Imagine a future where Delaware’s waters are completely blue and clear, its shores are free from floating debris, and the Chesapeake Bay is booming once again. Thanks to an innovative solution known as Seabins, this vision could soon become a reality, revolutionizing how we combat pollution in our local waters and protecting the environment for generations to come.
The Seabin, created in 2015 by two Australian surfers frustrated by the amount of ocean pollution, is a device designed to collect trash from the water without harming marine life. The system is engineered to prevent the capture of sea creatures or plants, and so far, there has been no incidents of animals being trapped in Seabins. Seabins are capable of collecting up to 3.9 pounds of floating debris and up to 58 items per day, the Seabin operates by floating on the water’s surface. It uses a submersible water pump to draw water in, trapping debris inside, before pumping the water back into the ocean while retaining the waste.
Although most of the Wilmington Friends students and teachers have not heard of Seabins, they are still deeply committed to addressing climate change. With four separate clubs and committees, the Wilmington Friends community is devoted to advocating for greener choices. Summer Smith ‘28, an active member of the Stewardship committee believes strongly in fighting climate change. Smith ‘28 says, “Climate change and pollution affects us very directly and without having clean water and air we would live in a worse world.” She has noticed an increase in the temperature over the years, she believes it is not okay for the weather to be so hot even though it is the middle of November. Smith ‘28 has never heard of Seabins before, but after doing some research, she believes that Seabins could have a noticeable impact on creating cleaner waters. She has seen a lot more trash on the beach and in the water in the past few years. Smith ‘28 urges the young generation to come up with new innovations like the Seabins. She says, “The younger generation should get informed about climate change because they might be responsible for solving this problem. And we have to make it so that the younger generation knows that what is happening now is not how it used to be and it’s not how it should continue.” Smith ‘28 needs climate change to stop.
Like Summer Smith ‘28, Nick Ordway cares deeply about the planet’s future. As a computer science teacher, he is constantly thinking about innovative solutions that could help protect the environment. Nick Ordway says, “Climate change concerns me deeply. I’m always thinking about the future—about the technology we use and the unsustainable level of energy consumption today.” He believes that if we continue down this path, we risk damaging the planet. Nick Ordway first learned about Seabins through TikTok and believes the platform can be a powerful tool for sharing educational content. He sees it as a positive way to raise awareness and spread innovative solutions, like Seabins, to a wider audience. Nick. Ordway says, “I think I could see a future where there could be a ton of Seabins that could be larger and controlled by a motor. Then we could add another layer onto it, the Seabins could get charged by the motion of the waves going over them creating energy. I think Seabins will absolutely make a difference and an impact as well, we just have to reach the ability to scale up to that level and reach that change for the better.” Ordway’s vision for small changes in Seabins reflects his deep commitment to finding creative solutions for environmental protection.
While some Wilmington Friends students, like Rex Davis ‘27 and Buzz McGuire ‘25, may not view climate change as an immediate concern, they both recognize the potential of Seabins to positively impact the environment and improve the cleanliness of Delaware’s waters. Rex Davis ‘27 says, “I think climate change doesn’t really affect my day to day life.” Rex Davis ‘27 later goes on to say, “I heard about Seabins watching a video on social media. I think Seabins are a good invention because they don’t catch fish but they catch trash. They make our oceans cleaner in general. I think Seabins could affect how clean the ocean is, and if Seabins become more popular it could make our world a lot more clean and beautiful.” Like Rex, Buzz McGuire ‘25 believes that Seabins are an innovative creation that could impact Delaware for the better. Buzz McGuire ‘25 explains, “ I have heard of Seabins, I watched a video on them. They might have a big impact if they are catching micro plastics that end up in our food. I do see a future where Seabins could be in Delaware’s marines and oceans.” Not all students view climate change and pollution as major issues, but many see that innovations like Seabins have the potential to make a positive impact to our community.
The Seabin technology offers a promising solution to the growing issue of water pollution, offering a future where Delaware’s waterways are cleaner and safer for both the environment and marine life. As the Wilmington Friends community continues to advocate for climate action and sustainability, the support of initiatives like Seabins can help push the change needed to protect our oceans and bays. With passionate voices like Summer Smith’s urging the next generation to take responsibility and find creative solutions, there is hope that together we can make a real impact on the fight against climate change and pollution. The future of our planet depends on the actions we take today, and it’s clear that the Wilmington Friends community is ready to be a part of that solution.
