How plastic pollution became a global emergency

4ocean is trying to curb plastic pollution in the Motagua River, Guatemala. In 4 years it collected 1.8 million kg of waste

Plastic pollution is one of the grimmest environmental catastrophes of recent decades. Perhaps illustrative of this problem is the Motagua River in Guatemala, which is responsible for carrying some 40 million pounds of plastic waste into the ocean annually.

It is considered that the river contributes to 2% of plastic appearing in the ocean every year. While the problem keeps growing, several organizations take serious efforts to clean up the river and raise local awareness. Probably, the biggest campaign is organized by 4ocean-a US-based startup committed to combating plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.

4ocean: an international mission

The company was founded by Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper in 2017. As of today, 4ocean has expanded its operations to Guatemala, Indonesia, and the United States. The company’s approach to cleanup goes beyond merely waste collection to include creative reusing of the debris and turning them into products, from bracelets to construction material.

4ocean by numbers

In Guatemala, 4ocean installed an upstream containment boom on the Motagua River that intercepts plastic debris before it reaches the sea. It became so effective that it was able to catch 68,000 pounds of waste in just one year’s time.

Notably, since the inception of the cleanup in 2020, there is the remarkable success that 4ocean has been able to remove 4 million pounds of debris and waste. The crew gathers an average catch of 720 pounds each day. Problems persist when the rainy seasons set in due to the strength of the currents that at times damages the barriers set up.

Aside from the cleaning process, 4ocean educates local communities on the need for reduced pollution and waste management. The company works directly with local populations through hiring workers to collect wastes and raise environmental awareness.

The founder of 4ocean, Schulze, regardless of the results obtained so far, stresses that cleaning would not solve the problem. The change in the way plastic is produced and used, together with global and widespread education, is needed for the long-term solution.