Kia and The Ocean Cleanup plan to expand river plastic interception systems across Greater Los Angeles by LA28 to curb river-borne plastic reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Kia Corporation and non-profit The Ocean Cleanup announced an expansion of operations in Greater Los Angeles to intercept plastic waste flowing from local rivers into the Pacific Ocean. The project was scheduled for completion ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games and secured backing from Los Angeles County officials, the City of Long Beach, and the City of Seal Beach.

Research by The Ocean Cleanup found that Los Angeles rivers emitted between 380 and 570 tonnes of plastic annually into the ocean. Globally, it reported that about 1,000 of the world’s three million rivers were responsible for nearly 80% of ocean plastic emissions. The group conducted a “Smart Rivers Survey” using drones, AI-enhanced remote-sensing cameras and GPS drifters to map pollution and guide deployment.

New deployments will complement Interceptor 007 in Ballona Creek, which entered permanent operation in 2024 after unanimous approval by the LA County Board of Supervisors. Interceptor 007 has prevented 386,945 pounds of trash from reaching the Pacific Ocean and nearby beaches. Independent feasibility studies commissioned by Long Beach and Seal Beach supported the two new river deployments.

The three Interceptor installations were expected to form a coordinated protection system across Los Angeles’ three major waterways. The Los Angeles expansion formed part of The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program, which aimed to stop up to one-third of plastic waste flowing from rivers into oceans by the end of the decade. Kia had been The Ocean Cleanup’s global mission partner since 2022, and the initiative also received support from Primo Brands.