The mission to clean up one of Central America’s most polluted rivers

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Motagua River in Guatemala, one of Central America's most polluted rivers, sees 40 million pounds of trash enter the ocean annually
• The startup 4ocean has installed a containment boom 30 miles upstream to capture debris, collecting 100,000 pounds of trash since 2023

🔭 The context: 4ocean, founded after a surfing trip in Bali, aims to tackle plastic pollution by removing waste from waterways and repurposing it into products
• Their work in Guatemala faces challenges, including damage to the boom during heavy storms

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Motagua River’s pollution contributes significantly to global ocean plastic, with potential harmful effects on marine life and local communities dependent on fishing

⏭️ What's next: 4ocean and other organizations, like The Ocean Cleanup, continue to improve infrastructure and raise awareness to reduce plastic pollution at the source and involve local communities in conservation efforts

💬 One quote: "We have to stop it at the source and turn off the tap." - Alex Schulze, co-founder of 4ocean

📈 One stat: The boom has captured 100,000 pounds of trash since 2023, a small but crucial step in addressing the river’s pollution

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