The Great Bubble Barrier

The Great Bubble Barrier works to conserve oceans by developing innovative technologies to prevent waste from entering water bodies. Their solution blocks waste in rivers while allowing fish and boats to pass through.

The Great Bubble Barrier helps governments meet evolving waste management regulations, assists cities in tackling plastic pollution, and enables water boards to reduce cleanup costs after high water events. The system intercepts plastic particles as small as 1mm from flowing through rivers and canals. The technology works by forcing air through a perforated tube at the bottom of waterways, creating a bubble curtain.

This curtain generates upward circulation, bringing plastic to the surface. Positioned diagonally across a river, the Bubble Barrier uses natural water flow to direct plastic debris into a catchment system for collection, processing, and reuse.

The system consists of three main components:

• Bubble curtain – lifts plastic waste from the riverbed.
• Compressor – generates air to create the bubble curtain.
• Catchment system – collects and holds intercepted plastics for removal.

These elements work together to optimize waste capture at each site.