Cleaner coasts: Turning the tide on trash capture
June 12, 2025
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Trash pollution is impacting our coastal communities. Innovative solutions for trash capture can give us cleaner beaches. Here’s how.
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Imagine a world where waterways are free of trash. It might sound like a stretch, but it’s a vision many of us share.
Trash pollution is a big issue in coastal communities. It affects both the environment and community health. The downstream impacts on municipal beaches are often severe. And it’s not just a beach covered in “typical trash” like styrofoam and plastics. Organic and vegetative waste also contributes to the problem.
We’ve seen how our beaches have changed over time through our personal experiences growing up and working along the coast. Before we tell you about solutions to cleaner beaches, let us tell you about ourselves and why this matters so much to us.
Jon’s story: One beach, two very different eras
I grew up along Santa Monica Bay, where the beach was my second home, from early morning volleyball to long walks on the pier with my family. Back in the early 2000s, the shore felt cleaner. Sure, there was some litter after busy weekends, things like soda cans and food wrappers, but nothing too serious. It felt manageable, like the ocean could still breathe.
Now, it’s a different story. I see microplastics in the sand, cigarette butts, face masks, and delivery packaging scattered everywhere. After storms, the tide line is clogged with plastic debris, bottle caps, snack wrappers, and broken bits of who knows what. Even with cleanups and bans, it feels like we’re always behind. The Los Angeles coastline is still beautiful, but it’s also a reminder of how much our habits have changed and how urgently we need to protect what’s left.
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Floating debris and trash accumulate in the Los Angeles River, partially contained by a barrier system.
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Mike’s story: From field notes to real solutions
I started my environmental consulting career in the late 1990s, monitoring projects near major rivers in Southern California. One memory that’s stuck with me is the sheer amount of trash that would wash into the ocean during rainstorms. It was staggering.
Now, more than two decades later, I’m proud to be part of the solution. I work with coastal communities to tackle marine pollution head-on. With more trash-capture projects on the horizon, I’m hopeful we can make a real difference in this global challenge.
Ed’s story: Reimagining the LA River
I use my engineering skills to help turn rivers into healthy, thriving ecosystems that reduce flood risk, clean the air, cool surrounding areas, and support the biodiversity we all depend on. As a board member of Friends of the Los Angeles River, I bring an open-minded and resourceful approach to reimagining how people see the LA River.
One area I’m especially passionate about is advocating for innovative in-river technologies that stop trash before it reaches our beaches. These solutions don’t just protect the coastline. They help people see the LA River as a vital part of our region’s sustainability story.
Trash is our problem
Trash is a human-caused issue. And we need to step in to protect our ecosystems and communities. In 2024, residential sources in Los Angeles County produced 246,124 tons of plastic waste. Commercial sources added even more—628,211 tons. By addressing trash pollution through trash capture, we can better support a healthy environment and the well-being of our communities.
We’re helping our Southern California communities do just that. We’re working with cities and nonprofit organizations to make our beaches cleaner. Our focus? Advancing trash-capture initiatives through permitting and project management.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the issue of trash pollution in coastal communities and the solutions to address it. We’ll explore how trash makes its way to our beaches and the technologies used to capture it. We’ll also examine the practical uses, impacts on the environment, and community involvement in these initiatives. Then, we’ll discuss future innovations for cleaner coastal environments.
How does trash end up on the beach?
Trash pollution often starts in urban or industrial areas and gets worse as it travels downstream. It reaches the ocean through storm drains or waterways, polluting nearby beaches when it washes ashore.
The goal? To stop trash from entering stormwater systems in the first place. To tackle this problem effectively, we need to understand the upstream issues and the history of trash policy.
The California State Water Resources Control Board has standards to keep trash out of the stormwater system. These standards outline requirements to meet different stormwater discharge permits before it reaches bodies of water. While agencies sort out funding, we need solutions downstream—now. That’s where the trash-capture systems come in.
" }Trash is a human-caused issue. And we need to step in to protect our ecosystems and communities.
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Creative ways cities are keeping trash out of the water
Municipalities in Southern California have come up with various ways to keep trash from reaching the beaches. They’re using all sorts of technologies, from simple booms and drain inserts to fancy hydrodynamic separators and water wheels. We’ve even seen some cool stuff like The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor 007™.
Local governments have a lot to think about when picking a waste-removal technology. They need to figure out which agencies and stakeholders are involved. And they also need to consider any environmental or design constraints.
