Floating park is made from plastic waste collected from a river in the Netherlands

After nearly five years of design, plastic recovery, recycling, fundraising, and intensive collaboration, the first floating park made of recycled plastic has opened. The prototype was installed in the Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest seaport, located in the second-largest Dutch city.

Measuring 140 square meters, the so-called “Recycled Park” demonstrates the potential of discarded materials. For this project, the Recycled Island Foundation collected plastics over a year and a half by installing “traps” in polluted rivers before they could reach the sea.

The environmental organization states that the technology can capture waste despite ship traffic, wind shifts, or tides. Furthermore, it can be implemented anywhere in the world, including ports, rivers, and estuaries.

“By recovering plastics directly in our cities and ports, we actively prevent the further growth of the 'plastic soup' in our seas and oceans. Rotterdam can serve as an example for port cities worldwide. Constructing building blocks from recycled plastic is an important step toward a trash-free river,” says architect Ramon Knoester, founder of the Recycled Island Foundation.

Before Reaching the Sea

A study commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment indicated that more than 1,000 cubic meters of plastic waste are transported every year via the Meuse River into the North Sea. These plastics originate from landfills, agriculture, sewage, and inland shipping, reaching the water through dumping, littering, and runoff.

The waste used in this project was collected from the Meuse River, which flows from France through Belgium and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. The goal is precisely to prevent these materials from reaching open waters, where the problem becomes much harder to control.

To create the platforms, the collected plastic was sent to Wageningen University in the Netherlands, a leader in researching effective recycling techniques. Other Dutch institutions, including TU Delft and Rotterdam University, helped develop the interlocking hexagonal blocks, which were subsequently anchored to the harbor floor.

Ecological Function

In addition to reducing aquatic waste, the structures encourage plant growth. Above and below the platforms, vegetation can flourish and establish a healthy ecosystem, attracting marine species. This process is supported by the hexagonal shape of the blocks, which provide food, breeding grounds, and shelter for birds, fish, and microorganisms. The area serves as an ideal habitat for small organisms to grow before entering deeper waters.

Via Ciclo Vivo.