<P> At TEDxDelft2012, Dutch Aerospace Engineering student Boyan Slat unveiled a concept for removing large amounts of marine debris from the five oceanic gyres . Calling his project The Ocean Cleanup, he proposed to use surface currents to let debris drift to specially designed arms and collection platforms . Operating costs would be minimal and the operation would be so efficient that it might even be profitable . The concept makes use of floating booms, that divert rather than catch the debris . This way bycatch would be avoided, although even the smallest particles would be extracted . According to Slat's calculations, a gyre could be cleaned up in five years' time, collecting at least 7.25 million tons of plastic across all gyres . He also advocated "radical plastic pollution prevention methods" to prevent gyres from reforming . </P> <P> The 2012 Algalita / 5 Gyres Asia Pacific Expedition began in the Marshall Islands on 1 May, investigated the little - studied Western Pacific garbage patch, collecting samples for the 5 Gyres Institute, Algalita Marine Research Foundation and several other colleagues, including NOAA, SCRIPPS, IPRC, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute . From 4 October to 9 November 2012, the Sea Education Association (SEA) conducted a research expedition to study plastic pollution in the North Pacific gyre . A similar research expedition was conducted by SEA in the North Atlantic Ocean in 2010 . During the Plastics at SEA 2012 North Pacific Expedition, a total of 118 net tows were conducted and nearly 70,000 pieces of plastic were counted to estimate the density of plastics, map the distribution of plastics in the gyre, and examine the effects of plastic debris on marine life . </P> <P> On 11 April 2013, in order to create awareness, artist Maria Cristina Finucci founded The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO--Paris in front of Director General Irina Bokova . It was the first of a series of events under the patronage of UNESCO and of the Italian Ministry of the Environment . In 2015, The Ocean Cleanup project was a category winner in the Design Museum's 2015 Designs of the Year awards . A fleet of 30 vessels, including a 32 - metre (105 - foot) mothership, took part in a month - long voyage to determine how much plastic is present using trawls and aerial surveys . </P> <P> In 2016, plans are in the concept stage to create floating Oceanscrapers, made from the plastic found in the Great Pacific garbage patch . Early 2018, The Ocean Cleanup started the assembly of their first cleanup system, to be deployed in the Great Pacific garbage patch mid-2018 . </P>

How big is the garbage pile in the ocean