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What is System 001/B?

          The Ocean Cleanup, launched its second attempt of garbage collection in June 2019. They developed a self-contained, U-shaped system called System 001/B that uses natural forces of the ocean to passively catch plastic and concentrate it against the screen. Comparable to an “ocean rake”, it consists of a 525-foot-long floater pipe and a detached screen that captures plastic debris to a depth of 10 feet. The pipe sits on the surface of water and has a skirt that prevents debris from escaping underneath. Natural oceanic forces, like wind, waves, and the current, push waste into the barrier. In addition to collecting visible plastic debris, the system can successfully capture microplastics as small as 1 millimeter.

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