Clever waste management system for our waterways

Less than three years after making its debut on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, the floating rubbish collection device known as the ‘Seabin’ has gone from strength to strength.

Designed to reduce and ultimately eliminate pollution in our waterways, the Seabin is a simple concept coupled with an innovative design. The system is placed in the water and fixed to a floating dock; there is also a shore-based water pump on the dock running on shore power. The water pump creates a flow of water into the bin, bringing with it all the floating rubbish and debris in the area. The debris is caught in a natural fibre catch bag and the water is then sucked out the bottom of the bin and up to the water pump, where it is then pumped back into the marina.

 

In May and June this year, 210 Seabins were installed in waterways around the world, taking the total number of functioning Seabins worldwide to 232. This means 646 kg of rubbish are being extracted from the world’s waterways every day, with nearly 40 tonnes of litter collected in May and June alone.

“We have many more marinas investing in Seabins because they see a value add for their marina business that benefits from maintaining a clean water environment for their clients,” said Pete Ceglinski, CEO and co-founder of Seabin Group.

There are now six trial Seabins in the ports of Dubai, with a further 28 units to be installed on the waterfront on completion of the trial. Seven Seabins are also currently on trial in Paris for preparation of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. In a similar format to Dubai, if the trial proves successful, the City of Paris will be looking to use Seabin technology to help maintain its waterways on a broad scale.

Meanwhile, a singular Seabin unit is being trialled in an undisclosed Australian city for the next four weeks. On completion of the trial, the technology is to be considered as an addition to the already impressive portfolio of solutions for floating waste within the city’s waterways jurisdiction.

With a newly intensified focus on Australian waterways, it is projected that there will be between 50 and 60 Seabins in Australian waters by December. Ceglinski emphasised the importance of hitting the ground running in his home country, stating, “While our early progress has been in the ports and marinas of Europe, our next objective is to clean up the water that we grew up enjoying.

“Not only are we planning on vast Seabin installations, but Australia is now our headquarters for global operations and research and development, so our team is projected to expand rapidly here on home shores.”

Seabin Group will be searching for a CEO for its new non-profit entity, The Seabin Foundation, on completion of its current fundraising round in an effort to scale up its Australian operations this year. The company has also announced the launch of Seabin Services, giving Seabin operators an official servicing and support agency to complement their waste removal efforts. Seabin Services holds Queensland distribution rights and will be working with industrial partner Poralu Marine to assist with Seabin sales across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

The technology was demonstrated today at the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, with local waterways authorities, government, businesses and local communities in attendance. Seabin Group will also be attending the Sydney Boat Show, held from 2–6 August; TEDxAuckland, on 13 October; and the METS trade show in Amsterdam from 14–16 November — the largest marine trade show in the world.

“Our progress over the last six months has been astonishing,” said Ceglinski. “It is a testament to the willingness of communities around the world to fight for cleaner oceans. But there’s still so much work to be done. We need to continue to educate people about the harmful nature of waste in our waterways. Our dream from the very beginning has been that we could live in a world where Seabins were not necessary and that hasn’t changed.”

Images credit: Elliot Kirkwood Photography.