Organizations also need a feasibility study. It will look at costs, funding, and data usage. This study looks at existing mitigation efforts, pollutant sources, trash volume and type, and the characteristics of the waterway. Human safety is super important, especially for big flood-control channels or nearby projects. Each technology has its pros and cons.
Alright, let’s get into the details. Funding sources, maintenance needs, and community input are key for these projects to succeed. There are tons of grants and funding options available at the state level, especially in California. Some projects even get big bucks for multi-benefit initiatives that help clean up the environment.
What’s working in real-world trash capture projects
Some of our recent work highlights effective ways to use trash-capture technologies. The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor 007™ in Ballona Creek and the Trash Water Wheel in Newport Bay are great examples. These projects have been successful, with visible improvements in before-and-after comparisons.
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Aerial view of The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor system actively collecting plastic waste near the mouth of Ballona Creek, with guiding barriers channeling debris toward the vessel. (Credit: The Ocean Cleanup)
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The Interceptor 007™ is the first tool of this sort to be permitted in California and the first of its kind deployed in North America. And it’s proving the effectiveness of these downstream technologies. During storm events, Ballona Creek gets trash and debris from the upper watershed storm drain systems and nonpoint sources. The creek flows through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve before emptying into Santa Monica Bay. The Interceptor 007™ is a solar-powered, autonomous system. It captures and extracts plastic and debris from Ballona Creek, keeping it from reaching the Pacific Ocean.
The Interceptor 007™ is highly effective and was the right solution for Ballona Creek. However, trash-capture technologies aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s important for clients to evaluate their individual needs to help them choose the best one.
What to consider when installing trash-capture systems
Installing and using these devices can have an impact on the environment. This is especially true when it comes to their placement and technology. It’s important to study environmental sensitivities and any potential limitations. We need to think about the effects on local plants and animals, water quality, and changes in flow dynamics.
We also have to make sure the design considers the location of the agencies in charge. Because these projects are in coastal areas, they tend to be quite complex regarding regulatory jurisdictions. Federal, state, and local agencies are often involved. In California, there is an average of 10 agencies per project.
When we took on the Ballona Creek pilot project, we knew it came with some big challenges—but we also saw a clear path forward. Here’s how we tackled it, step by step:
- We started with the rules: Our team has years of experience navigating environmental permitting, so our first move was making sure the project met every requirement—local, state, and federal. No surprises mean no delays.
- Then the big question: Is this the right spot? Project partners and stakeholders were brought together to evaluate whether Ballona Creek was the best fit. It was all about making smart, informed decisions from the start.
- We made it easy for the community to get involved: To build interest and trust, we created educational signage that answered common questions. It helped people understand the project and feel part of the process.
- And we leaned into innovation: We have a strong relationship with the county. And we are open to new technology. Those two things helped us build credibility and show that the project would deliver real environmental benefits with minimal downsides.
How clean beaches support health, tourism, and pride
Trash capture offers obvious benefits for the environment. But successful trash-capture technologies go further. They can also drive economic benefits, boost tourism, and improve human health.
We have a big milestone coming up in Southern California, and it’s crucial to tackle trash on beaches before it arrives. In 2028, the LA region will host the Olympics. We want to highlight pristine beaches and waterways designated for beach volleyball and rowing events in Long Beach, and the swimming segment of the triathlon at Venice Beach.
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A kayaker floats near the Interceptor 007™.
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Even outside the Olympics, a major part of our state’s revenue comes from tourism. Trash-strewn beaches hurt our economy. The California Coastal Commission notes that unsightly trash on beaches detracts from tourism. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) estimates a loss of $622 million per year in tourism revenue due to littered beaches in the APEC region. Most importantly, these trash-removal strategies improve the health and recreation of residents who use these spaces daily.
A cleaner coastline is within reach
Tackling trash pollution is crucial for our environment and community health. While we live and play in Southern California, these issues matter to all coastal communities. Innovative trash-capture technologies are key to this effort, and ongoing research and development are vital for future success. There are ways we can make progress in reducing trash pollution and protecting our coastlines. This is how it starts:
- Focusing on in-stream technologies
- Understanding trash-generation rates
- Involving the community
We need both long-term and short-term solutions to keep trash out of our waterways. The future of trash-capture technologies looks bright with successful pilots and ongoing research. Expanding these technologies to other regions and exploring innovations will be essential in continuing the fight against trash pollution. We’re excited to be part of the solution.
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