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Meet The Trash Interceptor Called 007 That Is Working To Clean Up The Mess From This Storm
Ballona Creek's 007 trash interceptor is now working on the trash from the latest storm.
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Courtesy Business Wire
)
Topline:
Los Angeles County's Trash Interceptor 007 is experiencing its first winter storm season and it's on a mission to collect tons of floating trash from Ballona Creek near Playa del Rey.
Why it matters: This month alone, the solar-powered barge swallowed about 5 1/2 tons of garbage. That brings its total to more than 60 tons of debris collected since October — which is more than what the county estimates typically flows out of rivers and streams annually and into the ocean.
Why now: The "exceptional" amount of trash comes after three years of drought, according to Kerjon Lee of the county's public works department. Lee told us:
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"So what you have is a cleansing of the system or a purging of the system and if we don't catch it it often ends towards the ocean."
What's next: The stuff collected by the trash inceptor then gets offloaded and sorted for recycling. The device is being paid for and tested during a two-year pilot program by the Dutch nonprofit The Ocean Clean-Up.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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