The Ocean Cleanup & Kia Support Guatemala with Initiative to Stop Plastic Pollution From Reaching the World’s Oceans - CleanTechnica

The Ocean Cleanup and Kia have partnered with the Guatemalan government and local organizations to prevent approximately 20,000 tons of plastic waste carried annually by the Motagua and Las Vacas rivers from reaching the Caribbean Sea. This initiative involves deploying two advanced floating trash capture systems—Interceptor 006 and the larger Interceptor 021—to intercept and remove plastic debris before it pollutes marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Honduras, a highly biodiverse area. Since installation, these systems have extracted over 23,000 tons of waste, demonstrating a significant local effort with global environmental implications. Kia’s collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup, established in 2022, aligns with its sustainability goals, including increasing the use of recycled plastics in its vehicles. Beyond supporting ocean cleanup efforts like those in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Kia aids in logistical, financial, and advocacy aspects of the project. Captured plastics are sorted for recycling or repurposing, with some transformed into consumer products such as limited-edition vinyl records