The NGO **Clean Ocean**, dedicated to cleaning **seas and rivers**, has focused its efforts on one of the [most contaminated tributaries in the world](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/el-exodo-forzado-pueblo-boliviano-huye-de-un-rio-contaminado-con-cianuro/): the **Las Vacas River**, located in the **Chinautla municipality**, in the capital of **Guatemala**.
This river carries up to **40 tons of garbage daily**, including:
– Discarded plastics and clothing.
– Organic waste and sewage.
– Even corpses in some cases.
The situation is critical, and Clean Ocean has identified that to clean the oceans, it is necessary to first stop **river pollution**.
## A strategy to protect health and generate employment
**Barbara Derks**, business developer at the NGO, explained that after years of work, they determined that attacking the **sources of pollution** is key to achieving a positive impact.
“We conducted a study on the most contaminated rivers in the world and among them was Las Vacas,” commented **Derks**.
In addition to improving **water quality and public health**, cleaning these rivers can create job opportunities and allow the population to enjoy **beaches free of plastics**.
## Technological solutions to stop garbage
Since 2022, Clean Ocean implemented a [system of **collector barriers**](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/instalan-una-ecobarda-profesional-en-el-arroyo-escobar-para-mejorar-la-proteccion-ambiental/) in the Las Vacas River.
These structures include:
– **Giant metal mesh with stainless steel cylinders**.
– **Anchorage on the riverbanks**, allowing only water to flow, retaining solid waste.
This system manages to stop **tons of garbage**, facilitating its subsequent removal.
## Classification and reuse of plastic
**Guillermo Sosa**, operations manager at **Clean Ocean**, explained that **garbage interceptors capture floating waste**, although sinking waste **continues to move downstream**.
Once the plastics are collected, they are sent to a **sorting plant** installed on the riverbank.
The extracted materials are **reused in commercial products**, including:
– **Recycled vinyl**, such as those manufactured in 2023 by the British band **Coldplay**, using plastic bottles from the Las Vacas River.
## Impact and effectiveness of the project
Clean Ocean has installed **two garbage interceptors** in the tributary, managing to clean **up to 90% of the river**.
However, the **remaining 10% of waste** that cannot be captured continues its course towards the **ocean**, reinforcing the need to **expand these initiatives**.
This effort not only helps the **environment**, but also represents an **effective solution to reduce global pollution**, transforming waste into **reusable materials**.
With projects like Las Vacas, Clean Ocean demonstrates that **local action is essential to solving global environmental problems**.
