Los Angeles: A trash collection device deployed to corral plastic litter floating in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii has broken apart and will be hauled back to dry land for repairs.

The Ocean Cleanup, a floating boom to corral plastic litter in the Pacific Ocean, is assembled in Alameda, California. Credit:AP

Boyan Slat, who launched the Pacific Ocean cleanup project, told NBC News last week that the 600-metre long floating boom will be towed 1300 kilometres to Hawaii.

If it can't be repaired there, it will be loaded on a barge and returned to its home port of Alameda, California.

The boom broke apart under constant wind and waves in the Pacific.