Trapping trash, saving the Long Island Sound

The Collec’Thor is a large device affixed to the docks of the marina, which attracts and engulfs solid or liquid waste floating on the surface of the water. These include plastic bottles, cigarette filters or plastic bags, which tend to float on the surface and pose a direct risk to seagulls, turtles and many other types of marine life.

These devices work continuously using a small pump to draw in surrounding water and skims any floating debris using its receptacle. The Collec’Thor can contain up to roughly 220 pounds of waste before needing to be emptied, which according to town officials will occur at least once a week, depending on necessity. 

The Searial Cleaners, the company which produces Collec’Thor, claims on its website that the waste collector is totally silent, so it won’t disturb anyone trying to enjoy a summer day at the beach or getting on their boats. It is also touted to be easy to clean and use, reducing maintenance costs.

The announcement for the project came at the Tappen Beach Marina on Aug. 18, where numerous public officials and representatives from environmental groups and departments were gathered. Town representatives asserted that this was the first government project to use Collec’Thors to keep local waters clean in the United States.

“Today we launch a new environmental initiative, the first ever in the United States,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “As the first of its kind, Collec’Thor is a superhero fighting to protect our environment.”

The town was able to pay for this project thanks to the money it received from a grant through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. The fund is a branch of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which supports the project to restore the health and living resources of the Long Island Sound.

With the $82,000 from the grant the town was able to purchase and install two Collec’Thors in the marina, which by the time of the press conference already had collected one empty plastic bottle. 

Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Vicki Walsh pointed out that the program will not only benefit the waters directly but will also help educate young people about environmental awareness. This will be done through a partnership with Oyster Bay High School’s Environmental Science Club, who will be helping to remove the collected waste and performing analytics on it, studying the effects of plastic degradation in salt water.

“Through their analytical data, students now will be able to see how plastic pollution affects our waterways locally, such an important lesson for all of us,” Walsh said. “As a mom of high school students, I’m absolutely thrilled with this program.”

The town will also be working with several environmental groups on the project, including Friends of the Bay and Cornell University’s Cornell Cooperative Extension. The Cooperative Extension is a collaborative organization between the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Science and College of Human Ecology, which aims to put knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being.

Vanessa Lockel, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, explained to the crowd the importance of prioritizing the environmental condition of Long Island and ensuring the Sound, and the island, are healthy and safe.

“The impacts and the effects to our region have always been not only devastating to us, but a learning experience where we always make the environment a priority and make sure the integrity of Long Island is always sustained,” Lockel said.