The string of bubbles that travels through a canal in Amsterdam fulfils the purpose of a physical structure and floating booms by moving plastic garbage away from the water so that it does not enter the ocean. The innovative technology, called a Bubble Barrier, has been in operation at Westerdok since 2019. Now, a team based in Lansing, Michigan, is working on bringing the technology to America, with a suggested location in the Grand River to prevent plastic pollution of the Great Lakes.
The project, reported by Smithsonian Magazine on October 9, 2026, has been developed in cooperation between city authorities, researchers, environmental groups and corporate sponsors of the initiative. The success of the project will rely on the engineering studies, environmental studies and maintenance of the system.
