Talk:The Ocean Cleanup
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Reply 21-MAY-2026
Clarification requested
- To expedite your request, it would help if you could provide the following information:
- Exact, verbatim descriptions of any text and/or references to be added or removed should be given.[1]
- In the section of text below titled Sample edit request, the four required items are shown as an example:
Sample edit request |
|---|
|
- Your request provides #1, #2 and #4, but is missing #3 from above. You provided a draft, but the requested changes and their references need to be placed on this talk page. You provided the references, but you turned off the WikiMarkup so that the references do not display normally. Kindly open a new edit request at your earliest convenience when ready to proceed with all four items from your request.
References
- "Template:Edit COI". Wikipedia. 30 August 2023.
Instructions for Submitters: Describe the requested changes in detail. This includes the exact proposed wording of the new material, the exact proposed location for it, and an explicit description of any wording to be removed, including removal for any substitution.
Thank you! Regards, Spintendo 06:30, 22 May 2026 (UTC)
- Thank you for the clarification regarding the reference formatting! I have now reposted the request with the references reformatted accordingly. Toometa (talk) 11:19, 22 May 2026 (UTC)
- Thank you, that is much appreciated. One problem still remains. Your use of the
{{TextDiff}}template is problematic because it obscures the references. You'll notice that the ref notes are all missing from the text. That is a problem when trying to review the requested changes. I'm going to ask that you resubmit your requested changes so that{{TextDiff}}is not used. Being able to easily see where the ref note is placed is a superior way of commucating your references than describing where they're suppsosed to be. I'm also going to ask that you limit the number of individually requested changes to a more manageable number, like say, 5 to 10. Twenty-eight is a bit much. Please be aware that all new talk page entries (including reformatted requests) go at the bottom of the talk page. Regards, Spintendo 14:28, 22 May 2026 (UTC)- Thank you again for the clarification. I have now reposted the request with the references placed inline in the proposed text, without using TextDiff, and limited the request to 7 changes as suggested. Best, Toometa (talk) 18:25, 22 May 2026 (UTC)
- One additional issue I noticed after reposting the request: the
{{edit COI/significant}}template does not appear to be rendering correctly in this section, and the request therefore does not seem to appear in the corresponding COI request category. I also noticed some broader template/reference rendering issues in this area of the talk page. Would you prefer that I repost the request differently, or leave it as is? Best, Toometa (talk) 15:40, 24 May 2026 (UTC) - Hi! Just following up regarding the rendering/categorization issue mentioned above. The reposted request still does not appear to be included in the normal COI request category workflow, and templates such as
{{edit COI/significant}}still do not seem to transclude correctly in the reposted section. - At this point, I am wondering whether the issue may be related to the current size or complexity of the talk page itself. Unless you would advise against it, I may try archiving some older resolved sections in a few days to see whether this restores normal template rendering/categorization behavior. Toometa (talk) 07:26, 1 June 2026 (UTC)
- Just as a brief follow-up: after receiving no further guidance, I archived older superseded discussions and retained the active COI review discussion on the main talk page. This appears to have resolved the template rendering and categorization issues that were affecting the reposted request. Toometa (talk) 09:15, 5 June 2026 (UTC)
- Thank you, that is much appreciated. One problem still remains. Your use of the
Proposed content updates (reformatted request 2)
 | This edit request by an editor with a conflict of interest has now been answered. |
Reposting and further reformatting the edit request originally submitted on 13 February 2026, following the additional clarification provided by Spintendo regarding reference formatting and presentation. Following this guidance, I have also limited this repost to 7 requested changes selected from the original set of 28 in order to make the request more manageable to review.
Proposed update #1
Location: History section – opening sentence
Current text:
Slat proposed the cleanup project and supporting system in 2012. In October, he outlined the project in a TED-talk.
Proposed text:
Boyan Slat proposed the cleanup project and supporting system in 2012 in a TED-talk.
Rationale
Minor copy-edit to improve clarity and concision, without changing the underlying information.
Proposed update #2
Location: History section – end of the opening paragraph
Current text:
The barriers would direct the floating plastic to the central platform, which would remove the plastic from the water. Slat did not specify the dimensions of this system in the talk.[1]
Proposed text:
The barriers would direct the floating plastic to the central platform, which would remove the plastic from the water.[2]
Rationale
Removes a non-informative sentence that merely notes the absence of a detail in the source, without contributing meaningful content.
Proposed update #3
Location: History section – 2014-2017: Initial prototype subsection - at the end of the first paragraph
Proposed addition:
- According to later reporting, the development process ultimately involved testing 273 scale models and six distinct prototypes before the organization finalized the design that preceded System 001.
