What is the Trash Skimmer?
The trash skimmer looks like a floating dumpster, but it’s much better than that; it operates like a large, industrial-sized pool filter, filtering water 24 hours a day in Stamford Harbor capturing floating debris – from large bottles and pieces of dock foam to tiny, almost invisible microplastics – and absorbing surface oil and other contaminants. It can collect up to 50 pounds of debris per day.
Where is the Trash Skimmer?
The trash skimmer is located in Stamford Harbor off the Harbor Point Boardwalk, on the dock below Mexicue and the Beacon Apartments.
How can you help?
The trash skimmer is the core of a Stamford Harbor research project to learn what, when and from where trash is flowing into Stamford Harbor and Long Island Sound so that we can learn upstream habits that will prevent the debris from entering the environment. The research project will kick off in the spring and volunteers of all ages will be needed to sort and count trash (really) and record their findings. This is a great opportunity for students, youth and adult groups, corporate teams, and individual community volunteers to contribute their time to improve the health of Long Island Sound. If you want to learn more or would like to volunteer yourself or your group, please email us at volunteer@soundwaters.org or click the link below to sign up for a Community Sorting Session.
