The inventor of a controversial plastic collection system has defended the project as it launches into the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

Boyan Slat's Ocean Cleanup system is aimed at sweeping up billions of pieces of plastic waste floating in the massive so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The 600-metre long technology was launched from San Francisco Bay on Saturday amid intense media interest.

Pacific 'garbage patch' even worse than feared, new research shows

The 24-year-old Dutch inventor has expressed frustration at scepticism and criticism of the project from many in the ocean science community.

He told Sky News: "I don't think there's much of a choice in what we're trying to do.


"Research shows the plastic doesn't go away by itself and keeps fragmenting over the next few decades.

"If we don't clean it up now, all of it will become micro plastics and then we are in a much worse state than we are today.

"This is the best way we could figure out how to do it.

"If there are better ways, we'd love to know."

Image: An ocean floater being used in The Ocean Cleanup in the US

Mr Slat said he agreed the long-term solution to the problem of plastic waste is reducing it on land and preventing it from reaching the ocean in the first place.

He said he feels as confident as he can with the equipment about to undergo testing 250 miles off the California coast.

If those tests are successful, it will travel 1,000 miles towards Hawaii to begin the job of collecting plastic waste. The first results are expected by the end of the year.

Image: Pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch off the US coast

Great Pacific Garbage Patch, here we come pic.twitter.com/3rX77a5NMa — Boyan Slat (@BoyanSlat) September 8, 2018

The system comprises a 'floater', a boom which bends into a u-shape, with a skirt attached, forming an artificial coastline to corral plastic so it can be picked up and recycled.

Some of the plastic in the garbage patch, also known as a gyre, has been found to date back to the 1960s. Experts say the amount equates to 250 pieces for every person on earth.

Despite huge financial backing, the project has faced criticism from some environmentalists concerned marine life could become trapped in the system alongside waste.

And groups like the Ocean Conservancy have expressed concern that, even if plastic can be removed, a lot more is pouring into the ocean every day.

George Leonard, the conservancy's chief scientist, said: "We hope it works. The ocean needs all the help it can get."

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