78 Tons Of Trash Lifted From Ocean In Interceptor's First Storm Season

MARINA DEL REY, CA — After an intense storm season tested the country's only automated trash interceptor in Ballona Creek, officials said the machine rose to the challenge and surpassed initial expectations.

Between the start of the storm season in October and the end in April, Los Angeles Public Works officials said Interceptor 007 successfully prevented almost 78 tons of trash and debris, including metals and plastics, from entering the Santa Monica Bay and local beaches.

"The Interceptor pilot program has yielded numerous benefits not only in helping to combat pollution in the Ballona Creek, but also in fostering innovation and learning, as well as promoting collaboration and partnerships among local and international partners," LA Public Works spokesperson Lisette Guzman said.

Interceptor 007 launched on Oct. 22 and was provided completely free by the Dutch non-profit organization The Ocean Cleanup to help put a bigger spotlight on conservation efforts. Guzman said the interceptor raises awareness about the impact of pollution in local waterways and encourages people to be more active in protecting natural resources.

So far, the machine is halfway through its first year of the two-year pilot project program, and Guzman said it has strengthened the community's commitment to protecting the environment and set a precedent for future projects.

"The beaches of LA are world famous, so if we can show the effect here, I think that message will travel far and wide," The Ocean Cleanup's CEO Boyan Slat said. "This might actually become the most important interceptor that we will ever deploy."

Now that the official storm season is over, the flow of water at Ballona Creek is not as heavy so officials removed the interceptor's second boom to account for the milder flow. Guzman said the interceptor will continue to work as normal to collect more trash and debris with one boom deployed.

The second boom is on standby pending any additional forecasted storms and will be returned when the next storm season beings.

The Public Works Department is working on an end-of-season report that will reflect the findings after the interceptor's first storm season, Guzman said. The official report will be available to the public sometime next month.