Tampa’s ‘Litter Skimmer’ trash boat tackles a growing problem

The New York Times quoted John Atkinson, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, in a story about how cities are turning to “trash skimmers” to rid their waterways of plastic waste and how environmentalists say the boats are more of a Band-Aid than a solution. 

There isn’t just a policy responsibility; it’s a personal one as well, Atkinson said. “We’re a culture that is reliant on plastic,” he said, adding that “choosing to use a reusable water bottle, while small, can be substantial if everybody chooses it.”

Read the story here.