Globally, 80% of plastic waste in the oceans originates from rivers and coastlines, highlighting the urgent need to intercept and collect this waste before IT reaches the open ocean

Active Cooperative Agreement Awarded Last action

Award ID
NA24OARX417C0407
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$3,036,097

Award facts

Assistance listing
11.417 Sea Grant Support
Completion date 72% complete
Funding
  • $2,636,324.00 Federal
  • $399,773.00 Non-federal
Place of performance
Palisades, Orangetown, NY 10964, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

As the agency reported it.

Activities
The overarching goal of this study is to devise an AI-assisted plastic waste collector. The device will harness intelligent recognition technology, integrating hyperspectral and consumer color camera imaging data to accurately differentiate natural debris from plastics and key resource items (e.g., metal soda cans). After the prototypes are built, they will be stress-tested in the hudson river, delaware river, and bronx river. In collaboration with plastic fischer, a low-cost version will be developed for use in developing countries, such as indonesia. Furthermore, we will collaborate with industrial partners and test the plastic recognition technology on barges of collaborative teams, such as ocean cleanup and clearwater mills. Moreover, we will test efficient methods for recycling collected plastic waste.
Expected outcomes
On-board and in-situ processing of hyperspectral and color imaging data will accurately identify plastic waste, allowing selective collection while bypassing natural debris. The prototype, adaptable to various hydrological conditions, will be stress-tested and modified, if necessary, in 3 distinct rivers, showcasing its versatility and efficiency. This innovative identification system has potential applications in commercially available waste collectors like the interceptor, promising a significant saving in sorting and transport effort. Technology transfer will be prioritized. Additionally, collected degraded polyester bottles could be depolymerized with engineered enzymes into reusable monomers. An environmental impact assessment, especially the impact on aquatic organisms such as fish, will confirm the system's environmentally friendly nature, while an economic analysis will highlight the cost-saving benefits of our solution in reducing plastic pollution and generating revenue from recyclables.
Intended beneficiaries
The developed system meets the urgent need for an innovative, adaptable, efficient, and cost-effective solution. IT has the potential to improve the collection efficiency of currently commercially available but much more expensive systems, as reflected in letters of support from the industry. The low-cost version can benefit plastic-polluted developing countries such as indonesia. The prioritized technology transfer will allow the transfer of the developed technology to potential users around the world. The health of deployed waterways will be improved, preventing the entry of plastic waste into oceans, where microplastics and nanoplastics will be generated from those plastic wastes if not intercepted. This project offers a better environment to environmental justice communities, given the spatial correlation of plastic pollution with underserved communities.
Subrecipient activities
Our partners at the new york sea grant (NYSG) will develop vital educational materials and hands-on plastic pollution activities to foster community awareness and engagement aimed at reducing plastic pollution, especially in underserved communities. Additionally, using materials developed by NYSG, clean ocean action will conduct similar activities in NJ and PA.

Transactions

Action Federal Non-federal Date
Amendment $0 $0
Amendment $0 $134,931
Amendment $779,688 $0
Amendment $928,318 $132,421
Original award $928,318 $132,421

Subawards

Subrecipient Amount Awarded
Cornell University NYSG will conduct the following in furtherance of this objective: 1. Form a project Steering committee. 2. Identify underserved communities and associated… $154,148

Quick answers

Who received award NA24OARX417C0407?

NA24OARX417C0407 was awarded to The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce) on September 1, 2024.

How much is award NA24OARX417C0407 worth?

$3,036,097 has been obligated on NA24OARX417C0407: $2,636,324 in federal funding and $399,773 in non-federal funding.

On GovTribe

See this award's full record

  • Every transaction and subaward
  • The recipient's other awards and teaming partners
  • Similar grant awards
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this award
Try for free Login