Catching Up with The Ocean Cleanup · The Ocean Cleanup

WILSON's Legacy | Going Full Circle by recycling ocean plastic and our first cleanup system

·22 min·1 clip

Ava Schneider reveals how The Ocean Cleanup turns ocean plastic into products to reinvest in cleanup.

This episode of Catching Up with The Ocean Cleanup features hosts Dan Vandercoy from communications, guest Ava Schneider from the valorization team, and Chris Reichard from the oceans engineering team. They discuss the organization's dual mission of extracting plastic from the ocean and recycling it into new products. The conversation details the complete lifecycle of recovered plastic, from ocean capture to final sale. Ava Schneider's role involves managing the recycling and material development for plastic caught from the ocean. Her team transforms this "catch" into a raw material called The Ocean Cleanup material, ready for manufacturing. Chris Reichard's engineering team develops the technology systems that physically remove plastic pollution from ocean environments. The process is described as a circular model where proceeds from selling recycled products fund further cleanup operations. Ava explains the "garbage to material work stream" that begins once plastic is brought to land. The goal is to valorize the catch, adding value by creating a viable recycled material. Chris focuses on the technical components and system integration required for successful ocean deployment. The episode frames their work as two interconnected halves of a single mission: extraction and recycling. The hosts emphasize the practical and logistical challenges of scaling both the cleanup and recycling processes. Insights include the direct link between product sales and financing future cleanup missions. A notable point is how specialized engineering and material science roles converge within the nonprofit's operational model. The conversation highlights the tangible journey of ocean plastic becoming a resource. The tone is informal, collaborative, and explanatory, featuring casual banter between colleagues. The style is conversational and process-oriented, demystifying internal workflows for listeners. Listeners interested in environmental technology, circular economy models, and nonprofit operations would find this episode engaging. Those seeking dramatic narratives or external critiques of ocean cleanup might find it too focused on internal team functions.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Catching Up with The Ocean Cleanup