Using as the reference:
- Summers, Hannah (2018-09-08). "Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
Proposed update #4
Location: History section – 2014-2017: Initial prototype subsection - last paragraph
Current text:
In May 2017, significant changes to the conceptual design were made:[3]
- Dimensions were reduced from 100 km (62 mi) to 2 km (1.2 mi), with the idea of using a fleet of 60 such systems.[4][5]
- Seabed anchors were replaced with sea anchors, to drift with the currents, allowing the plastic to "catch up" with the cleanup system, and letting the system drift to locations with the highest concentration of debris. The lines to the anchor would keep the system in a U-shape.[6]
- An automatic system for collecting plastic was replaced with a system for concentrating the plastic before removal by support vessels.[7]
Proposed text:
In May 2017, significant changes to the conceptual design were made.[3] This included reducing the length of the boom from 100 km to 2 km to increase unit scalability, replacing seabed anchors with sea anchors to allow it to drift with currents, and replacing the automatic system for removing accumulated plastic with a manual one.[8][9][10]
Rationale
Reformatting for clarity and summary style, replacing an unnecessary bullet list with equivalent prose.
Source note
The Science reference is not necessary and has been removed.
Proposed update #5
Location: History section – System 001 subsection
Removal of the opening paragraph beginning with “Tests in 2018 led to sea anchors…”.
Rationale
The statements in this paragraph are either not clearly supported by the cited sources or rely primarily on a primary source, namely a video produced by the organization itself (World Maritime News).
Proposed update #6
Location: History section – System 001 subsection
Current text:
On 9 September 2018, System 001 (nicknamed Wilson in reference to the floating volleyball in the 2000 film Cast Away)[11][12] deployed from San Francisco.
Proposed text:
On 9 September 2018, System 001 deployed from San Francisco.[12]
Rationale
The nickname and pop culture reference are non-essential details and are not required in a summary-style history section.
Proposed update #7
Location: History section – System 001 subsection
Add the following citation:
Simon, Matt. "Ocean Cleanup's Plastic Catcher Is Busted. So What Now?". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
at the end of the sentence:
- It consisted of a 600 m (2,000 ft) long barrier with a 3 m (9.8 ft) wide skirt hanging beneath it.[citation needed]
Thank you for your time and consideration. Toometa (talk) 18:22, 22 May 2026 (UTC)
- Hello, I think the changes you requested hav been made. I spend some time rewording the article for structure and flow. Could you reread and provide feedback on the changes that were made. ThanksAndrewC992 (talk) 14:09, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
- Hello, Thank you very much for taking the time to work through the request. I appreciate the substantial restructuring and copyediting you did throughout the article. After reviewing the current version, it looks to me as though proposed updates 1, 2, and 7 have been addressed. However, unless I'm overlooking something, proposed updates 3, 4, 5, and 6 do not appear to have been implemented:
- Proposed update 3: the proposed addition does not seem to have been added.
- Proposed update 4: the bulleted list remains in place rather than being rewritten into prose as proposed.
- Proposed update 5: the paragraph proposed for removal is still present.
- Proposed update 6: the portion of the sentence proposed for removal also appears to remain unchanged.
- Could you please take another look at those four requests?
- Thanks again for all the work you've already put into improving the article. Toometa (talk) 15:36, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
- Hello again, I think I've covered everything, and it does look and read much nicer. All the best AndrewC992 (talk) 19:22, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
- Hello AndrewC992, Everything is indeed covered. Thank you very much! I just made two very minor typographical corrections. I'll now remove the edit COI request banner since the current batch of requests has been addressed. I'll then post a new request for the remaining proposed changes that I had held back following Spintendo's suggestion to split the request into smaller batches. Thanks again for all your work! Best, Toometa (talk) 12:57, 26 July 2026 (UTC)
- Hello again, I think I've covered everything, and it does look and read much nicer. All the best AndrewC992 (talk) 19:22, 25 July 2026 (UTC)
Proposed content updates 2 (reformatted request 2)
| The user below has a request that an edit be made to The Ocean Cleanup. That user has an actual or apparent conflict of interest. The requested edits backlog is very high. Please be extremely patient. There are currently 811 requests waiting for review. Please read the instructions for the parameters used by this template for accepting and declining them, and review the request below and make the edit if it is well sourced, neutral, and follows other Wikipedia guidelines and policies. |
Hello,
This is the second batch of requested changes following the original submission of 13 February 2026 and the helpful feedback from Spintendo. The first batch was kindly reviewed and addressed by AndrewC992 on 25 July 2026.
