PHOTOS: Something new has come to Mississauga’s waterfront

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Published October 15, 2019 at 10:39 pm

portcreditwaterfront

Mississauga is fortunate enough to boast a vast (and rapidly developing) waterfront district that attracts residents and visitors all year round.

But some people don’t treat the water as respectfully as they should. 

To attempt to rectify that, the city of Mississauga installed a Seabin, a water waste collector, at the Credit Village Marina on a trial basis.

“We work hard to ensure our marinas, parks and natural areas are kept clean. Given increased concern over plastics and other contaminants in the water, this device allows us to collect and dispose of waste in our marina in a way that is efficient and safe for staff,” said Jodi Robillos, director, Parks, Forestry & Environment, in a statement. 

“Not only does the waste collector help to restore the overall cleanliness of the water, but it also provides us with a great opportunity to educate boaters and residents about the importance of keeping plastic and waste out of our lakes and waterways.”

As for how it works, the waste collector is bolted to the dock at the south-east corner of the marina. It continuously sucks in water from the lake’s surface to catch any debris, including cigarette butts, micro-plastics and spilled oil and fuel. 

According to the Seabin Project, the device can hold 20 kilograms of debris and can catch one ton of debris per year.

“This innovative device does not have a negative impact on marine animals and wildlife. In the situation where a fish ends up in the Seabin’s catch basin, it will not be harmed in the underwater filter and can easily be returned to the lake,” Robillos said. 

The device will be operational during regular marina hours, with city staff monitoring it and recording the kind of debris that is collected.

The city says that both of Mississauga’s marinas, Credit Village Marina and Lakefront Promenade Marina, have previously received a five-star anchor rating for environmental practices.

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