The 'Wilson' project aims to collect plastic debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A giant C-shaped tube aims to collect five tonnes of plastic a month in chunks of 1cm and larger

Driven by wind and waves, the floating barrier overtakes and collects plastic, which is pushed along by currents alone

Every six weeks, a support vessel arrives to collect accumulated debris for recycling

While the float gathers larger chunks, smaller pieces are trapped by an underwater skirt

3m skirt allows marine life to pass underneath

A giant C-shaped tube aims to collect five tonnes of plastic a month in chunks of 1cm and larger

Every six weeks, a support vessel arrives to collect accumulated debris for recycling

While the float gathers larger chunks, smaller pieces are trapped by an underwater skirt

3m skirt allows marine life to pass underneath

Driven by wind and waves, the floating barrier overtakes and collects plastic, which is pushed along by currents alone