ShoreVac - Shoreline plastics removal machine

Hi, my name is Geoff. I am a retired millwright and have designed the "Litterbuggy" ShoreVac - an innovative machine to remove small plastics and microplastics (tiny particles of degraded plastics, styrofoam, bottle caps, etc.) from shorelines.

Here is our website with more info, and a short video of the Litterbuggy in action!

https://geoffandlynnwoods.wixsite.com/litterbuggy

The trash removed by the Litterbuggy in just a few hours:

As an avid traveler and scuba diver, I have witnessed alarming volumes of plastics along shorelines and in the ocean, and I feel compelled to be part of the solution. A million seabirds die annually due to microplastic consumption. Studies estimate that there are currently 50-75 trillion pieces of plastic and microplastic in the ocean - in fact, it is forecast that by 2050, plastics will outweigh all of the fish in the sea. The equivalent of 1,440 garbage trucks full of plastic enter the world's oceans every day, and much of this washes up on shore. Toxic microplastics have entered the human food chain and have been found in seafood, salt, tap water, and even in the human bloodstream. By removing plastics from shorelines we can keep them from becoming "food" to seabirds and marine life. We can also prevent them from further breaking down into smaller particles and re-entering the ocean. Of course, removing this unsightly plastic trash will also make our shorelines much more attractive!

Thanks to the Litterbuggy, all of this plastic is off the shoreline and ready to dispose of safely!

A seabird which has tragically died from ingesting small plastics:

Unlike other machines currently used for beach cleaning, the Litterbuggy is specifically designed to work on rough/rocky shorelines. As small plastics are not easily removed from these areas by hand, plastics have been accumulating there for decades, creating an unsightly environmental nightmare. While other organizations are diligently working towards solutions to reduce and remove plastics going into the world's oceans, we cannot ignore the large volumes of plastic presently littering rough coastal areas.

The Litterbuggy is being successfully field tested on Cayman Brac, a small island in the Caribbean which has been badly affected by plastic pollution. Plastics are found in nesting sites of the endangered Brown Boobie bird and other shorebirds, as well as in turtle nesting sites on Cayman Brac's shores. Cayman Brac’s coastlines are rugged and rocky, making it a perfect testing site for the Litterbuggy.

While my wife and I have personally funded the bulk of the cost of the prototype machine, we would greatly appreciate financial assistance to help offset the costs we have incurred in creating and shipping the Litterbuggy, as well as ongoing maintenance and operational expenses. Funding is also required to purchase a trailer to transport the Litterbuggy to various cleanup sites. The Litterbuggy is a non-profit project.

Once the prototype has been tested and proven, I hope to expand its use to other areas of the world which have serious coastal plastic pollution. I would appreciate any support you may be able to provide for this worthy project. The Brown Boobie Bird of Cayman Brac thanks you too! Together, we can make a difference.