Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish!

The organisation Ocean Cleanup has launched its first giant tube to collect rubbish in the Pacific Ocean.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• water current - a continuous movement of water or air in the same direction
• in a V-shape - in the shape of the letter V
• to capture - to catch
• to funnel - to put something through a narrow opening
• discard - to throw away
• to tweak - to change something a little bit in order to make it better
• to let loose - to allow (someone or something) to move or go freely

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. When did Boyan Slat get his idea for finding ways to help reduce the (plastic) rubbish in the ocean?


2. Name one big difference between paper or cardboard and plastic.


3. How many pieces of plastic are floating around in the ocean according to scientists?


4. Describe how Boyan’s invention works.


5. How many “giant snakes” is Boyan’s organisation Ocean Cleanup planning to use to collect rubbish by 2020?