The 6accumulation of plastics, cans and other waste has become one of the most 7prominent examples of the environmental crisis 8engulfingthe planet, threatening not just 9marine life, but also humans.
"So plastic pollution is one of the largest threats our ocean faces today. It's 10ravaging 11ecosystems. There are more than 100 species threatened with 12extinction because of plastic."
Boyan Slat is the CEO of a company called The Ocean Cleanup. Six years ago, they sent two ships out to the garbage patch in an effort to develop technology to clean it up for good. On Friday, those same two ships made their way back into San Francisco Bay. This time, having developed the technology needed for the massive 13undertaking.
Slat says the only thing preventing that from becoming a reality now is money.
"Once that's secured, we can 14ramp this up in about two, three years, and then the clock starts running. And we can clear up the patch in potentially just five years."
Slat estimates the total cost would be somewhere between $4 and $7.5 billion. 15A small price to pay, says Matthias Egger. Egger was one of the scientists on the 16expeditions who helped develop the technology needed for the cleanup, a system of netting, cameras, and computers powered by artificial intelligence.
"You have big waves and you have a 17harsh environment. And to build something that's actually surviving out there while at the same time only make sure you catch plastic and not marine life, that was quite a challenge."
Once the trash is pulled from the sea, it's then sorted on the ships and ultimately recycled.
