Plastic Strainer Project

Uppuweli & Linganagar

28 June 2025

Oceanpick is proud to announce the successful completion of Stage 1 of Sri Lanka’s pioneering Plastic Strainer Project, in collaboration with the MAS Foundation for Change and Negombo Recycling Club (NRC). This marks a major step forward in our mission to intercept plastic waste before it reaches the open ocean. Just two days ago, the MAS team joined Oceanpick on-site to install floating plastic strainers at key sea-entry canals around Trincomalee, specifically near Uppuweli and Linganagar. These locations were carefully identified by Oceanpick based on water flow patterns and pollution hotspots, ensuring maximum impact. The strainers—simple yet powerful floating barriers—are designed to trap plastic debris carried by surface currents, preventing it from entering sensitive marine ecosystems. The collected waste will be sorted and processed by NRC, turning pollution into sustainable products and closing the loop on plastic recovery.

Canal Strainer Installations: Expanding the Plastic-Free Cod-bay Vision.

As part of our mission to make Cod-bay Harbour Sri Lanka’s first plastic-free harbor, Oceanpick, in collaboration with MAS Foundation for Change and the National Research Council (NRC), has successfully installed plastic strainers in the Uppuweli and Linganagar canal systems. These strategic installations target upstream sources of marine plastic pollution, intercepting waste before it reaches the ocean. By addressing pollution at its origin, this initiative strengthens our broader Plastic-Free Cod-bay Harbour campaign and reinforces our commitment to sustainable coastal management. Together, we are building a cleaner, smarter future—one canal, one harbor, one ocean at a time. Installed plastic strainers in the Uppuweli and Linganagar canal systems to reduce marine plastic pollution, in collaboration with MAS, NRC, and Oceanpick.

What’s Next: Cod-bay Harbour

With Stage 1 complete, our teams are now preparing for the major deployment at Cod-bay Harbour, Oceanpick’s flagship site. This installation will be the largest of its kind in the region and a national benchmark for marine plastic interception.

Why It Matters

First-of-its-kind marine strainer system in Sri Lanka
Prevents plastic pollution at ocean entry points
Protects marine biodiversity and aquaculture operations
Supports circular economy through NRC’s recycling process
Strengthens collaboration between industry, community, and environmental leaders

This initiative is more than infrastructure—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. Oceanpick is proud to lead this transformative effort, setting new standards for ocean stewardship and sustainable aquaculture in Sri Lanka.