetic field. These algae are not only biodegradable, but they are also easy and cheap to mass produce.

Another advantage is that their surface is riddled with chemical groups called carboxylic acids, which carry a negative electrostatic charge. “The surface charge of MARs is negative due to the presence of [carboxylic acid] groups, while the surface charge of the micro/nanoplastics selected is positive, which promotes the electrostatic attraction of targeted micro/nanoplastics, allowing for their capture and removal,” explained Xia.

The negatively charged algae attract positively charged micro/nanoplastics and keep them “glued” to themselves. This is also how the magnetite nanoparticles, which are positively charged, can be attached to the surface of the algae cells for remote magnetic control without requiring any complex processing.

Initial tests

For their tests, the team used a positively charged fluorescent variant of the ubiquitous plastic polystyrene, whose size varied from 2 μm to 50 nm. This fluorescent form glows under specific experimental conditions and enables the team to measure the quantity of plastic removed from water samples by the MARs, including deionized, tap, rain, and lake water.

They added MARs to these contaminated water samples, sent them on predefined trajectories under magnetic guidance — picking up the polystyrene in their path — and then examined the treated samples by comparing their levels of fluorescence intensity before and after the treatment.

“The most significant findings,” declared Xia, “were the successful capture of micro/nanoplastics […] with high removal efficiency for both nanoplastics (92%) and microplastics (70%).”

Not only that, but MARs could be recycled for further use by washing off the captured plastics. Small amounts of their magnetite coating were also washed away, but they still preserved around 80% efficiency for capturing nanoplastics and 54% for microplastics even after five cycles of washing, after which they could simply don a fresh coat of magnetite and be back to full potency.

“MARs could potentially be tested in salt water since their magnetically driven movement is not affected by salinity,” mentioned Xia. “However, the study is still in the initial stage.

“It’s important to further study the biodegradability and potential long-term environmental effects of these nanoparticles to ensure they do not lead to toxicity issues.” But things seem promising on that front.

“Generally, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are considered biocompatible and have been already employed in various environmental and biomedical applications,” said Xia. “In addition, in our case, the nanoparticles can be easily collected by a permanent magnet at the end of the process, ensuring that no particles are left to contaminate the water.”

Further development

Not all plastics polluting our waters are positively charged, though. Many are negatively charged under normal aquatic conditions, meaning MARs wouldn’t be able to capture them through their current built-in electrostatic interactions.

“Our system on the initial experimental stage is kind of limited because MARs only could capture positively charged plastics,” said Xia. “In the future, I also would like to develop a system that can capture negatively charged micro/nanoplastics. But now, I need time to think about it.

“I think the utilization of natural sources, like algae cells, to accomplish specific tasks is highly promising. I believe if developed enough, MARs would be sufficient to deal with the recovery of micro/nanoplastics.

“It’s possible they could complement other methods rather than entirely replace them. This may include their combination with other functional nanoparticles, which can allow MARs to perform other tasks.”

Reference: Martin Pumera, et al., Biohybrid Magnetically Driven Microrobots for Sustainable Removal of Micro/Nanoplastics from the Aquatic Environment, Advanced Functional Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202307477

Feature image: Algae-based microrobots under fluorescence. Credit: Xia Peng, et al.

Story 1st appeared on www.advancedsciencenews.com by Diogo Pinheiro | Oct 26, 2023

IoT: Pioneering the Future of Aquatic Conservation in Partnership with Deutsche Telekom [Video]

VIDEO LINK> Explore the synergy between RanMarine and Deutsche Telekom IoT in our exclusive insight into the collaborative efforts reshaping the future of aquatic conservation. Discover how this innovative partnership merges RanMarine’s cutting-edge autonomous aquatic drones with Deutsche Telekom’s advanced technology solutions. Gain a behind-the-scenes look at the impactful initiatives driving sustainable change, tackling global water pollution, and preserving aquatic ecosystems. Join us in unveiling the transformative power of technology and environmental stewardship as we dive into the dialogue between two visionary forces shaping a cleaner, healthier world.

Marine bacteria bite into plastic pollution

24 October 2023
Researchers at Hokkaido University, working with colleagues at the Mitsubishi Chemical Group in Japan claim to have determined Bacteria found in the sea can degrade plastics that would otherwise resist microbial breakdown in marine environments.

Read more here

A Trash-Eating Sea Monster Appears in the Hudson!

