20 May 2022

Catchy 2 takes up the fight with trash in the Nieuwe Maas River

Allseas’ latest waste collection system Catchy 2  accumulates plastics and other trash from the Nieuwe Maas River before it flows out into the North Sea and ultimately our oceans, threatening the environment, marine life and human health. Located under Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge, the system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, collecting both floating and submerged waste. Catchy 2  works entirely on tide and current, and thanks to its robust design is not limited by weather conditions.

System launch
Catchy 2  was officially launched on Thursday 19 May. Soprano Isabella Scholte performed an aria on the quayside next to the system, which lured litter to Catchy 2  like a siren from Greek mythology.

“Working every day at sea, we are committed to the effort to clean our oceans by developing systems to collect waste in rivers and waterways before it can spread to our oceans”, says Edward Heerema, President and CEO of Allseas at the ceremony. “With Catchy 2  at this central location in Rotterdam, we are raising awareness that reducing plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans require a collective approach if they are to succeed.”

The Rotterdam Vice Mayor for Sustainability Arno Bonte welcomes the new plastic catcher with open arms. “Rotterdam is committed to making the North Sea plastic-free, together with residents and businesses. That starts with using less plastic and preventing plastic from ending up in the water. The final link in the chain are plastic catchers like Catchy 2, which collect plastics in our rivers before it ends up in the sea.”

How Catchy 2  works
The system comprises three key components: two floating booms, a collection cage and a floating frame. The booms guide waste floating on and below the surface into the collection cage. The collection cage is held in place by the floating frame. When full, the cage is emptied and the waste recycled. Collected plastic is used for the production of concrete blocks for quay protection.

Collective approach
Efforts to clean our rivers and oceans require a collective approach if they are to succeed. The development and deployment of Catchy 2  has received funding from the EU’s LIFE programme under LIFE17 ENV/NL/000339 and made possible thanks to a financial contribution from the Municipality of Rotterdam and contributions from a group of valued partners. By raising awareness and increasing public involvement, we can actively contribute to the mission to rid our rivers and oceans of plastic pollution.

Read more about Allseas’ other environmental sustainability efforts.
More information about Allseas’ systems for river plastic collection can be found here.

Catchy 2  has been realised with support of the following valued partners: