An experimental barrier to collect floating trash at Prainha on Ilha do Fundão, located on the coast of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, was installed in early June by the Orla Sem Lixo (Trash-Free Shoreline) Project. The initiative aims to find a sustainable alternative for managing floating waste in coastal and adjacent marine areas, fostering a knowledge exchange between the local fishing community and researchers.
Following the deployment of the 200-meter-long barrier—made of a float (constructed from leftover surfboard styrofoam and raffia) and a skirt (geotextile mesh), using materials donated by Huesker—volunteers from the project team and their partners organized a collective cleanup effort in the monitored area.
According to Susana Vinzon, coordinator of the Orla Sem Lixo project and professor at the Polytechnic School of UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), the brief cleanup was a symbolic milestone in the recovery of this stretch of beach.
“We hope to observe the initial impact of a cleaner beach on this environment in the coming weeks. This cleanup can also be seen as a community-building moment, bringing together various participants motivated by the cause,” says the ocean engineering specialist.
Testing the Solution
Orla Sem Lixo proposes the development of a low-cost solution to intercept and continuously manage floating trash in Guanabara Bay. The project is based on concepts of nature-based solutions, circular economy, community engagement, job and income generation, and the recycling of waste back into the production chain.
“The project is a very organic collaboration between various stakeholders. The idea is to have an integrated and multidisciplinary solution that seeks not only to develop technology but also to create opportunities for restoring environments and ecosystems, generating benefits for the surrounding communities,” Vinzon explains.
“With this first action to protect a stretch of the shoreline, we will have the opportunity to test several concepts being developed in the project, starting with the impact of the barrier itself on the aquatic environment. Our team is working to understand how this barrier, subjected to tides and winds, among other factors, can work alongside currents to optimize the management of floating waste,” the engineer adds.
The initiative also plans to develop and apply objective indicators for the volume and mass of collected floating waste, as well as the environmental, social, and economic benefits of its removal.
“Our short-term goal is to protect and restore areas and spaces, such as our pilot site on Ilha do Fundão. In the long term, we aim to establish a permanent model for generating work and income for the fishing community,” says the coordinator.
Featured Project
Orla Sem Lixo was one of the highlights of Camp Oceano, held in 2021 using the Web of Solutions (Teia de Soluções) format. This initiative by the Grupo Boticário Foundation encouraged the co-creation of projects focused on ocean sustainability across Brazil. Through capacity building, mentoring, and technical support, the project was selected to receive funding for presenting an innovative solution to reduce marine pollution and environmental incidents.
“The project concept emerged in 2019 in an environment of collaboration and innovation, and has been refined over the years. It has the potential to be replicated and scaled not only in Guanabara Bay but across Brazil, creating a strategy that combines environmental conservation, income generation, scientific research, community involvement, and market viability,” says Thiago Valente, Project Manager at the Grupo Boticário Foundation and coordinator of the Viva Água – Baía de Guanabara movement.
With the participation of about 90 researchers and partnerships with the State Environmental Institute (INEA), the UFRJ Campus Administration, and private companies, Orla Sem Lixo also plans to build a support base for Prainha fishers and a Receiving, Sorting, and Orientation Center for floating trash by 2026.
“To fully realize the project, we need to secure the necessary infrastructure for the fishing communities we work with. We are currently looking for sponsors for this,” Susana shares. The idea is that having a local base will make it possible to sort and recycle materials, ensuring a financial return.
Guanabara Bay
Holding significant economic, social, tourism, and recreational importance, Guanabara Bay (BG) is the second-largest bay in Brazil. Its watershed spans 17 municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro and features 172,000 hectares of forest cover—representing 36% of the total area—along with 154,000 hectares of fields and pastures, serving as an important source of socio-environmental services. The region also includes 112,000 hectares of urban area.
Researchers have identified Ilha do Fundão as the most critical area due to reduced water circulation, low water renewal, and a high influx of sewage and plastic. According to a survey conducted by Abrelpe (Brazilian Association of Public Cleaning and Special Waste Companies), nearly 100 tons of waste are dumped daily into Guanabara Bay. Despite this, the region—which hosts university campuses, businesses, leisure and recreation areas, and part of an Atlantic Forest reserve—holds great tourist and industrial potential that remains threatened without proper conservation strategies.
Via CicloVivo.
This article was written by CicloVivo. The translation is powered by AI.