A team of scientists and environmentalists tests out the WasteShark, an unmanned watercraft that vacuums up soda cans and potato-chip bags.

WasteShark is not a shark. It is an unmanned watercraft that its creators named for a shark, owing to similarities between how WasteShark collects its prey and the feeding habits of the Rhincodon typus, or whale shark. Cruising slowly, the whale shark takes in water and filters it for plankton and krill; WasteShark, meanwhile, filters urban waters for trash. But, whereas the whale shark can grow to the length of a subway car, WasteShark is only five feet long, three and a half feet wide, and a foot and a half thick. As the bright-orange fibreglass craft floated on the Hudson River recently, off Pier 40—collecting trash at or near the surface in its wire-basket-like interior—it looked less like a fish than like something accidentally dropped from a cruise liner. “I thought it was somebody’s luggage,” a member of the Village Community Boathouse said, after WasteShark whisked past.

When full, WasteShark’s hold is emptied by its minders—in this case, Carrie Roble, a scientist who is in charge of research and education at Hudson River Park, and Siddhartha Hayes, who oversees the park’s environmental monitoring. Hayes grew up jumping into swimming holes in the Catskills, while Roble swam in metropolitan Detroit, affording her insight into a still widely held view of urban rivers. “I used to swim in the Detroit River, and people would see me and say, ‘I can’t wait to see your third arm,’ ” she said.

WasteShark, which costs twenty thousand dollars, is joining the park’s scientific team more as mascot than as player. Roble hopes that it will generate interest among passersby and among “field assistants” (interns), who will pilot the trash-eating drone this summer. “We see WasteShark as a tool,” she said.

WasteShark’s latest test run in the Hudson happened to take place on the very day that forest fires in Quebec turned New York into a Mars-scape, adding a sense of urgency to WasteShark’s mission. As Roble and Hayes wheeled it out on a dolly from Pier 40’s Wetlab, the park’s aquarium and field station, they donned N95 masks and life jackets, and were joined by two interns: Vivian Chavez, a student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and Stefan Valdez, from Lehman College, in the Bronx.

They lugged WasteShark down a gangway to a dock floating in a cove bounded by Pier 40 and the pier leading to the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft—discharging carbon monoxide and pulling in what was passing that day for fresh air. A wake caused by a ferry buffeted the dock, sending an observer to his knees. Hayes knelt by WasteShark, touching its stern. “O.K., so these are the thrusters,” he said, pressing the start button. “I’m holding it until it’s blue.”

Roble detailed WasteShark’s features—a camera, sensors for measuring depth and temperature—while managing expectations. In 2020, Roble and Hayes published, in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, a comprehensive analysis of the lower Hudson estuary’s high levels of microplastics, against which WasteShark is powerless. WasteShark is the robotic assistant to a volunteer shoreline trash pickup. “For that plastic water bottle that is just out of reach,” Roble explained.

They lowered WasteShark off the edge and, with a handheld controller, turned on the thrusters, which propelled the craft quietly. Chavez took the controls. “It kind of feels like you’re walking your pet,” Roble told her, “ ’cause we end up following it along.”

As the skies darkened, Chavez smiled and set a course for some rejectamenta. Roble mused about potential attachments, including one that resembles an Arctic fox, to deter congregating Canada geese, which are a threat to passenger jets. “Or maybe googly eyes,” she said.

Chavez attributed her immediate proficiency to her gaming skills, recently honed via the latest Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom. She handed the controller to Valdez, who steered WasteShark toward the West Street shore. “I think it handles well,” he said.

“They are the guinea pigs, and they are basically loving it,” Roble said, pleased.

A waft of trash came up from under the pier, and a gaggle of high schoolers walked out onto the pier to take pictures of the orange sky. “It’s the end of the world,” one of them shouted—then he spotted WasteShark. “Wait, are you guys monitoring something?”

After an hour, WasteShark was heaved onto the dock, and Roble and Hayes, wearing surgical gloves, picked through its haul: a baseball, bits of wood, a Diet Coke can, a water chestnut, a cigar wrapper, a toy-A.T.V. part (“Always a lot of toys,” Roble said), an amphipod, a glop of gray mush not immediately identifiable, a bag of Utz barbecue-flavored Ripples, bladder wrack, seaweed (“Good adaptation,” Hayes said), a Canada-goose gosling (deceased), a coffee-cup lid, and an Amazon bag.

By Robert Sullivan July 24, 2023 See article on link