No doubt about it, Green Monsters: we humans have a lot of work to do if we are ever going to clean up the mess we have made in the oceans. An estimated 270,000 tons of plastic debris are currently floating on the surface of our waters, threatening an estimated 700 marine animal species with extinction. Turtles, seals, fish and manatees, to name a few, frequently end up getting entangled in the trash that we dispose of without a second thought.  Whales and other large marine animals have been known to starve to death after ingesting so much trash that their stomachs no longer have any space for food.

Luckily, a number of dedicated individuals and marine protection organisations have stepped forward to help solve the problem. Boyan Slat of The Ocean Cleanup campaign has made it his mission to help clear up the disastrous Great Pacific Garbage Patch. An incredible low-waste town called Kamikatsu in Japan is leading the way in inspiring the world to go waste-free.The U.S. just banned plastic microbeads from beauty products.

And now, a new company called Seabin is hoping to alleviate the situation by creating a floating trash can that automatically collects plastic, fuel, and detergents from the surrounding water. The Seabins are designed to sit near the floating docks of marinas, harbor yacht clubs, and other areas where trash tends to congregate before making its way out into the open ocean. They will be connected to a shore-based water pump that ensures all waste is held securely in the bin while letting water pass through. The bins can then be emptied manually, as demonstrated in the video above.

The company is now running an Indiegogo campaign that will help them to raise the required funds to begin producing the Seabins and putting them to work! If you’re passionate about helping our world’s oceans, click here to learn about making a donation.

In the meantime, you can find out how to reduce your plastic footprint with the help of the articles below:

• 6 Ways You Can Help Save Our Oceans
• 10 Simple Actions That Just Might Save Our World’s Oceans From Plastic
• 3 Fun and Friendly Ways to Cut Plastic Out of Your Life – and Help Others as Well!
• 10 Life Hacks to Help You Cut Plastic Out of the Picture
• How to Ditch Single-Use Items and Reduce Your Impact on the Planet
• 5 Innovative Ways to Use Unavoidable Plastics in Your Life