Proposed update #1
Location: History section – System 001 subsection
Supprimer la dernière phrase du premier paragraphe :
The barrier and the screen were produced by an Austrian supplier.[13]
Rationale
The supplier detail is non-essential and removed for summary-style consistency.
Proposed update #2
Location: History section
Move the “System 002 and 03” subsection above the “Interceptors 001–010” subsection.
Proposed update #3
Location: History section - “System 002 and 03 subsection” - first sentence
Current text
In July 2021, a new design called System 002, also known as "Jenny", was deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for testing.[14]
Proposed text
In July 2021, a new design called System 002 was deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for testing.[14]
Rationale
The nickname and pop culture reference are non-essential details and are not required in a summary-style history section.
Proposed update #4
Location: History section - System 002 and 03 subsection - first paragraph, last sentence
Current text
In October, the organization announced that the system had gathered 28,000 kilograms (62,000 lb) of trash. In October, the project announced plans for System 03, which would span up to 2.5 km (1.6 mi).[15]
Proposed text
In October 2021, the organization announced that the system had gathered 28,000 kilograms (62,000 lb) of trash, and announced plans for System 03, which would span up to 2.5 km (1.6 mi).[16]
Rationale
This change clarifies the timeline and removes unnecessary repetition, while fully preserving the information as supported by the source.
Proposed update #5
Location: History section - System 002 and 03 subsection - first paragraph
Current text
In May 2023, the project deployed its System 03 barrier, 2,250 meters long. The system included a retention zone where material is held before it is removed from the water, with the nets' mesh size there being increased from 10 to 15 mm. This is to allow marine life such as fish and turtles to escape, and to allow smaller creatures such as blue buttons and violet snails to pass through.[17]
Proposed text
In May 2023, the project deployed its System 03 barrier, 2,250 meters long. The system incorporated design changes intended to reduce ecological impacts, including modifications to the retention area and the addition of a marine animal escape mechanism.[18]
Rationale
The rewording aligns the statement more closely with the scope and level of detail supported by the available source (Wired).
Proposed update #6
Location: History section - System 002 and 03 subsection
Removal of the paragraph beginning with “System 03 has about 5× the capacity of System 002…”, as it is supported solely by a primary source.
Proposed update #7
Location: History section - Interceptors 001-010 subsection
Change the subsection title from “Interceptors 001–010” to “Interceptors”, as the individual numbering (including up to 010) is not supported by specific secondary references.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Toometa (talk) 13:39, 26 July 2026 (UTC)
- "How the oceans can clean themselves: Boyan Slat at Delft". YouTube. 2012-10-24. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
- "How the oceans can clean themselves: Boyan Slat at Delft". YouTube. 2012-10-24. Archived from the original on 2018-09-08. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
- Kotecki, Peter (13 September 2019). "The massive plastic-cleaning device a 25-year-old invented is finally catching some trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Take a look at its journey". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Stokstad, Erik (11 September 2018). "Controversial plastic trash collector begins maiden ocean voyage". Science. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Meyer, Rachael (28 October 2019). "The Ocean Cleanup successfully collects ocean plastic, aims to scale design". Mongabay. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Loria, Kevin (11 May 2017). "A 22-year-old is moving ahead with a controversial plan to trap plastic floating in the great Pacific garbage patch". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "The Ocean Cleanup: the next phase in capturing plastic". Material District. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Meyer, Rachael (28 October 2019). "The Ocean Cleanup successfully collects ocean plastic, aims to scale design". Mongabay. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Loria, Kevin (11 May 2017). "A 22-year-old is moving ahead with a controversial plan to trap plastic floating in the great Pacific garbage patch". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "The Ocean Cleanup: the next phase in capturing plastic". Material District. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- Ahiza Garcia. "This floating pipe is trying to clean up all the plastic in the ocean". CNN. Archived from the original on 2018-11-17. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- Summers, Hannah (2018-09-08). "Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- "Manufacturing the floater for "The Ocean Cleanup"". AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
- Lavars, Nick (2021-08-13). "Ocean Cleanup's biggest system sweeps into Great Pacific Garbage Patch". New Atlas. Archived from the original on 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
- Lavars, Nick (2021-10-22). "Ocean Cleanup moves beyond testing and outlines a system 3x the size". New Atlas. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
- Lavars, Nick (2021-10-22). "Ocean Cleanup moves beyond testing and outlines a system 3x the size". New Atlas. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
- Weiss, Sabrina. "The Harmful Side Effect of Cleaning Up the Ocean". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- Weiss, Sabrina. "The Harmful Side Effect of Cleaning Up the Ocean". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2023-05-08.