Town of Oakville launches Anglers Taking Action with Seabins in Bronte Outer Harbour

In an effort to keep our waterways clean, the town, in partnership with the Silver Salmon Community (SSC) will be installing two Seabin waste collectors at the Bronte Outer Harbour from May to October.

As the name suggests, the Seabin is a water garbage bin. Water is sucked in from the surface and passes through a catch bag inside the Seabin, with a submersible water pump. The water is then pumped back into the marina leaving litter and debris trapped in the catch bag. The Seabin can collect litter ranging from larger plastics to microplastics, such as cigarette butts and disposable cups, and hydrocarbons such as fuel and oil. The device will not pose any danger to marine life such as fish.

“The town is thrilled to participate in the innovative Seabin Project with Anglers Taking Action and contribute to a sustainable waterfront community,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “The town is committed to protecting and preserving our waterways and natural spaces, and this device will allow us to remove litter and help educate the next generation for a cleaner and smarter future while helping make a more livable Oakville.”

The SSC will install and manage operations surrounding the campaign and Seabin devices in Bronte Outer Harbour, and town staff will be responsible for the daily emptying of the Seabins. The contents will be weighed, photographed and uploaded to the University of Toronto’s Data Trapper Application and analyzed as part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup project.

“This pilot project will be a great opportunity to raise awareness and educate the public on preventing lake and ocean pollution,” said Chris Mark, Director of Parks and Open Space. “The town will be reviewing the effectiveness of this project, and we hope to implement more Seabins in the coming years at both harbours, and on a more permanent basis.”

“Our angling and lake communities are excited to collaborate with our stakeholders and community leaders, and we appreciate the ongoing support,” said Nicholas Foxcroft, Managing Director of the Silver Salmon Community.

To learn more about the town’s harbours, visit the Harbours page.