Despite banning plastic shopping bags, polystyrene food containers, straws, eating utensils and more, Sydney's waterways remain choked with plastic.
As the population grows, litter in stormwater runoff, as well as microplastics from washing clothes and makeup removal, enters our waterways, ending up inside us, through ingesting contaminated food and water.
The problem with most plastics is that they don't break down into harmless molecules. Plastics can take hundreds or thousands of years to decompose. And studies have shown they cause harm to human cells.
What's in a name?
"Yarragul" means "clean" in the local aboriginal language (Dharug, spoken by the Eora people).
As an organisation, Yarragul's mission is to use simple technology to prevent plastic from getting into our harbour and ocean, keeping them clean. We work with local and state governments, Sydney Waterways, landowners and local community groups to conduct site assessments, secure funding, and then install and maintain our bubble curtain and "Narrami" (meaning "net").
Please contact us for more information or if you have any questions.
OuR Technology
System Overview
Bubble Tubing is used throughout the world to direct debris in water. We use it to move plastic and other litter upwards and sideways, where it is collected by the Narrami.
The tubing lies on the bottom of the waterway and the stream of bubbles allow marine life, swimmers, kayakers and boats to pass freely through.
Narrami
Yarragul's catchment system is a floating (tethered), solar powered rubbish bin. Once full, the collection area is automatically emptied into a holding area, which is then emptied on a regular basis.
Optional features include side lights, water quality sensors, cameras, data collection and transfer and remote access capabilities.