An environmental clean-up project says plastic bags have largely been eliminated from the water in Sydney Harbour, ABC News reports.
Seabin operates 34 bins around the harbour which filter the water to capture microplastics and large plastics.
The company say they collect up to 13,000 plastic items in the harbour every day.
Seabin CEO Pete Ceglinski told ABC Radio Sydney the impact has been dramatic since businesses were banned from giving out lightweight plastic bags in June last year.
"We've seen a reduction by 70 per cent of plastic shopping bags floating around in Sydney Harbour," Mr Ceglinski said.
"With only 12 months of enforced plastic bag ban, it's pretty staggering results in a very positive way."
The group has filtered 15 billion litres of water and collected more than 100 tonnes of litter from the harbour since a trial with City of Sydney in July 2020.
Despite the progress, Mr Ceglinski says the biggest waste issue is microplastics which has made up 44 per cent of the contents picked up by the bins.
"We need to understand better what the problem is to address the lack of accountability and governance of plastic pollution in Sydney Harbour," Mr Ceglinski said.
"I'm feeling very positive ... that collectively we can turn the tide on this plastic pollution problem and especially in Sydney Harbour."
FULL STORY
Environmental group hails 70 per cent drop in plastic bags polluting Sydney Harbour (ABC News)
PHOTO
The bins suck in water and rubbish before collecting the plastics and filtering out the water. (Supplied: Seabin)
