The giant 'pac-man' could gobble up plastic from the ocean: system could remove 90% of waste by 2040

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Researchers hoping to deploy a 600-meter plastic-sweeper to the Pacific Ocean to clean up the notorious floating Great Garbage Patch have already conducted critical tests off the coast of San Francisco

The gigantic 'pac man' system consists of a 600-meter-long floating tube that sits at the surface of the water, with a tapered 3-meter-deep skirt attached below to catch plastic waste.

It harnesses the power of wind and surface waves to autonomously sweep through the area, gathering up plastic waste as it goes.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-giant-pac-man-that-could-gobble-up-plastic-from-the-ocean-radical-system-could-remove-90percent-of-waste-by-2040/ar-AAAmtjD?ocid=spartandhp

[msongs]

1. what happens to all the plant/animal life that's living in the debris. hmm nt

[lapfog_1]

2. 60 of these "pacman" systems are needed

to get rid of 90% by 2040 (approx 20 years of operation)

Plus they have to be serviced every 2 months to empty the catch.

So... a service call every day.

OTOH, 50% reduction in plastic waste in 5 years... so that's good.

the plastic degrades over time into tiny bits... presumably this system take this into consideration and filters the micro particles out of the water too... however, I worry about the system only reaching 3 meter below the surface... and how well the system works in storms or high wave action.

The claim is that the system is antonymous... but I wonder if they need to be tended or monitored more frequently than the once every 2 month unload visit.

Still this is a great move forward... and I hope they get more funds to actually deploy this should the trial system prove functional.